INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODDFELLOWS.

Feilding Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 28, 25 July 1904, Page 3

INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODDFELLOWS.

The half-yearly meetiDg of the 1.0.0. F. MAJ., Lodges in the Wanganui district was held at Wanganui la3t Friday night, Prov. G.M. Bro. C. Aitken (Feilding) presiding. There was a large attendance of delegates including Bros. Parker and Jones (Feilding), and Bros. Molntyre and Melton (Apiti). In his address the Prov. G.M. said a very important matter for disoussion was the proposal by the Loyal Manawatu Lodge that the district join the New Zealand Movable Committee and re-register under same. He trusted the question would be disposed of at the meeting either in the affirmative or the negative, for the present state of affairs only tended to cause unrest among the various Lodges, The position of the various Lodges in the district was shown as follows : —

Loyal Wanganui Lodge (Wangaganui)—This Lodge is possessed of funds totalling £14,305, an increase of £144 for the six months, notwithstanding that £186 had been paid away in sick claims. The funds of the Lodge are well invested, £4538 being on mortage, £9455 in land and buildings, leaving £312 in the Bank awaiting investment. The reserve from rents and interest amounted to £264.

Loyal Manawatu Lodge (Palmerston North)— The total funds are £1855, an increase of Lll9 for the half-year. Of the funds, L 1470 is on mortgage, L 240 in the hall property, and the balance (L 144) is divided between the Post Office Savings Bank and the current account. The sum of L 64 was received as interest.

Loyal Manchester Lodge (Feilding) —The funds amount to L7BO, an increase of Lll. Of the funds, L 420 is on mortgage, L 267 in hall, leaving L 42 in hand.

Loyal Apiti Lodge (Apiti) — The funds are L 252, an increase of L 37. There is L2lO on mortgage, LBO in Lodge room, and L 63 in hand.

Position of district—Lodges 8; funds, L 18,11 5; membership, 645. A gain of 27 members, and an increase in the funds of L 382.

The adjourned discussion on the proposal to join the New Zealand Movable Committee was resumed by Bro. Relf moving m favour of same. Reference was made to the question by the following speakers :— -Bros. Wright, Liddle, Mowlem, Sherson, Hodges, Bamber, Sharman, Hayhew and Parker. The motion was eventually put and lost, the voting being eight for and eight, against.

' The nomination of officers resulted as follows :— G.M., Bro S. J. Watson; D.G.M., BrosT. C. Sherson, J. Hodges, J. Pawson.