DISTRICT UNIONS.

White Ribbon, Volume 4, Issue 48, 1 May 1899, Page 8

DISTRICT UNIONS.

Continued from last month. DUNEDIN. During the* year eleven ordinary meetings have been held and two public meetings. r I hirteeu pledge's have l**en taken, eleven of them at Hie Sailors’ Rest. As i he result of a unanimous resolution, suggesting the need fora reformatory, letters were written to various Memlx*rs and Premier. They suggested amalgamating Female Refuge and Reformatory, as it was thought it would lx* easier to get a grant for an already existing institution. On full consideration of the matter with the ladies of the committee, it was found building and surroundiugs most unsuitable, and moat undesirable to in any way disturb the* Refuge arrangements, the committee, by their good management, having made it almost entirely self-supporting. Parliament being too much occupied with other matters, it was found nothing could Ih* done this session, but the members have not lost sight of the matter, which, in view of the alarming increase in Juvenile depravity, it is felt is of great importance. Sailors’ Rest department is in a most encouraging condition, and the appointment of a Gospel Temperance Committee for work then* has been found of great value. A meeting was held on the appearance of Hon. J. A. Millar's Liquor Hill, which was fully discussed thereat, aL telegrams express-

ing the Union’s strong disapproval of the Hill were sent to the Premier and various Members. Thanks are especially due to Hon. M. J. S. Mackenzie, who was most courteous and kind in this matter. Work among the young has lxx*n earri«*d on to a small extent through the labours of our Superintendent of Hands of Hope and his assistant. It is. however, intended to form a branch of the L.T.L. at an early date. It is pleasing to note awakening interest among the members in the important questions of the Bible in Schools, Sabbath Desecration, and Juvenile Depravity, as well as in the Temperance cause. The Mothers’ Sowing M«*eting is proving a great success, and has lx*en so well managed that it is now self supporting. Evangelistic w ork has l**en carried on all the year. The usual Christmas te* meeting was held in connection with the Rest, and was a great success. A Sale of Work has also lxx*n held during the year for this work, and resulted in the handsome sum of AIM odd being taken. Our one auxiliary. Port Chalmers, reports cottage meetings much appreciated, and a women’s tea meeting brought to a successful issue. NABKHV. This Union has Ih*cii attached to Dunedin as an auxiliary.—M. S. Powill On December 14 we held a public meeting* at the close of which twelve young people took the pledge. Our Technical classes were very successful, twenty-six names l**ing entered for membership. Educational meetings have l>een largely attended, reports—bringing out the most striking points in the papers contributed—lx*ing sent to the press. At the loginning of the year we invited Mrs Miller up to give a course of cookery lessons, which were well attended, and the financial results satisfactory. Our membership isjargely increased.

HAWERA. Our branch is holding its own, but we are sorry to report a decrease of membership. Our President's return will, I hope, revive matters. We hope to have a meeting to receive her. We have had three home meetings. At the last one six new members joined, and several others were interested. Through the illness of the President, the Manaia Union has collapsed, and the Hand of Hope is in abeyance. Kit ham still holds on. though it does not ap|H*nr to increase. They distribute some literature. At Okaiawa a Somerset Union was formed. They have had no meeting for nearly a year, hut intend to give leaflets to the school children to take home, and have, since Ixing organise!, car red on a successful Loyal Teni|x*rance League, with a membership of 40 and an average attendance of 20, under the leadership of Miss Joll. PALMERSTON NORTH. Good work in Social Purity and Rescue work departments has been done, also assistance given to Maori work. Literature has

b<*en sent to the br.sh stations in the vicinity of Mangaweka, and is appreciated. A Temperance party was held in grounds kindly lent by Mr Par* and addresses given by Miss Powell and others. Pa h i a i i’A still struggles on under many difficulties, but hopes, with outside help, to grow during the year. Colttok. Monthly meetings ; with good attendance, aud a doubled membership, for the year. Two drawing-room meetings have U*en held, with g«*od results, first Anniversary was held in September. Public meeting was addressed by Miss Kirk. House-to-house invitations. and members visited who were ill. All meetings reports! in \\ hits Ribiion, and sjxvial m«*etings advertised in local papers. A lending library has lxx*u started with alx»ut forty books, and we hope to incre;ise. M akton has a L.T.L. with seventy-six niemlters in connection with its Union, and has done g<x>d work in giving scientific Temperance instruction to the young. The President, Miss Spence, has lx*en very ill during the year, and has been kindly helped hv \l rv (ierdon lb** ll’nmaa’s Signal, Medical Temperance Review, and \N hite Ribbon an* taken by the Union. We also t<x>k twentyfive copies of “ The Shadow of Tammany. Woodvillr finds great difficulties in working, on account of the small community and the difficulty of getting together. Fi’LDiNa.— Bible reading twice a mouth. Many members work at Dorcas and Missionary meetings and working parties. The Union has contributed to the Maori Mission. Miss Kirk lias addressed one public meeting. A letter has lx*en written to our Parliamentary representative re cigarette selling to children under sixt«*en yearv of age. V\e also wish to join in the petition to Parliament for the curfew ltell. Work has been undertaken in connection with Sunday tratling and Bible reading in schools. Literature has l»©en distributed on Temperance, Sabbath Observance, SiX’ial Purity, etc. Tea has been provided by some members of our Union for cricketers, on the understanding that no strong drink should I■ • \km on the field. Work mmm women has Iteen attempted, also sewing classes for poor children. AtHURXT has Ixvn compelled to disband for want of workers. Foxtom works under many difficulties. Mrs Ostler and Miss Dalrymple have promised to come to our help if we arrange a public meeting.

GISBORNE. The only auxiliary, Ormond, has collapsed, owing to the removal from the district of nearly all the members. INVERCARGILL. Victoria Home.— The management of this institution has taken up the time of some of our most active members, and the ordinary work of the Union has in consequence suffered somewhat during the past year. Organizing Agist. ihe Christchurch Union wrote proposing to appoint an Organizing Agent for the South island. vVe approved of the plan, and guaranteed the sum of A.*9 towards her salary. Curfew Hell,—The increase of juvenile depravity lias lxvn causing us a great deal of anxiety of late, and, the matter having been discussed in our Union, it lias been suggested that a boll should lx* rung at an early hour

every evening, at which time it would l*e required that all children under a certain age should return to their homes. This plan has lw*en adopted in many American towns, and has U*en found to work most beneficially We have thought that the l**st plan to put this into execution is for the different V nions to unite in aendicg a petition to Parliament We have communicated with all the Unions, fiftysix in number. LiTrsATFRit Dvpautiont.—There an* 2d suhscrilsTs to the White Kiabon in this town. * Arrangements have lieen made to place suitable literature in the carriage* of the Bluff Sunday trains. Articles bearing on T»*iu|*eranoe work have also been regularly inserted in the Southern Cross. I'hayek McrriNos. —The Mothers’ Prayer Meetings held in the Ternperanee Hall have now been discontinued, and ladies invited to attend the weekly Prayer Meetings held in the Victoria Home. 11 ospita .. Vihtiko Las l een regularly < arrie<l on by Mesdanies Harper and Lumsden. who have distributed Ihjolcs and paja rs among the patients. HOKITIKA. I have to report that eleven ordinary meetings have held, with an average attendance of six. The Mothers* Meetinga have lieen most satisfactoiv, held weekly in various cottage* in the town, with an average attendance of 10. Under the superintendence of Mis Smith, very profitable timet have l>een sj»ent. Various subjects have U*en taken up Biblical, Mission, Temperance, with readings from popular writers. The Girls’ Sewing Class has lx*en carried on durng the w intar months. Sixteen girls have attended, under the su|s*rinU‘ndunce of Miss Barnard, and. while sewing, Temperance instruction has been given. Those who had n«»t done so previously signed the Temperance pledge. These are the only two branches which we have taken up with any success during the past year. To outside funds we have contributed the following: —N.Z. Maori Work, l»w; Willard Temple Fund, 12s. We have subscribed again this year to the ll’owioa’s Simai and White Ribbon.- On behalf of the Lnion, Makion B. Jack. lion. St*c. BLENHEIM. We have to n*p»rt with regret that the year has l*n.*n one of gn at difficulty, arising from various sources, it has l>een a year of great depression financially The working expenses have been very heavy in connection with the working of the rooms, not sufficient support given to make them pay; hut we still hope to survive and hold our own The l nion secured the Uioth privilege at the Cycling Club sj»orts which brought in aliout £ln, enabling us to secure the dicing and refreshment booths at the A A I*. Show. Literature and Cottage Meetings.—These branches of work have been attended to. A few drawing room meetings have l*een held, well attended, and much enjoyed. Mrs F. W. lsitt visited Blenheim and addressed several meetings. Hope we maybe able to fumibh a brighter and more progressive programme next year. jV V | Secretaries. L. J. Gkiffin )

OKKYMOUTH. Eleven matings, at which various Tem-pi-ranee subject- wen* discussed, and also other subjects of moral interest to the community. Public meet.Lgs have b«*en held, and six pledges taken. Monthly prayer meetings have i*een held, conducted by various members. Juvenile work, under the* supervision of Mrs Gaskin, has lieen taken up; numb r of members, 113 - boys 31, girls fi2 Rescue work has lteen taken up; one girl and her child have lieen sent to a Home in Wellington. Parrels of literatim* have U*en distributed every Sunday morning to the sailors on board the Ih>ats in port. The Union warmly entered into the plan of arranging for an Organizing Agent, and sent the allotted sum. Hkcknebton repirts six regular and four special meetings. Four pledges have U*en taken. We did not see our way clear to assist in raising funds to get an Organising \gent appointed for the South Island. A Boys' Club is under consideration. We procured six new subscriber* for the White Kikbom, also collected A\ 17s for the sick and n«*edy, and 15s for the Maori Mission A presentation was made to our late H'»n. S<*e., Miss Scott, and great regret expressed at losing such a valuable member.

WELLINGTON. Under the superintendence of Miss Chisholm. three successful drawing-room meetings have been held, and papers given ou ** Sabbath «ihservance,” “ Hygiene,” and “ Women and the Franchise.” Visits have been regularly made to the Hospital and Home for Aged Poor. We have lost a valuable helper in Miss Godfrey, Matron, who has left for England. We also regret losing so valuable a helper as Mrs Gibson. Occasion was taken at her departure to present her with a clock. Mrs Judkins spoke ou lie half of the N.Z.A., Mr \tkinson and Mr Helyer for the I\L , and the President and Mrs Boxall for the Union. We hold Bible readings for women every Sabbath afternoon, and excellent work is done at Newtown amongst the girls. Cottage visiting has l**en carried on regularly. By the death of Professor Kirk we have lost one honorary member, who always took a very deep and sympathetic interest in the work of the Union. Levin* Kegret so little done, through members lieiug so scattered. Literature has lieen distributed ; also five copies of Kev Wills hook are l*eing lent around Maktkkion. —Have placed a Bible at the railway station, and a l*>x to be supplied with literature. PrrOHi is working well, and has regular cottage meetings. KAIAPOI. We have held twelve ordinary, twelve prayer and Bible lesson, and one public meeting. Addresses have l*eeii given by Mesdatnes Armitage and Newton, Sis er Christian, and Kev K. W. Isitt. Ensigns Harvey and Grew (8.A.). Papers have beeu read by members oil sule jects connected with our work. A delegate and other memU-rs visited the District Convention, Christchurch A sjHtial meeting was held here in August re cigarette smoking and gambling. Addresses were given by the President, ministers, and members of Union. We sincerely hope that some steps may Ik* taken at the coming Convention in connection with these very important subjects. Our President and another member attended the District Convention at Leeston in October.

We have exchanged visits with Atnberley and Kangiora. Tw-o copies of the l nion Signal, British White Ribbon, and Medical Referee are tak»-n. Literature has lieen distributed from house to house, and left at railway station. Relief has !»«*en given when needed, and two patients sent to tfie Convalescent Home, and maternity bag and blankets lent. The Coff«*erootus are well hoMing their own. Three pounds were raised towards the Temple* Fund. Kanomka —This has l**en a quiet year, but with a new President and Secretary great things an* hoped for in the coming year. Ambkkliy. Monthly meetings, papers read, and social questions discussed. Seven new subscribers to White Ribbon. One new wemtier. NAPIER. Bcvent<<en new memU*rs, and twenty-two meetings during the year. The Annual Convention was held here last February, and created a greater interest in our work. Educational meetings have been held, Mrs Brown lieing the principal speaker. Mrs Morrison, Superintendent of Evangelistic Department, has done good work, but we are sorry she has to resign on account of failing health. Draw-ing-room meetings have been successfully carried on under the superintendence of Mrs L«*ask, and have lieen the means of obtaining most of our new memliers. Thirty shillings have lieen spent on literature for distribution. The Tetujieranoe societies of Napier support a Temperance column in the Indy Telegraph Our President visits the Hospital weekly. Okuonhvii.i.k repirts tie* distribution of Temperance, Missionary, and other literature.