WAIAPU PROHIBITION LEAGUE.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 250, 30 October 1901, Page 3

WAIAPU PROHIBITION LEAGUE.

FAREWELL TO REV. CANON

WEBB. A I.AKGELY-ATTENIihIJ meeting of the ■ Waiapu Prohibition League was held ar i the Tneatre Royal last evening to bic j farewell to the Rev. Canon M ebb, whc i has been one of the most earnest workers j in the cause of temperance in this district I for some years past. ; Prayer having been offered by the Rev. I Canon Webb, the Chairman of the meetj ing (Mr C. A. DeLautour) briefly explained j the object of the gathering. He stated I that times of should uoi nGCCt* - ; sarily mean times of sadness, and he hoped the proceedings during the even--1 ing would be of a bright and cheerful character. Mr Buckingham was called upon for a tong, hut not being present the Chairman asked the Rev. Rothwell to address the meeting. Mr Rothwell, in the course of an excellent address, referred to the lo=s that the district was sustaining in losing the services of the Rev. Canon Webb. He pointed out that Gisborne's loss would mean a gain to another district. The views of the Rev. Canon Webb on tiie temperance question were always expressed with moderation, gentlemanly courtesy, and fairness to the other side. He was sure that he was expressing the i views of all present when he said that j Canon and Mrs Webb would carry away j with them the best wishes of the residents j if the district fur their future welfare and :

l i prosperity. Mrs Sicvwright was the second speaker, j She said that the Rev. Canon and Mrs ! Webb were present with them that evenI ing for the last time, and she was sure I that regret was the dominant note iri the ‘ heart-, of ail. She paid a high tribute to I the work done by them during their resiI deuce in Gisborne, and made lengthy j reference to the degrading and degeneratj ing effects of alcohol upon humanity. She i expressed pleasure at the tact that Canon ' Webb would in future bo able to stand j forth uiihuiniicupped to fight in the cause |of temperance. Canon Webb was not going far from Gisborne, and from time j to time would no doubt visit the district and assist the temperance cause. She was sure that they both carried away with them the best wishes of all present. Mr A. Webb then recited “ The Story of a Stowaway," the piece being received with much applause. Mr Buckingham was then called upon to address the meeting. He expressed pleasure at seeing the representatives of the several churches to tho front in advocating the temperance cause, and lie specially mentioned the services rendered hv Rev. Canon Webb and Rev. J. G. l’aterson. The Waiapu Prohibition League were, ho said, fortunate in having so long for their President a gentleman who was a leading light in the Anglican Church, lie hoped in future to sue every representative of the churches an advocate for temperance. (Applause.) Referring to the vote at the last poll, Mr Buckingham said that they only required another five hundred votes to carry prohibition in this district. He was sure that this number could be obtained, and then the whole thing would be wiped out. He knew of no place in the colony bettor adapted fora trial of prohibition than Gisborne was. Tile district was shut off from the rest of the colony and was not easy of access. If no-license were carried here they would not have the difficulties to contend with that they had in other districts. There was also another significant fact, and that was that whilst 3200 men recorded their voles, only 1700 women had done so. This was hard to account for, and would lead one to think that there were no ladies present. Looking round at various social gatherings he had been led to think differently, and lie was sure that this was the weak spot that they had to get over. They should endeavor to get all the ladies in tiio district on the roll, and they would then sec how much stronger they were. He hoped that New Zealand would be the first place in the world to lead the way in regard to total prohibition. He was sure that if they put their shoulder to the wheel there would be little doubt about prohibition being carried in this district next year. Refreshments were then handed round by a number of ladies, and a pleasant half-hour was spent in social intercourse, j Mr Buckingham gave a. splendid render- j ing of " The Better Land," for which he! was deservedly encored. Tin- Rev. .1. G. Paterson made a short i speech expressing regret at the departure j of Canon Webb front the Gisborne dis- j triet. Ho hud formed a fast friendship j witii Canon "Webb, and iice was sure that j no one could wish a better eoturiido in j lighting the prohibition cause. (Applause.) j Mr Paterson also paid a high tribute of! praise to the work done by Mrs Webb, j especially in connection with temperance i ami social work. He was sure that both Canon and Mrs Webb would be very much missed by all classes throughout the district. Mr Hast sang with much feeling " Not Good-bye." which was much appreciated. The Chairman then presented the Rev. Canon Webb with the following address from members and friends of the Waiapu Prohibition League: •• Rev. A. S. Webb, M.A., Canon of the Diocese of Waiapu : Dear Sir.—Wc beg to thank you for the very valuable services you have rendered to tho temperance cause during your nine years’ residence at Gisborne. Since the principle of local option for districts has been established in law, as applicable to the existing system of license, the electors of Waiapu have at repeated elections manifested the plain j desire of the majority to abolish the | licensed sale of alcoholic- liquors. That this has been so, is we think largely due to the progressive influence which has been always exerted by yourself and Mrs Webb. Although by your removal to Ormondvillc we shall lose your fellowship and kindly co-operation, we recognise that the cause we alike serve will continue to have your unflagging support. Perhaps it is not to much to hope, that when we i next meet upon a common platform, it j may be for mutual congratulations that I New Zealand, educated from north to south by the efforts made to obtain local option for electoral districts, in which efforts you have so largely shared, will have risen in her strength and adopted national prohibition, which many thoughtful persons think is now within reach. : Wc wish you many happy years in your retirement, and beg to assure you of our , continuous respect and affection." _ , Mr DeLautour, prior to reading the | : address, said he would like to enter his | protest against lost things being ueees- ( i sarilv sad things. He never looked upon j j the ending of a man's career in any one ; ! place as being in itself a sad thing, pro- i 1 vide,! that career had been marked by ; ! honesty and ability up to the man's | ; stature. A man should endeavor to make ; \ the most of the opportunities for benefiting j j his fellow men. and should at the same j time remember that the progress of j humanity depended upom the sum of j 1 human effort and net upon individual j effort. In parting with the Rev. Canon | Webb that evening they must admit that | the latter was putting off his armour, having done his work in the judgment of men, ; and as he believed in the judgment of the ; One they had all to deal with, to the best | of his ability, and with no mean results, j Canon Webb could look back upon that work not as one setting out for an enteri prise, but a> one who was glad of the I opportunities offered. The address which I had been presented that evening would j be illuminated and signed by friends oi ; | the temperance cause, and would be a I pleasing memento for Canon Webb to : I carry away with him .to his new home.

lApnhuse). The Eev. Canon Webb, on coining forward. was received with loud and continued applause. He expressed his indebtedness to the League for having held the meeting on the last night of his stay in Gisborne. It was more pleasing to him because he had not expected a meeting of the kind. It was a source of great, gratification to have such an expression of goodwill from them, as well as appreciation of the stand taken on the prohibition question. When he came to Gisborne lie was not a prohibitionist, although for many vears he had been a sincere teetotaller. ‘ He had been forced to his present position by a number of circumstances, and had allowed his conscience to direct him upon all occasions. He was of the firm opinion that there was no other reaiedv for drunkenness than prohibition.

I Whatever they did in the way of persuasion ! was frustrated by the open bars of tempta- : tion which were to be seen on every hand, j He felt that they could not carry out prin- ! ciples of reform and save men from the i danger to which they were exposed until ' ' such places were shut. He had always ! tried to respect his opponents, and show ! feelings of goodwill t cards them. (Apj plause). In fact, fo: any of them he j had a great regard, a:. lgn he did not i like the trade in winch t. were engaged, jHe thought that many l. is opponents j recognised that he had torn fairly, and according to his convictions, i 5 was partij cularly pleased to observe the feeling of i union that existed amongst prohibitionists j iu the district, and he always felt that he I was associated with earnest men. who I were determined to do right at all costs. !He was very much struck with the i earnestness and steadfastness of many I members of the League, men and women j who were working for the good of their j fellow creatures, and who were heart and 1 soul in earnest in advocating the cause of j righteousness. He sincerely hoped that i the prohibition cause would continue to I prosper. Personally he had not done ; much except that he had always been prei pared to stand by others who were doing good. Wherever he went he would continue to work for the prohibition cause with heart and mind, and when the time of the next contest arrived he would be thinking of what they were doing in Gisborne. On behalf of Mrs Webb and himself he thanked the meeting for the ! kind expression of their opinion. (Applause.) A vote ol thanks was according to Mr DeLautour for presiding, and the meeting closed with the Benediction,