NOTABLE RECORD

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 127, 22 February 1941, Page 10

NOTABLE RECORD

Two Secretaries In 92 Years Mr. Henry William McCarthy, who has been secretary of the Widows and Orphans’ Society of the Manchester Unity, Independent Order of Oddfellows,' has resigned after serving as secretary for 37 years. The remarkable thing' about, tills society is that though it was established in Wellington m 1849, it has during those 92 years had only two secretaries. The founder of the society and its secretary for llm first 55 years was the late Mr. T. A • McKenzie, one of Wellington's bestknown pioneers, and father of L. McKenzie, Wellington, and Mr. Earl McKenzie, Day’s Bay. It. seems that in the beginning, in addition to the lodge paying out benefits to members, calls used to bo made on them to assist tlie widows and orphans of lodge members. Later some members, including the late Mr. T. M. McKenzie, considered that, it: would be wise to put this charitable work on a business-like footing, and our of that iilca grew the Widows and Orphans Society, established on September 13, 1549.

According to otic record, the early meetings of the committee were held in the Aurora Tavern, and. from all accounts, members had a very good time. Yet for ail Hint, the widows and orphans and members benefited quite substantially.

Mr. McCarthy resigned the secretaryship only because lie is about to settle in Hastings. Mr. McCarthy, who was born in London, came out to Wellington In 1874 by the ship Euterpe (Captain Phillips). He was for some years on the staff of Whittaker Bros., booksellers and stationers, Lambton Quay, after which he was in business on his own account in Vivian Street ami Courtenay Place. He retired from business about seven years ago. During his 55 years’ experience as a bookseller, Mr. 'McCarthy attended to mauy customers of more than local, note, among them Sir Julius Vogel. Sir William Jervois. Mark Twain, Mr. R. J. Seddon, the late Archbishop Redwood, Sir Joseph Ward, and many other wellknown men.

Mr. McCarthy is being suceeded as secretary of -the Widows and Orphans Society 'by Mr. C. O. Jorgensen.