MEETINGS OF SOCIETIES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 308, 30 December 1891, Page 5

MEETINGS OF SOCIETIES.

An inauguraldinnerfcocelebrate the establishment of an Auckland branch of the New Zealand Institute of Journalists was held at the Star Hotel on December 19th. Mr W. McCullough occupied the chair, Mr G. Main the vice - chair. The Hon. the Premier (Mr John Ballance) and the Hon. John McKenzie (Minister for Lands), the guests of the evening, occupied seats on the right ana left of the Chairman. Some excellent speeches were made, and a number of toats honoured.

At the quarterly meeting of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce on December 4 the chairman (Mr A. S. Paterson) in his speech said that, regarding the state of trade generally, the term satisfactory might be applied. Interest was centred in the exports, and their rapid extension was commanding attention in the outside worW, with the result that the conviction was growing in the best circles of the merits and stability .of the colony and its trade.

On Dec. 9 the winding-up meeting for the year of the Kauri Timber Company's Accident Benefit Society was hold. Tho Secretary read the balance-sheeb for the year, which was very satisfactory. A dividend of 16s 10d per member was declared, while the sum of £21 Is 5d was carried over as a starting balance for the next year. The assets amounted bo £89 19s 3d, including cash on hand and in bank, out of which the dividend absorbed £61 9s 10d. It was decided to re-form tho Society for the ensuing year on tho saui9 basis as hitherto. The following members' committee were elected for the coming year : Messrs T. H. White, A. McKinstry, Wilson, Pitt, Gibba, Tc.dd and Morris. Messrs McKinstry and Sowden were unanimously re-elected auditors.

The first annual meeting of the Auckland Provincial Agricultural Association was held'on December 18th, when Mr F. Massey presided. The balance-sheet as submitted by Mr Grainger showed receipts, including members' fees, £165 ; gato money, £167 4s 6d ; entry fees, £185 3s 6d ; together withotheritema, amounted t0£666 6s6d. The chief expenses were labour, cartage, advertising, etc., £204 ISs 6d ; prize money, £305 13s; secretary's salary, £53 ; and special prizea, £3S 12e ; leaving a balance in hand of £64 3s. The statement of affairs showed a balance of profit of £54 7s Sd, and the assets amounted to £03 6s 3d. Tho outgoing Committee were re-elected, Messrs Mark Woodward and C. T. Barriball being added. Mr Massoy was re-elected president, Messrs W. F. Buckland, F. Lawry and J. Philiipps vice-presidents.

The twenty-fifth anniversary of No. 2 Royal Albert Loyal Orange Lodge was celebrated in the Protestant Hall, Newton, on Dec. 21, by a soiree and mnsicale. The Worshipful Master occupied the chair, and expressed regret at the absence of P.M. Bro. Boone, who was away through family sickness- - , and for whom a Past Master's certificate, nicely mounted and framed in giifc, Wilts awaiting presentation. The programme was as follows : — Song, "Morbor, Lnt the An#el« in," Bro. F. Baasett ;'reci.ta-ti.on, "Anarchy Slain by Teuo Liberty/ , Hro, G". F. Frank ; song, " A Violet Flower," Mr Quinn : recitation, "Tho 'Prentice Boy* of Deny," B:o. J. Robertson; song, "Ma Auld Breuks," Bro. Stewart: recitaoioii, "Tho Guns of Berry," Miss Gardiner ; recitation, " Baby'V- Stocking," Misa Carnahan : song, "Sweethearts and Wives," Bro. H. Lymau ; recitation, " The Soldiers of the Ltjaijue," Bro. Carnahan ; comic song, "The Death of Poor Old Tom," Bro> T. A. Taylor.

The half-yearly meeting of the Auckland Permanent" Co - operative Building and Investment Society was held on December 9th. A statement of receipts and expenditure ior the half-year ended September 30th, 1891, was made up as follows :—Receipts : Fees, £67 4s 10d ; fines, £7 16s lid ; books and rules, £2 7s ; shares, £7,447 7s Id; received on borrowers' accounts temporarily suspended from weekly payments, £447 16s sd; properties in liquidation, £1,005 14s 10d ; deposits, £34,131 4s 2d ; commission, etc., £0 5s lid ; balance on hand and in bank March 31st, 1890, £1,973 17s 6d ; overdraft ab date, £721 Kia Id : total, £45,814 10s 9d. Disbursements: Fees, £156 7a 9d ; repayments to depositors, £26,174 Os lid ; interest, £551 13s 3d ; shares matured and withdrawn, £15,729 8s 7d ; loans to borrowers on moitgage, £1,975 ; properties in liquidation, ground rent, etc., £478 6s 9d ; accounts outstanding March 31st, 1891, £208 ltis 10d; miscellaneous, £523 12a. Total, £45,797' 6s Id. Balance cash on hand at date, £L 7 4sßd.

The annual meeting of the Industrial and Provident Permanent Building, Land, and Investment Society was held at the office, Queen-street, on December 11th, when the following: report for the year ending September 30th, 1891, was presented:--"The Board of Management, in presenting its eleventh annual report, has to state that owing to the dearth of good securities, the business of feho Society has been some-

what restricted in amount, although nearly equal to last year. The business, however, is of a sound character, as is evidenced by the com paratively small number of properties which have fallenjnto the hands of the Society. Only two have been taken overduring fche year, and on these no loss is anticipated. The Survey Committee have made a careful personal inspection of these properties, and the valuation in the Society's books is likely to be realised on their sale. After J all expenses have been charged, there re--1 mains a balance of £665 13s 6d, oub of which your Board recommends that a dividend after the rate of six per cent, per annum be credited to all investing shares, leaving a balance of £51 115.2 dto be carried forward. It will be seen from the balance-sheet that the reserve fund, has been slightly augmented. Owing to the death of Mr G. P. Pierce the Board, in exercise of the powers conferred by rule 58, elected Mr H. Erett to fill the VicePresidency, and Mr D. B. McDonald to be one of the directors until the annual meeting. Board of management for the ensuing year:—The following nominations have been received: Thomas Peacock, Esq., to be President; Henry Brett, Esq., to be Vice-President; C. B. Stone, Esq., to be Treasurer ; Messrs E. Bartley, James Dacre, R. E. Finch, J. J. Holland, A. Kidd, C. La Roche, P. H. Mason, D. B. McDonald, and H. G. Wade, to be directors ; Messrs G. C. Stanwell and J. J. Ker, to be auditors. The retiring officers were re-elected.