MANCHESTER UNITY

Evening Star, Issue 21316, 21 January 1933, Page 17

MANCHESTER UNITY

The monthly meeting of the Loyal Waikaka Lodge was held on Tuesday last, when Bro. A. Burns presided over a good attendance. The annual report and balance-sheet showed a very satisfactory result. The election and installation of officers for the half-year resulted;—G.M., Bro. A. Burns; N. 6., Bro. F. Browning; V.G., Bro. AA 7 . Thomson; E.S., Bro. J. M‘Kay; warden, Bro. C. M‘Rae; guardian, Bro. E, Rennie. The G.M. and N.G. were appointed as auditors. A welcome was extended to Bro. Stewart, of_ the Loyal Tapanui Lodge. The district officers will visit tho lodge about the end of February. Before closing the meeting N.G. Bro. Browning, on behalf of the lodge, presented G.M. Bro. A. Burns with a set of carvers on the occasion of his recent marriage. The speaker referred to Bro. Burns’s loyalty and the high esteem in which, he was held by his fellow-members. Other members also extended congratulations. The first meeting for the year of the Loyal Hand and Heart Lodge was held on Tuesday evening, when N.G. Bro. H. Armstrong presided over a good attendance of members. The prov. cor. secretary wrote advising that the halfyearly purple degree meeting would be held in the lodge room next lodge night. After ordinary business had been dealt with the adjourned half-yearly summoned meeting was resumed to consider the half-yearly report and balance-sheet. Bros. Hamel and Grater (trustees) and Bro. Patterson (lodge agent) dealt with the position of the various funds, which showed the lodge to have made substantial progress during the period under review. AVith a membership of 681 the lodge has funds totalling £74,540, of which £60,845 stands to the credit of the sick and funeral fund, an increase of £907 for the half-year. Sick pay-, totalled £553, and Bro. Hamel stated that the record of sickness experienced over a period of thirty years disclosed the remarkable fact that every ten years the sickness experience was low. In the present times one would look for a higher sickness experience, but the opposite had proved the case with the lodge. The valuation report and actuary’s review of the quinquennium was also tabled showing the sickness experience to be £5,651, as against £7,891 expected by the tables. The valuation showed a surplus of £18,837, as against the previous valuation of £17,380. The average surplus per member was £42. Referring to the lodge investments, £09,973 of which was on mortgage, Bro. Patterson said that considering the large amount invested the position of the securities was most satisfactory. The report was adopted, and a tribute was paid to the efficient services of the permanent secretary, Bro. George Davidson.

The annual suinmoned meeting of the Loyal Tapanui Lodge attracted a good attendance of members, N.G. Bro. E. Eskdale presiding. The meeting opened with a motion of sympathy with the relatives of the late Bro. J. Spittle. The election of officers resulted:—G.M., Bro. E. Eskdale; N.G., Bro. E. Baxter; A 7 .G., Bro. AA 7 . Hancox; E.S., Bro. J. Keir; warden, Bro. A. Fleming; guardian, Bro. D. Ritchie; auditor, Bro. AA 7 . E. C. Reid (Dunedin). A vote of thanks was accorded the retiring 6.M., Bro. A. M'Auley, for his services to the lodge. One candidate was proposed for membership. The Loyal Caversham Lodge resumed its fortnightly meetings in the lodge hall, Forbury Corner, when the N.G. (Bro. Dixon) occupied the chair. The half-yearly report and balance-sheet will be considered at the next meeting. It was decided to forward a letter or congratulation to Miss Evelyn List, daughter of the permanent secretary (Bro. J. List), who is the winner of the Harrop scholarship for 1932. A social committee was appointed to take charge of the syllabus for the current year. Following the close of business a question box was hold.

The fortnightly meeting of Loyal Tuapeka Pioneer Lodge was held at Lawrence. Sympathetic reference was made to the passing of one of the oldest members of the lodge (P.G-. Bro. J. Hancock), whose membership extended over a period of fifty years. The late brother joined the Loyal Blue Spur Lodge in August, 1882, later becoming a member of the Tuapeka Pioneer Lodge on the amalgamation of the three goldfields lodges, and took a keen interest in all matters appertaining to the order. A large amount of correspondence was dealt with, many members residing outside the district forwarding greetings to the lodge. At the close of the meeting the new officers were complimented on the able manner in which they had conducted the business of the first meeting since their installation. The N. 6. (Bro. H. Coutts) presided at the fortnightly meeting of Loyal Milton Lodge. Two members were declared on the funds and three were declared off. A motion of sympathy was carried with Bro. W. Dolan in his recent bereavement. The N.G. reported on a meeting of the U.F.S. Picnic Committee, and E.S. Bro. Currie was elected to represent the lodge on the committee. The secretary (Bro. H. E. Ransome) submitted the half-yearly report and balance-sheet, which showed the lodge to ho in a satisfactory position, both numerically and financially. P.G-. Bro. Lilburne reported on attending the installation of officers at the Loyal Tuapeka Pioneer Lodge. •