Reports of Departments.

White Ribbon, Volume 1, Issue 10, 1 April 1896, Page 8

Reports of Departments.

LITERATURE. The great Undertaking of the year h is been the launching of the White Ribbon. Although the circulation is not what we hoped for, ai d which is essential to its financial success, still perhaps we should not think too lightly of the progress made. With a little co-operi.tion to tide over present difficulties, wo will hope to set the White Ribbon holding its own among the papers cf New Ze land. Only or.ereport has arrived—vis.,from Inv< reargill. Christchurch h's again undertaken the page in t le Prohibitionist paper, copies of the Woman s Signal, Unioi Signal, and th e Medical Pioneer being subscribed to. The latter hits ben po.-ted to the Christchurch doctors. Four hundred extra White Ribbon papers were bought for listributiun on the Show Grounds. A great deal of Social Purity literature has been distributed in different (tarts of the colony. W 3 think much

of the power of these sibnt messengers, and trust that our Linens wi 1 redouble their efforts in this direction. Invercargill rej>orts that sixteen members take the Whiti Ribbon. The Medical Pior.eer is posted to the local doctors. Several copies of Dr. Richardson's I'emperanee H?*nd-booka have been purchased, with a view of persuading schoolmasters to adopt them as class-books. 0. Vkniblis, Superintendent. SCIENTIFIC TEMPERANCE INSTRUCTION. Auckl md has gained permission to teach this subject in th** schools. The Hand of Hope Committee employs a teacher who visits all schools every week, and finds the scholars much interested in the subject. In Wellington some of our members waited on the Minister of Educatian to place the subject before him, wheu he expressed himself favourably. Invercargill has been active in this matter, as their local report will show. Napier also has been urging the subject. This is the only town in New Zealand where the school committee have paseed a temperance law. The Superintendent wihesto impress on the Uuions the gieat need of thechildren in thin direction. She hue never yet met with a teacher who refused to impart the lessons, and there are many who are interested, and who constantly teach the poison *us nature of aicohol and its baneful effects on the human system. A. J. SCHNACKTiNBIBO, Superintendent. YOUNG WOMEN’S WORK. • Mrs Miller reports that several of the young women have lapse 1 of late* and she is most anxious that the members should not be lost sight of. She propo.-os that they should be united to the Parent Unions at a subscription of Is. per year, and [power to vote given io them. Many of then) have taken up Christian End<avour work, but thev cannot be spared from Temperance Work. Oamaru reports a membership of twelve, with two honorary members. They have thirty Loyal Legion members. Seven pledges weie take i during the year, and thirty-eight ordinary meetings were held. They keep a box at the Railway station supplied with literature, and supply the wai'.ing-room with bright texts. Mrs Miller hopes that next year will show a more encouraging report. COTTAGE MEETINGS. One hundred and fifty-two Cottage Meetings were reported during last year. In answer to questions asked, your Sup rintendent sent circulars to the various local Unions with hints and suggestions for the carrying on of these meetings, a_»d it is gratifying to learn that they were adopted by several Unions, and found to be helpful. Hokitika sends a cheery account of their weekly Cottage Meetings. Forty imetings for Hiblo Reading were conducted by Young Women members of our W.C.T.U. Mabt Kirkland, Superintendent. DRA WING-ROOM M EETINQS. Five were held in Dunedin during the year and considetable interest was shown in the Bible study carried on at these meetings. Throe were held at the Manse, West Taieri, at which the subjects of Purity aud Hygiene were considered. Christchurch has held many meetings with great success, many joining the Union os well as the Prohibition League by their means. It is found that many will attend a drawing-room meeting who will not attend the usual gatherings, and many will Rpeak at t iuse who do not oonsidet themselves tit for platform speaking

The subject* dealt with have been the various phases of the Prohibition movement, and the laws of Heredity and Physiology, and the necessity for Social Purity. MARf Kirkland, Superintendent. UNFERMENTED WINE. A great deal of correspondence was carried on during the year on this very important subject. The Superintendent made vigorous efforts to get some firm to take the matter up as a business question, but all replied that in the meantime the demand would not justify much outlay. If medical men could be urged to take the subject up, it would soon be settled. A Napier friend testified to the beneficial results of this wine on a person who had “ run down,” and who was completely restored to health through its agency. In August 'OOO leaflets were printed and distributed among the Uni ji:b, asking the Presidents of each to send copies to all ministers of the Anglican Churches, and their Churchwardens; also to Presbyterian ministers and their Elders ard Deacons. In September the Dunedin W.C.T.U. presented i» petition through (’anon Webb, urging the use of Unfermented Wine at the Lord’s Table. Four ministers said they would use it forthwith. Aonks W. Beoo, Superintendent. JUVENILE WORK. The Napier Union reports persistent work in the direction of persuading school committees to make more use of Dr. Richardson's Text Hook supplied by the Union to iho school. Miss Uewson, Christchurch Superintendent, reports that thirty-one meetings of the Sewing Class have been held during the year. There are fifty-eight names on the roll, and the largest attendance has been thirty-eight. Some of the girls have attended with great regularity, one having never missed a meeting. Recently the class spent a very pleasant afternoon at Sumner, by the kind invitation of Mrs. Buttle, of the Deaf Mute Institution. Several ladies kindly contributed provisions, and the excursion proved a great treat. Miss Hew *on desires to thank several ladies who have kindly helped in the cutting-out of the clothes, which afterwards (on payment of a small sum) became the property of the children ; also different ladies ard gentlemen w r ho have vieited the class, encouraging the children by short address* s, and by hearing their songs and recitations. Miss Sears, Danedin, reports that a very large amount of work is being done in the city by Bands of Hope, Juvenile Lodges, and Junior Christian Er.doavour Societies. Miss Sears and her 00-workers visit monthly two or three of these Bands, giving regular instruction to the children. Hokitika reports a Sewing Class for girls under lb years of age, which was attended by sixteen g’rls. Much interest was taken, and as a reward for diligence a few cookery lessons were giver them. The Superintendent reports having distributed literature, which was appreciated. Mrs. G. A. Brown, Superintendent. PARLIAMENTARY REPORT. Three petitions have been forwarded to the House as directed by Wellington Convention—that for Inebriate Homes in the f >ur centres through Mr. G. J. Smith, M.H.R. for Christchurch, and those for the repeal of the C. D. Acts Mid raising the age of consent through Mr. Button, M.H R. for Auckland. Formal replies that they hud been referred to the Petitions Committee for favourable co nsideration were received,but nothing further has been heard of them. Several W omen’s Societies of different names have; been forwarded

through your superintendent to Dr. Newman, approving of his Kemoval of Political Disabilities of Women Bill; but in spite of this encouragement the Doctor was unable to save the Bill. L. M. Kirk. For Mrs. SnirrAßD. WORK AMONG THE MAORIS. THE NEW ZE \LAND SUPERINTENDENT'S SECOND ANNUAL REPORT. We have held n.any interesting and important meetings among the Maoi’S with good results. The number of pledges tak* n were 2il. Twenty-four of these were taken by Victoria (Mrs Davis), if Patiki, Wanganui, and twentyseven by Mrs W r ebb, of Lyttelton. We have distributed badges to all those who have kept th«*ir pledge one year—having again visited those who signed last year —and we were richly rewarded in having fulfilled our promise to do so by the approval and pleasure expressed by the Maoris at seeing us again. The most unsatisfactory cases were those at Levin, which is all the more to be regretted as there is a branch of the W.O.T.U. there, and also a flourishing Good Templars’ Lodge, which shoul i be a help to them. The social held in Wellington for Maoris and Europeans was so successful that people have suggested it should be an annual gathering during the session. Besides being a return and recognition of the hospitality shown by nho Maoris to us w hen visiting in their districts, it also gives an opportunity for the display of Muori talent in singing and speet h-muking. In October we again visited Petone, whore we obtained twenty signatures to the pledge, and had very interesting meetings in the house of the chief Te Puhi, two of the sons taking part in them, and one of them deciding to be a clergyman. He said, It is my desire to preach Jesus Christ to my people, but I shall not fuii to warn thetn against “ waipiro.” Why did not the eariy missionatioi warn ua against “ waipiro,” as you are doing now ? In November I held meetings at Manakau, one being a tea-meeting, which gave great satisfaction. One fine young chief said it was the first time ho bad ever been invited to meet the Maori and Pakeha together, or seen them so friendly together. He said Mrb Hewott came 1o see us a year ago and warned us against taking the “ waipiro.” We listened to her words, and we have become a sober people. Another chief, an old Maori who had a very dry humour, said, “ When the Pakeha first came to Now Zealand they offered the Maori Christianity and the ‘ waipiro,’ and they have accepted both. Now Mrs Hewett comes to us and tells us the * waipiro* is bad. So no v we accept the Christianity w ithout the * waipiro.’ ” I then presented these two chiefs with silver pledges, on which was inscribed the words—“ Kiu pono: Be faithful ” amidst the hearty applause of both Europeans and Maoris. Two of the ringleaders in drunkenness signed the pledge, a man and woman. The man nas tne reputation of being a prophet, and being able to cure sick people. He lias always been a strong opponent of the Temperance cause, but is now on our side. He made an earnest, touching speech as he thanked me for taking so much interest in them. He said : “ I wish this good lady had come many years ago. She might have saved many lives, men, women and even children, have all died from the * waipiro.’ See,” said he, waving his hand sadly, "how few of us there are left, and once wo were a powerful, numerous tribe. This is the work of the ‘ waipiro.’ ” in December and January I had more meetings in Mauakou, and much, if not all, my success there is due to the valuable help I received from Mr Boa van, who is a total abstainer, and deeply interested in the welfare of the Maoris. I also received much help from Mr and Mrs h red. Brown, of Manawhao, especially

with the Maori children; I had indeed to attend the English Government school, Mrs Brown having promised prizes to the two Maori girls whose sewing was the best. At the end of January we had a splendid meeting at Papawai, Greytown, and were most hospitably entertained by the Chief Kumeroa, who is one of my Committee, and is a really magnificent man He called together all the Maoris —about 300 —into the large meeting-house. I spoke on Temperance and our Saviour's commandment, “ Love one another.'* Twenty-eight signed the pledge, and the Maoris were delighted with Mrs Medley's short address to them in Maori ; at the close of which they simultaneously shouted * KiaOra.*’ and cheered ns both. At the close of the meeting books, Testaments, and Tempe-ance tracts were distributed. About 2000 in all have been distributed, and one wild young Maori girl was converted by reading the New Testament. She said, when speaking to me about it, “ Before I read my Testament the Maori boys say to me, * Come and dance ’ (the Maori dance not good). But now I say * No.* I like best to please God, and every day three times I read my Testament and have Church,” by which she meant piayers I regret my inability to attend this Convention, as there are many interesting incidents I could have told you. 1 sent a balance-sheet of money received and oxpended, and the report from Lyttelton, which should be read. lam waiting in this Waikato district—where I could have a large and in terested gathering of Maoris, but I am now short of fundfor books and more pledge cards. lam keeping the few I have forTokanui, where I have promised to go, and am now waiting to be driven there by my son. lam hoping to persuade the Maoris to get up a Temperance Club, where they can stay when in Wellington. Letters have been received f.*oin Lady Henry Somerset and Miss Agnes Slack, the hon. sec. of the World’s W.C.T.U., saying that a notice of our W.C.T.U. work among Maoris has been sent all over the world, and a notice published in the Union Signal, Chicago, November 14, 1895, so that the work is becoming well known. Mrs Brittan, who is one of my committee, and who now lives at Tauranga, has decided to become a member of the N.Z. W.C.T.U., and to start a branch Union at Tauranga. I sent a largo package of Maori pledge cards and tracts to her, and I believe she has obtained about twenty signatures, which should be added to the number mentioned in my report. Mrs brittan is the daughter of .>lr Grace, one of the early missionaries to the Maoris, and M.s Brittan is deeply interested in the Maoris, and is willing, if i have to go to England, to take my place as superintendent.