NELSON NEWS

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 71, 25 March 1933, Page 23

NELSON NEWS

THE FRIENDLY SOCIETIES

(Special to "The Evening Post.")

NELSON, March- 24.

It was mentioned by the Mayor of Nelson (Mr. W. J. Moffat) during the course of his speech at a combined friendly societies' function last evening that it was on record that Nelson was the first place in New Zealand to initiate the friendly society movement, the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows establishing the Order here. Speaking' from memory, his Worship said he believed that the preliminary meeting of the Order took place on one of the hills adjacent to the city. ,

The lodges represented at the.function were:—Loyal Nelson and Loyal Howard M.U., 1.0.0. F., Maitai Lodge, No. 15, U.A.0.D., Tasman Lodge,' and Welcome Bebekah, 1.0.0. F., and Forestors. Several visitors from Motueka were present. P.D.G.M. Bio. W. Liddle, who acted as master of ceremonies, emphasised the; benefits to be derived from the friendly societies' movement,- and the Mayor, in his address, ■ said that if _ the ideals of tho Order ctmld be instilled into the minds of young people it would be beneficial not only to the individual but to the nation as a whole. He urged anyone aspiring to public life to take an active interest in 16dse affairs.

The Mamari,- which has -been loading apples at Port Nelson for Dunkirk, left last evening with 24;452 cases on board.

Oyster shoes have been designed to gusrd the small Olympia oyster in the State 6f Washington. Because of the small siza of the Olym'pia oyster it was found that fishermen collecting them trampled large numbers deep into the beds. Modelled after snowshoes, the oyster shoes are niade of monel metal channels and we set in frames of wood, with a device for fastening to the rubber boots of the fishermen.