NOTES AND COMMENTS.

White Ribbon, Volume 12, Issue 139, 15 December 1906, Page 8

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

The W.C.T.IT. Anneal C< invention ok 1907. —As intimated elsewhere in our pages, the Christchurch Union is arranging for the holding of the Annual Convention a little earlier than usual. February 13th is the date decided upon. Considering the added attraction of the Kxliibition, the attendance will doubtless be large. It is hoped that Secretaries of I (lions, or others in authority, will speedily acquaint the Christchurch Secretary with the n unber and names of intending visitors, so that hospitality may be arranged. It is specially needful to be prompt this year, as in nearly every Christchurch household a series of visitors has to la* planned for.

\\X. CORRESPONDING SECRETARY.— We understand that, in response to enquiries, Miss Powell has intimated that, in all probability, other duties will so occupy her time as to make it i in possible for her to act as N.Z. W.C.T.U. Cor. Secretary. She is, therefore, obliged t<* decline nomination for re-election to that otlice. but suggests the nomination of Miss Alice Webb, who is at present Assistant Cor. Secretary. The World’s W.C.T.U. Convention. —The Union Signal, containing an account of the World's Convention held at Boston towards the end of October, came to hand just too late for the insertion of a report of the proceedings this month. Lady Henry Somerset had intimated that she was unable to offer herself for re-election, and the Countess of Carlisle, President of the 8.W.T.A., was therefore unanimously elected to the Presidency of the \\ orld s W.C. I’.U. The other officers were re-elected : Mrs. Lilian M. Stevens, Vice-President at large; Miss Agnes E. Slack and Miss Anna A. Gordon, lion, secretaries; and Miss Mary E. Sanderson, treasurer. Person\l. —The many friends of Mrs. Blackwell, of Kaiapoi, will be gratified to hear that she is now making steady pp>gress towards health. Mrs. ( ddham, President of the Napier Union, and N.Z. Superintendent of Hygiene, has, we regret to hear, been indisposed for some weeks. A Generols Society. —The Invercargill Rechabites have forwarded, through the Invercargill W.C.T.U., a

donation of two guineas towards the excuses of the W.C.T.I . Bay at the Exhibition. The committee in charge of the Bay are deeply appreciative of the friendly spirit which prompted tin* gift. These Southern friends evidently recognise the value of tin* Bay in tin* direction of educating the general public in Temperance principles.

Oik Seamen. Mr. Laurenson, M.H.R., is doing a good work by bis repeated efforts to rouse public opinion with regard to the wretched conditions under which the sailors and firemen on

many of the vessel* engaged in the New Zealand and intercolonial trade live—or exist. Ihe W.C.T.U. should certainly lend a hand in this good work. It is well to provide Rests and comfort hags, religious services and socials, for those who go down to the sea in ships, hut it is surely not one whit less important to see that while on board their accommodation is such as does not outrage decency and health.

Y.W.C.A. —We understand that a Y.W.C.A. Conference is to beheld in Christchurch from February nth toSth, when friends from far and near, who are interested in young women, “ will assemble for mutual prayer, conference and organisation.’ Meetings for Women.— The Dunedin friends are doing a good work in arranging meetings for women in the Garrison Hall on Sunday afternoons. One held in November was most successful, ami arrangements were made to bold another 1 .*t Sunday, when, in accordance with a request, it was expected that Dr. Siedeberg would repeat her impressive and womanly lecture on Self-Control in relation to the Health of the Body. The Ashm etos Union and a Magistrates Leniency. -A deputation from the Ashburton I nion and the NoLicense Council waited on the Premier recently in reference to the extreme leniency displayed by the Stipendiary Magistrate towards persons engaged in an illegal liquor traffic in their NoLicense district. Sir .Joseph Ward promised that the Minister of Justice should investigate the whole matter.