Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows

Grey River Argus, Volume LVII, Issue 10520, 27 January 1903, Page 2

Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows

Annual District Meeting* "

The annual District Meeting was held in the Lodge Roomy esterday afternoon, under the presidency of Bro W H ■Bveden, P G AI. Among the delegates present were Bros jßalfe and Peake, tlokitika ; Bros Ronthan and Palmer, Kumara ; Bro Ben Lyons, Waimea and Broa Holder aud Edwards, Greymouth Lodge. After the usual business had been transacted the district officers for the year were elected as follows :-P G M, iT? P ??!L ki £ s; D^ty PG M, Bro Ralfe; OS, Bro Peake. THE BANQUET was held last evening at the Gilmer Hotel Bro E J Smith, G M, of the Loyal Greymouth Lodge occupying the chair , and Bro Greengrass, V G, the vice-chair. Host Oxenhain provided a most excellent dinner, to which full justice was done. The principal toasts honoured during 'he evening were "The King and Maiv Chester Unity," proposed by the chairl u ai V " The Officers," proposed by the vice-chair and responded to by Bro Perkins, P G M. Ralfe, DP(j and Peake, OS. The toast of "Kindred Societies," proposed by Bro Edwards, was ably responded to by Messrs £ Uarke and Eveden (Forasters), T Oostiga» ISi CB S) and H E Wesfc ( Druid(j)> Oddfellows of former days" posed by ex-P G M Bro Joseph Petrie tnd responded to byP G Ma BenLyona, ohas Holder and secretary Peake. "The L-ulies," proposed by Bro W fl Eveden, was fitly acknowledged by Bro O Eveden andßouthatn. "The Press," proposed in a very hnmorous speech by Bro Hopkins, was ably acknowledged by Mr Petrie and other representatives present. "Our Host," proposed in complimentary terms by Bro Perkins, was responded to by MrOxenham, From information furnished by the various speeches we learn that the Greymouth Lodge has 66 members, there are over two hundred Oddfellows in the Westland district, the cast assets ef the district exceed L 9,000 or over L 45 per membership capital. Mr West suggested forming a Friendly Societies Council, the building of a Friendly Societies Hall, and universal clearance. Several of the speakers gave interesting information, .reminiscenses and statistics concerning the history objects, and benefits of the Oddfellows and kindred benefit societies. Among the musical items of the evening were several excellent songs contributed by Bros Ralfe, Ruthven, O Eveden, Costigan, and others. The banquet concluded with the National Anthem and Auld Lang Syne, which ended a most enjoyable, entertaining, social and pleasant; evening.