H.A. C. B. SOCIETY.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 78, 27 March 1886, Page 5

H.A. C. B. SOCIETY.

New Zocdand District Board.

Tni_ adjourned meeting- of the above Board was held on March 19 in St. Patrick's Hall. Present: Bro. G. J. Sellars, District President (in the chair), and Bros. J. O'Brien, P. Kearney, and Jas. Flynn, Auckland ; R. P. Lonergan, Christchurch ; G. Bradley, Wellington ;S. McGreevy, Waipawa; D. Flynn, Blenheim; J. Patterson, New Plymouth; J. J. Lawlor, Wanganui; W. j. Connolly, Lawrence and T. H. White, Lees tore.

Officers Report.—The Secretary road tho officers' report, which was adopted on the motion of Bro. Patterson, seconded by Bro. D. Flynn. The report referred to the Conference of all the branches held in Wellington at which a District Board for New Zealand was formed, and which had led to the assembling in Auckland of repre aontatives of nearly every branch in New Zealand. The report continued: —" It will be a happiness to you to learn that we have presented a copy of Conference report to His Eminence Cardinal Moran, through the courtesy of the Right Rev. Dr. Redwood, in tho furtherance of a resolution passed at that meeting touching our relations with the Church, and although we received no official acknowledgment, yet we have every reason to believe that the result will be satisfactory to the Society. On tho recent arrival of His Eminence in Christchurch, tho position of tho Socioty enabled your officers to have tho honour aad happiness to present His Eminence with a congratulatory addrnss on behalf of a United Society in Now Zealand, which shall always bo to us a source of pride and gratification. We have on deavoured, to tbo best of our ability, to carry out the recommendations of the Conference as entrusted to üb, and are happy in the thought that the resolutions have, nearly in every instance, been adopted; and ftome, viz., Auckland, Wellington, Blenhoim, Hamilton and Waipawa have taken the necessary steps to join the Board. To all who have watched the struggles of the Society for some years past, this successful formation of the New Zealand District Board must be a groat gratification. The branches which still hold aloof will, we doubt not, speedily join with all the rest, so that there will be no exception, and that the Society, by its unity and increased membership, will attain the position to which it is entitled. At a special meeting the title of the Board was altered to New Zealand, and tbe District Chambers removed to Auckland.'' The report then referred to the opening of new branches, and the increased work thrown on the executive by the Conference. The balance-sheet would show an increase in the Funeral Fund, and a decrease in the overdraft at tbe Bank of the Incidental. The report concluded as follows:—" In order to reduce the overdraft the officers havo in some cases reduced their salaries, in others foregone them altogether, and in the assets and liabilities there is a large surplus of assets. However, there will b$ some expense necessarily incurred in formally and effectively inaugurating the new Board, and to meet thia wo would recommend that tho quarterage to the Board bo retained at 7d for 12 months, by which time the Board will have all its liabilities effaced, and will stand on a sojnd financial position. As our returns are only complete to December, 1885, and aa since that date five of tho E.D. Branches have joined the Board, we are not yet in a position to state tho exact numbers, but roughly estimate them at about 950. In conclusion, we venture to expresa the hope that the impetus ,given the Society in New Zealand by tbe Wellington Conference may be emulated by the Board meeting in Auckland on St. Patrick's Day, and that the success attending this meeting may be the beginning of a long career of usefulness in the discharge of its several important duties. — Fraternally yours, Georgo J. Sellars, District President; A. H. Blake, District VicePresident ; P. Donnelly, District Treasurer; P. Loaby, District Secretary.—Bro Lonergan read the balance-sheet and statement of returns.

Board Offices,—Bro. Lonergan moved : " That the registered office of the New Zealand District Board be the Catholic lnsti tute, Wellington-street, Auckland."—Bro. White seconded the motion, which waß adopted without discussion.