News of the Unions.

White Ribbon, Volume 15, Issue 176, 16 February 1910, Page 4

News of the Unions.

[The Editor cannot promise to insert anything in t)it* next issue that does not roach her by the Bth of tin* month. Correspondents arc requested to write their Reports as concisely •‘as possible, on one side of the paper only. Newspaper cutting are unsuitable.]

CHRISTCHURCH The tirst meeting of the Union for 1910 was held on Wednesday, January 2t>th ; Mrs Cole, president, occupied the'chair, and there was a good attendance of members. The president referred to the proposals made by the Mon. Mr. Findlay in connection with prison reform, industrial homes and reformatories, and the treatment of defective children, ami it was resolved to write to the Minister, supporting and thanking him for his suggestions. A letter was received from the Minister for Education, stating that the question of the introduction of scientific temperance teaching into the public schools would receive careful and sympathetic consideration. Superintendents of departments were elected as follows ;* Evangelistic work, unfermented wine, and Jubilee Home, Mrs I‘eilh-r ; \\ oi k among young people, Mesdames KJytli and 11. Smith ; Scientific temperance and nvn-alcoholic medication, Mrs Wicks; Mother’s meetings and Cradle roll, Mesdaines Ferguson, Holt, and Lloyd ; Purity, Mrs 11. .Smith ; Narcotics, Miss L. Smith ; Peace and Arbitration, Mrs Wise; Literature, Miss M. Smith; Legal and Parham- ntary, Mrs Sheppard ; Educational meetings. Miss W Lovell Smith ; Anti-gambling, Mrs T K Taylor; Hygiene, Mrs Lovell Smith ; Winn- Ribbon agent, Mrs Williams; \ ice Presidents, Mesdaines Rlyth, Field, Sheppard and W illiams The appointment of superintendents of other departments was held over for further consideration. Mrs Rlyth and Miss NL Smith were appointed delegates to the annual Dominion ('onveutiou. It ".as decided to hold a tea and entertainment at Jubilee Home MIL Ihursday, February f»th. Ihe hal.iuce sheet fot the year 1909 was read arid adopted.*

TIMARU. , We Uie New \ ear with earnest determination to go forward... Our president, Mrs Rule, I’ulfed.eai'h one of us to do our best and to-be mfrftnierA ih earnest. Our Y Union is to tweet inf the 7th, when we lay liefore them our srhoui*-for work Mr Stead reported a busy Ui'Hiili Out' RkWit has been pi luted outside ami IU, aiyl loujis very cosy,.clean, and comfortable. A deputation from (lu- W C.T.U lies ! by Mrs Lill of Ashburton waited on the Methodist ConferencF in Timaru, and urged upon them the claim uf respect for the Karbbatli. Mrs Rub-, our provident, was appointed delegate, to l)i»- Convention. One hew ibember was initiatyd." ‘ NAPIER. . The annual, meeting was liejd on December loth, in St Pauls schoolroom and was well attended. Mrs J. H Oldham presided and delivered an opening address Miss Shepherd, in the twenty fifth annual report, stated that the roll number of IG4 showed the highly satisfac-

tory increase of 87 members. After referring to those who had been removed by death, the Secretary said that special mention should l>e made of Mrs Sandilands, who, for some time, was president, and only relinquished her connection through illness, ami of Mrs Morrison, who, for many years, was a very active member. 1 he official registration of the Union was effected on July 17th, thus giving legal status with respect to the proposed Temperance hall, the site of w hich was acquired last year. The sale of work organised for the same purpose realised I\o, ami two successful jumble sales were held at Port Ahuriri. The branch had been specially honoured by the election of Mesdauies Oldham and Ingram to the Napier School Committee lhe new department - the “Loyal Temperance Legion," had been launched so successfully, that larger premises were required. Perhaps the most signal effort of the year had lieeit among the Native Unions. The president had addressed meetings at the Hukarere School in the year under review, and the proceeding year, w tli the result that twenty-eight or thirty girls, all over fifteen years, had signed the pledge. Several reports of the working of the various departments were presented recording considerable activity in educative and reform work. The treasurer's report showed a small credit balance. The election of officers resulted as follows ‘ President, Mrs J. H. Neal ; Treasurer, Mrs Mcarlove (re-elected); Recording Secretary, Miss Shepherd ; Co/respondiug Secretary, Mrs Kerr. Mrs Oldham, on retiring from the presidency, after occupying the position for five years, was presented by Mrs Dodds, on behalf of the branch, w ith a pair of cut glass silver mounted scent bottles. Mrs Mcarlove was appointed delegate to the coming Convention. Sister Moody Bell, of Kumara, addressed the meeting. Afternoon tea was dispensed, and the meeting closed with the benediction. The tirst meeting of the year was held on the 20th iust. Mrs .J Herbert Neal, the newly appointed president, occupied the chair for the first time. Many topics of interest were discussed and dealt w ith.

PALMERSTON NORTH. The annual meetiii*; was held on December LUh, Mrs Snow. President, in the chair. 1 lu-re was a good attendance. lhe reports of the Treasurer and Secretary as read, were adopted. Br ing a district Union the Secretary regretted that only one of the auxilaries had sent in their report this was from the latest branch, Dauuevirke, which showed that they had been successful in obtaining sixteen memla* ra for a start. The reports of the various department* showed a steady increase and success in all their undertakings. The literature box at the railway station was very much appreciated hv the travelling public, and the literature distributed weekly to the patients of ; the public hospital was also much enjoyed. The refreshment stall at the show ground had lieen successful. The incmhcrship had more than doubled during the year. The average attendance of members at the meetings had not l>een so high as it should be, This year educational meetings are going to start at once so as to iucrea-e the interest ; we hope to get all the mends r» at the meetings. The first meeting in the ntw year will be held on March 4th. T'lit* election of officers resulted as follows I President, Mrs H. Mowlem ; Vice-Presidents, Mesdaines Whitehead (re-elected) and Know ; breastih*r, Mrs Laybourne ; Secretary, Mrs F. McDonald re-elected ; Assistant Secretary, Miss Astbury; White Ribbon agent, -Miss

Baker, (re-elected) ; Organist, Mrs (Raider (re* elected); Superintendents of Departments: - Literature, Mis Whitehead (re-elected ; Evangelistic, Mrs Collins re-elected) : Scientific Medical Temperance, Mrs Redder re-elected The following new departments will be taken up this year. Narcotics, Mrs Holbrook ; Drawing room meeting, Mrs T. T. Thomas; Cradle roll, Mrs Hodges; New Memliers, Mrs (1. Miller. It was decided to start a branch among the young people ; Mrs Snow was elected to this. Afternoon tea was served by the inemWrs. A hearty vote of thanks was carried to Mrs Snow, the retiring President, for the work die had done for the Union during her term of office. A vote of thanks was passed to the Secretary, for her labours in presenting the annual report, and for her work during the past year. Mrs Molem, the new president, in taking the chair thanked the members for the position they had placed her in and Imped that they would all work together throughout the coming year, for the best interests of the Union. Mrs McDonald was appointed delegate to the Convention.

FEILDINO. There was a good attendance at our meeting oil the 2nd inst. It was decided to appoint Mrs Scandritt of Invercargill as our proxy at the Convention A social will i*e held on the l*'th inst. to celebrate the Frances Willard Day. An experienced member of long standing w as heartily welcomed amongst us. REEFTON. It is a long time since a report of our Union w as submitted, but there lias not been much to report, on account of our members being so few. We have been unable to hold many meetings, and our President has been for three months to Ballarat. However, we have been stirred up by Miss Powell’s visit, and we had some very interesting meetings, four members joining us. We held our annual meeting in December and re-elected ourotlicers as follows : Mrs McClyinont, President ; Mrs Lawn, Secretary and Treasurer; Mrs Watson, Cradle roll Superintendent ; Mrs B. Roberts, Superintendent of Maori Work.

WINCH MO RE. We had a visit from Mis* Powell, which did us all good, on December Kith, on which date our district picnic was held. On the 17th she gave her lecture, “ Hirls and their Lovers," to a large audience of young folk On the Sunday Miss Powell spoke to the Sunday Schools, and on the Monday she addressed a public meeting presided over by the Rev. K. J. Liddell. As a result of the meeting we got four honorary memliers, and two ordinary members have joined since, so we are feeling encouraged. N E VALLEY (DUNEDIN .

The first meeting for this year was held on January 27th. There w hs a good attendance of members. Mrs J. Ilislop occupied the chair. Apologies were received from several memlicrs. The President Mrs Mason was absent through illness in the family. A large amount of correspondence was read and dealt w ith. Three new members were initiated. Mrs Wright was appointed delegate to the Convention in Invercargill. EON SON BY. The annual meeting was held on I)ee'*ml*T 9. Mr> \ Jokers, \ .P., presided. The secretary’* report was *ead and adopted. The rejsirt of work done at the refreshment booth, Alexandra

Park, Show Day, was also submitted. ("lire. ti»in cards fur tin* no-liccns** were received, of a very novel nature. Three »ew nieinUrH joiued tin* union. Flu following officers were elected : Mrs ('. (I. Harris, president ; Mrs S. A. Plummer, secretary ; Mrs A. llimlnian, treasurer; Mrs Vickers, superintendent (\ R. work. LOWER MUTT. At our usual monthly meeting Mrs Met'aw j'resided. Aftir the opening exereis<s were none through a giNxl ileal of eorrespoml* nee was read and discussed. Mrs Jan*' n was appointtsl delegate to the Convention. It was dr ideal to send a letter of sympathy to Mrs Spilman, who has recently silti- red a severe trial in the death of her son. Mrs. Johnson, our trustee, has also died. A card of condolence was sent her daughter. Mrs Jenm*Hs was ap|N>iut<al trustee in her stead. New officers have been elected, and we hope >i»oii to be aide to report that several more have joined our ranks. K AIAPOI. The twentieth anniversary of this union was held on Wednesday, ‘Jtifh January, The annual r. poits of the Kaiapoi, |{ inyit.ia, and Waikari l iiions wa re read. It was decided that a letter of congratulation h * sent to the Waikari l ni<»n for the sph ndid report they showed for so small a union. Ihc treasurer's rein»rt showed a small balance in hand. The manager of the eotf< • rooms report disclosed a small mil it balance. Tin* nominations for the N.Z. ottiei rs r< suited is follow s Pivsid' nt, Mis. Cole, com spoiidiiiL’ se ( rctarv, Mr- Perryman; reeordimr secretary, Mrs Mitchell; treasurer, Mrs McCoomhs. Phe meeting voted unanimously ayaiust Mrs I All's proposals re delegates’ expenses. Mrs Harrison was elected delegate to eouvi ution. Ihe president urv r ed the members to take an active interest in the forthe»mintr sclusd committee election. Mrs Soiilby proposed that a resolution of sympathy l>e forwarded t » Mrs R. Kv.ms and Mrs T. (i. Black well on the trying times that they have Inn passing through owing to the illness of tlnir respeeiive sons. Cratitnation was expressed at the splendid recovery that both had made. Miss Powell gave an instructive address entitled “The origin and aims of the W. C. T. l\” Musical items wen? given by Mrs Wyllie and Mrs A'Court and Film, after which n fteshinents were handed round to a large gathering.