ODDFELLOWSHIP.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11534, 17 March 1903, Page 6

ODDFELLOWSHIP.

(P8133 ASSOCIATION TKLIOBAK.) AUCKLAND, March 16. The thirty-first general meeting of the Grand Lodge or New Zealand, 1.0.0. F., will be begun to-morrow morning. The Grand Treasurer's report covers the year preoeding February 28th, and shows a surplus of £608 over the expenditure. The year was started with £1076 in band, and Ihe principal income was derived from cash from Lodges £1419, and principal and interest repaid £1236. Funeral expenses totalled £6407, investments £1950, and salaries £175. Following in the condition of the Order at end of the financial year:—Number of lodges at last report, $7 ; new lodges opened, 1; number of lodges on'roll, 38: number of members added by initiation. 367; number of members admitted by clearance, 13; number of members admitted reinstated. 7; total, 387; members lost by unpaid dues, 142; clearance, 5; resignation, 9; death, 18; total 174; kxtal gain of membership of the year, 213. .making a total membership of 2934. The various funds show steady «nd gratifying increase. The funeral fund, uwing to the withdrawal of £1000 for payment of old members , dues account, shows a nominal decrease of £425, but an actual increase of £574. Drafts on the fund for funeral ckime amounted to £640, the largest yet recorded. The management fund is now" considerably more than holding its own, and. after expenses of this session have been'paid, it may be found that the annual increment from interest of funeral fund may be abandoned. The extension of Order fund is again slowly increasing. Subordinate lodge funds axe now £28,409 .an increase for the year of £3206, which may be looted upon as very satisfactory. Sickness experienced was" exceedingly heavy, representing a total of 2008 weeks 4 days, with an expenditure of £1596.