Napier Headquarters.-New Willard Institute.

White Ribbon, Volume 17, Issue 199, 18 January 1912, Page 5

Napier Headquarters.-New Willard Institute.

The opening of the new W.C.T.r. Willard I institute at Napier, took plaee on December 14th, 1011, in the presence of a representative gathering of I'lergy and White Ribboners. The Bishop of Waiapu Bishop Averill was presented with u silver key with which ho opened the door, saying his hope and prayer was that the blessing of God would rest upon the Institute and the work it proposed to do. In the course of the Bishop’s address he congratulated the Union on their success in the work they had undertaken. His support and sympathy were wholly with the movement of Christian Temperance, trod had put man into tin* world to make the best of himself, the higher part of his nature to control the lower, so that ho should be a complete man. When National Prohibition was carried which it probably would be if the religious side of the movement was deepened and emphasised, there would -till be need of temperance work, lie was glad to know the movement was intended to include the Maoris and urged the necessity of providing hostels in Napier, Hastings, Gisborne and Tauranga to accommodate members of the Native race. When the religious instinct was aroused the Maoris realised that drink v»us a curse leading only to their degradation. Mrs < ddham, who presided, gave a statement showing the cost of the land and building to be ill 100. <)f this upwards of £OOO had been raised, and debentures issued for 200 £1 shares repayable w ithout interest in twelve months. Votes of thanks were given by acclamation to the architect Mr Finch, who returned the usual fees as a donation to the fuuds, to Mr Dearhjve, who acted as honorary clerk of the works, and to Mr Fossey. The Kev. J A. Asher proposed and Canon Tuke seconded a vote of thanks to the Bishop, who conclu led the meeting by pronouncing the benediction.