Wellington Convention Reports.

White Ribbon, Volume 1, Issue 9, 1 March 1896, Page 6

Wellington Convention Reports.

MOSGIEL. This Union has 18 members (no honorary). Ten ordinary meetings have been held during the year; also one public meeting, addressed by Mrs Schnackenberg, when three new members were added to our number. Mrs Kirkland conducted our Annual Meeting. Temperance is our principal work ; we wrought hard at the Licensing Election and managed to put in the Temperance candidates, so we have three public-houses less in our district than we had last year. One accommodation house also was closed. Under the leadership of Mrs J. H. Murdoch, assisted by Miss M. Edmiston, the Band of Hope has attained a position of considerable strength. It numbers 155 members, an increase of 25 during the year. The Saturday evening meetings are largely attended, and the children take great interest in them. A public entertainment, which attracted a very large audience, was held in the Volunteer Hall on July 20. The children had been well trained for their respective parts, and went through the performance of “ Father Christmas” with great credit. It may interest some to know the form of pledge taken by members of the Band of Hope. It is in these words : “ I hereby promise, God helping me, to abstain from all alcoholic drinks. I will not smoke tobacco in any form. I will not take God’s name in vain.” TIMARU. Our Monthly Meetings have been held regularly during the year, with an average attendance of 11 members. We have 41 members, about half of that number being honorary members. 1 here have been about 30 pledges taken during the year. w

Our Dorcas Classes have been held every week, and are very successful this year, our poorer sisters being thankful for the material as well as spiritual help given. \\> had night classes for boys at the beginning of the year, but owing to the small attendance they had to be given up. Our Union has distributed several thousand temperance leaflets during the year, and we mean to do more in that direction next year. Our members made a house-to-liouse canvass for signatures to the “ plebiscite petition,” obtaining about 1000 names. The result of our licensing elections was a great disappointment to us, for in a quiet way our Union worked hard for the Temperance candidates, and we were not prepared for such a defeat. We have held two public meetings during the year. Our finances are not very flourishing but we have a balance on the right side.