MEETINGS & ENTERAINMENTS

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 37, 12 February 1904, Page 3

MEETINGS & ENTERAINMENTS

DRUIDS' ANNUAL MEETING. The annual business meeting of the Mf-r-Utive officers of the Druids' Grand Lodge, North Island, N.Z., was held in Auckland on Wednesday. Tke Grand President, Bio. 11. Fk-tcher. of "Wellington, presided. The Grand Secretary presented his annual bal-ance-sheet, which showed that £509 _ had been added to the funds, and a net gain r>l 4S". members had been made for the year. The death rat- for the year had been exceedingly huvy: in fact, more money had been paid in d~.irh ekiim-s than in the previous three y/?-ars added together. Four of the deaths were caused by accident. The funds were well invested at an average rate of .". per cent. Four new lodges were ..peni-J duriuc the year; and it was conp d-ntlv expected that live lodges now •working un.l--r the Victorian Constitution would be taken over, provided suitable arrangements , ovid be made with the Vk-toriau tiraud Lodge. It was decided that no special delegate meeting wa.s needed re formation of the proposed Supreme Lodge for X Z as the executive were fully convinced that' the lodges were against any further system of government, unless v t nited tirand Lodge for the whole colony could he obtained. General satisfaction was expressed at the design for diplbmas. drawn by Bio. R. Ward, of Auckland. Thp secretary was instructed to get tenders for printing the same The election of district presidents was considered, and all the nominations were confirmed. A largp quantity of routine business was transacted, and the meeting ■ ■losed with thanks from the president for the attendance of the officers. The executive officers were entertained in the evening at -j smoke concert in St. George's Hall by the members of the Auckland district. Bro. John Peet, District President, presided. The toast, "King and Druids." was drunk with musical honours. G.P. Bro. K. Fletcher, in responding- to the toast of the Grand Ix>dge. gave a genera' review of the past year's work, pointing •out the great increase both in fundi and membership, also emphasising the fact that it was the duty of each individual member u> assist, in every way possible, to further the interests of his lodge and order. His remarks were received with applause. Other toasts were: The D.G. Secretary, the D.P.. and the A.D.'s of the various lodges in the district. The evening was enlivened by «mjs and recitations, and concluded with u° sieging of "Auld Lang Syne."