ODDFELLOWSHIP.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14917, 16 March 1914, Page 2

ODDFELLOWSHIP.

LYTTELTON DISTRICT.

The annual meeting of. fhe Lyttelton District, 1.0.0.F./M.TT., was held on Thursday at the Oddfellows' Hall, Lyttolton: G.M. Jas McP. Stewart; D. Prov. G. M. W. T. Foster; P.C.S., J. L. Carrell; deputies present from the following lwdges:—City of. Norwich, P.P.G.M. Brico, P.G. Ealham, Bert, G.M. Scott; Good Intent, P.G. Laurence and N.G. Haylock; Hand of Friendship P.P.G. M. Harris; Hand and Heart, P.P.G. M Pettigrew; Perseverance, IJ.G. F. LeComte; Wairowa, P.P.G.M. Brietmeyer, and P.G. McQueen; District Wardon, P.P.G.M. Eames. The Prov. G.M., in his opening address, gave a brief account of the progress of the district during the last twelve- months, stating that the total funds amounted to £21,413 14s od rhe increases in the Sick and Funeral Fund of lodges amounted to £1000. There was a decrease of £96 in sick pay, and a decrease of £40 in funeral benefits. Ho regretted that there was also a decrease of 13 in'the membership, the total at the end of • December being 533 He stated that the visit of district officers to the lodges had been productive ■of - good results and that they had been satisfied with the state of the lodges. The PGM. received a vote of thanks for his address, and it was decided to print it rtrith tho report. After the adoption of the balance-sheet, the election of officers was taken. D.P.&. BI W F. Foster was unanimously eleoted Prov G.M., and P.G. Thomas Laurence (Good Intent) Deputy Prov. G.M,; P.G. Eames was elected junior auditor. The resignation of senior trustee P.P.G.M. Sowden, after 37 years' service, was received. An expression of Tepret was passed by the meeting, and a fee of 20 cuinoas was voted him in recognition of his services. P.G. "W. T. Foster was elected to fill '.the position of junior trustee. Telegrams conveying fraternal greetings were received from P.G.M. North Canterbury District, P.G. Carson, P.G. Griffiths, and P.C.S. Soutk Canterbury District.; The report of the special committee, embodying an amendment of district rules, regarding alteration to the system of. district funeral levies, based on the average age of members, and approved by the Actuary, was adopted by the meeting with a slight alteration. The Actuary stated that- by»the adoption of such a scale, and by tho district adopting it as from January Ist, the result would be the solvency of a\] lodges in a very short time. A notico of motion from Perseverance Lodge:—'That the district revert to the half-yearly meeting" was lost, and an appeal from P.G. Le Comte of the same lodge against the decision of his lodge Avas also lost, the lodge's action being upheld. It was resolved that tho usual j>ermit to Peninsula lodges to pay sick money upon sick visitors' certificates be granted. It was resolved that the March nieoting. in 1915. be held in Akaroa. The installation of officers was conducted by P.P.G.M. Chas. Kay. who installed Bro. "W. T. Foster as Prov. G.M., and P.G. Thomas Laurence as Deputy Prov. G.M., the officers elected returning their thanks. The meeting passed a resolution conferring upon the retiring Prov. G.M. Bro. Jas. McP. Stewart the P.P.G.M. jewel and degree, and ordering that his name be inscribed upon the merit board. The jewel was presented by the Prov. G.M., and acknowledged by tho recipient. At the conclusion of the session the Past Grands' Lodge was opened, and the purple degree conferred. upon P. G.s D. Loader and W. T. Lester (City of Norwich). The visitors and deputies were entertained at dinner by the local Lodge, and in the. evening close on 200 members of the Order accepted the invitation of the Prov. G.M. to an entertainment. The officers of the North Canterbury District were present, also representatives of the Lodges in Christchurch.

WAIAU'S WANTS,

DEPUTATIOXS TO THE HO>' R

HEATON RHODES

(rROII OCR OWX CORBE3FOM>£XT.) WAIAU. March 14. The Postmaster-General (the Hon. R. Hcaton Rhodes) received several deputations to-day. The Waiau railway wa» first considered, and a deputation of about 25 settlers waited on the Minister. Mr l>. D. MacfarlanCj chairman of tho Amuri County Council, introduced tho deputation, and said that the Minister knew that a sum was on the Estimates, but no start had been made, and this was of complaint. Mr K. Pettigrew, chairman of the Waiau Railway League, asked for a definite announcement as to tho starting of the line. Tho end of the year was in sight, there was barely throe weeks to go, and they were anxious about the matter. They were afraid tho vote wouid lapse. • Mr E. Rinaldi said the lack of connexion was at present very severely felt. A great deal of grain was held up. Oats were celling at Is fciil per bushel, and cartage and threshing accounted for one-third of the amount. The settlers had noticed that tho Waiuku lino, the survey of which was further behind than the Waiau line, was started. The survey of the Waiau line was finished, and the fact that Mr Masseyls line was started before theirs did not suggest that a square deal was being given to all. At any rate, that was the way that the settlors looked at it. Tho Hon. R. H. Rhodes said he regretted being unable to make any delinite pronouncement. It was in the I Hoti. W. Fraser's department. He could assure thorn that the vote would not lapse. 'It was there. If the vote was not expended it would be merely voted next year. It would not make any difference to their railway. Regarding the Waiuku and the Waiau lines, Mr Massey happened to be in tho district at the time, and so turned the first sod. It was merely a matter of form. The survey was not completed. He could assure the deputation that tho turning of the sod signified nothing He assured them that the promise of the Minister of Public Works would bo kept. At "the same time he would represent the views of the deputation to the Minister of Public Works. Mr l>. D. McFarlane said there was no danger of the vote lapsing. He instanced the Lottery bridge The Council had ordered piles from England and jarrah from Australia by cable. Though it was impossible to claim tho amount by March 31st, they were trusting the Government for the amount when it was needed. Mr Charles Netting brought up the matter of telephonic communication by metallic circuit with Christchurch and also tho establishment of a local telephone exchange. He thought the settlors had guaranteed enough connexion.'* to ruako it pay. It was very necessary, in view of the > unbridged rivers be- j tweon the various settlements. i Colonel Chaffey and Mr J. Lee aleo urged tho connexion. Mr Rhodes said that an exchange would cost £300, and a metallic circuit £2000. He had tho matter down for consideration on ncxi year's Estimates. Ho hoped to be able to grant tho ' request. Mr Lee asked that the mails should be carried by motor-car. He understood the present contractor was prepared to put on a motor service. The Minister said tho mater would probably arrange itself. Tho contradtor would be at liberty to carry mails by motor, but the Government could not break its present contract. .Next year it would be made a stipulation that the mails should be carried..by motor. Of course, by then they would have their railway, but probably they could have a motor mail servico between Waiau and Kaikoura. Mr H. T. Beavcu and Mr E. Rinaldi brought up tho matter of tho doctors' subsidy paid by the North Canterbury Hospital Board; £75 had been paid yearly previously, and the Government paid £25, aud the. Amuri County Council paid about £120 annually. Tho ratepayers received little benefit. He asked for an amendment of tho Act, enabling local bodies to strike a rate to provide the subsidy. Colonel Chaffey endorsed the statements made and asked that the Minister should rectify the trouble because the district did not subsidise a doctor and had in consequence to pay very high rates. It was not fair that the subsidy be withdrawn. Mr Bcaven asked whether if the bulk of the ratepa3 - ers were in favour could various counties withdraw their subscription to the Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, and in lieu establish a separate Hospital and Charitable Aid District Board with cottage hospitals. Mr urged the necessity of a cottage hospital, but thought the matter lay with the Christchurch Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. He suggested subsidised nurses. The Minister said that to separate the district from the North Canterbury Board was a step /that the district could not take. It would mean establishing a baee hospital, an old men's home, and other buildings. The -weight would be too hes(vy. He was satisfied that what tho settlers really wanted was a cottage hospital, but the Department was not favourable to cottage hospitals. Past experience had not proved their value in districts such as Waiau, on account of the difficulties of getting suitable doctois. The Government was favourable to subsidised nurses, and possibly could help them in that way. If they put a proposal before him in regard to a doctor's subsidy he thought he could do something in that respect. They wore not"quite so much in 'the back blocks as were some districts, and the back blocks wore his first ca.*.\ Pat he would do the best he could.