IN THE FIELD.

White Ribbon, Volume 22, Issue 257, 18 November 1916, Page 5

IN THE FIELD.

Leaving Ngaruawah'a, 1 travelled to Waihi to attend the»r October meeting, where we arranged that I should return to work up the one a month later. Here I was tin- guot of Mrs Lochore at the manse. Feeling it to be quae a slur upon our organisation that we have no branch at Thames, l spent a day there in visiting, and could have enrolled a number of members, but the only ladies suitable for leaders were already so much engaged that to organise just now would be to court failure, and the same may be said of Paeroa. Hamilton District Convention had been fixed for October 111 h ac Cambridge, but the day was ushered in with a deluge of rain. !• rtends arrived from the District l nion, Ngaruawahia, Morrinsville, and our new branch at Te Ku.ti, but in tar It ss numbers than had been antic.pated. However, about a dozen faithful souls braved the elements, and the Cambridge folks turned out in full force, so a pleasant and profitable time was spent. From there 1 returned to Hamilton, and attended one or two meetings there. I had intended going straight on to Bay of Plenty, but correspondence with Miss Dewar changed the programme, and 1 decided to attend the Auckland District Convention on 51h, visiting some smaller L’ll ions en route. 1 arrived at Tuakau on the 18th, after very short notice*, to find that the District Union had been in recess the whole of this year. Mrs Bycroft, at considerable inconvenience, took me to her honn*, and 1 visited most of tin* members within reach before the weather again broke. The\ decided to make .1 fresh start in February, and I am to visit them l iter, as well :i> the* Pukekohe Branch. 1 spent a day in the latter town, and found our members were keeping the tl ig Hying in the face of a good many difficulties. My departure from luakau was accomplished in a storm of wind and rain, but happily the latter had ceased by the time Onehunga was reached, though the gale tore a hatpin from its moorings and a hole in my hat. Here 1 was met by the husband of the President, Mr S. F. Logan, one of our White Ribbon brothers, late of Waipukurau. I have never forgotten how, when I was an inmate of his home' at that town.

he (then postmaster) carried the tray of cakes, etc., up the street to the church. The change of residence and the freedom from official duties have greatly improved his health, while Mrs Logan is just as cheery and enthusiastic as ever. A few visits were paid among the members, and on Tuesday 1 travelled to Au< kland, and went out to Mt. Fden to see our comrade, Mr*- J. Smith, late of Wang mui, who resides in a pretty bungalow just opposite the home of her daughter. 1 was so favoured as to be the guest of my dear friend, Mrs G. W. J. Spence, and the renewal of old friendships was very delightful. The District Convention was a great success, delegates being present from a number of auxiliaries. Among the visitors were Mrs Gaskin (Greymouth) and Miss Gaustad (Urcnui). Pukekohe was reached the following day (jbth), and 1 managed to hit the* ordinary meeting. There was an encouraging attendance, although a number of members are s:ck. Miss McCarthy’s circular was dealt with, the Cradle Roll taken up, and arrangements made for < ir< ulating Purity books. Friday evening found me at the Oddfellows’ Hall. Hamilton, discoursing on “Girls and Their Lovers’ to a good audience. At the close of the* talk seven girls belonging to the lapsed Y Branch and four more joined the Union, and it was arranged to hold an evening meeting as soon as it could be arranged. Waihi was the next sphere of work, and I was met on the Saturday by my host, Rev. P. Cossum, and taken to £ic parsonage. The intervening days having been spent in visiting, on Thursday (November 2nd) the monthly meeting was held, which in thi> case took the form of an America a tea. The attendance was not large, several of the members being away from home. I gave an address on the work of the Union. Six new members were secured, and a pleasant afternoon spent. Waihi is a fearsome place to canvass, as one is in perpetual terror of waking some poor fellow who has been at work all night. These “shifts” interfere considerably with the Union, too, for when a man is expected home to dinnri at four oYloc k it is not easy f»*r his wife to attend an afternoon meeting.

For some time 1 had been in correspondence with one of our Normanby members, who had removed to Kati Kati, Bay of Plenty, with reference to organising a branc h there. Accordingly 1 arrived there on the Friday, to find that Mrs Baines had invited a number of ladies to her home for that afternoon. Only six came (one being already a member), and the hvc joined, so although wc* have no officers, we have already, with the three removed here from other Unions, a nucleus of eight members. Wc are planning home meetings, etc., and expect to succeed. M. S. POWELL, Dominion Orangiser. Addrc ss for this month: Co Miss X. Dewar, Pompallier Terrace, Au< kland.