ODDFELLOWS' DISTRICT MEETING.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6355, 15 September 1882, Page 3

ODDFELLOWS' DISTRICT MEETING.

The half-yearly meeting of delegates oi the Hawke's ßay District, 1.0.0.F..M.U. took" place in the Abbotsford Lodge Waipawa, on Wednesday morning last There were present the District Officers Provincial Grand Master, F. Bee (pro. sidiDg) ; Provincial Deputy-Graud Mas ter, M. Collett ; Provincial Corresponding Secretary, J. B. Fielder ; and delegate! from the following lodges :— Napiei Lodge, Bros. A. Waddell, W. B Combs,' and L. Dean ; Abbotsford Lodge (Waipawa), Bros. W, Brown, G-. Abrahams, arid: F. Minto ; Meanee Lodge,

I Bro. G-. Bradley ; Clive Lodge, Bro T. Millier ; Hastings Lodge, Bro. G Love ; Tavi9tock Lodge, (Waipuka rau), Bro. R. Monteith ; Victoria Lodge (Porangahau), Bro. A. M'Lean ; Wood ville Ledge, Bro. B. B. Johnson. Al the lodgeß in the district were repre sented. The Grand Master declared tho meetduly constituted, and delivered hia opening address. Amongst other matter* appertaining to the order he stated that the application to register the district under the Friendly Societies Act had been made, and the certificate of registration was duly effected. The Takapau Lodge had broken up and the members had joined the lodges at Waipukurau and Waipawa. A number of new members : had been initiated during the past half-year, and the fvinds had increased £223 during that period. They now stood at £4361, or an average of £9 103 per member. The Hastings Lodge had made *reat progress during the last half-year, having initiated twenty members, and purchased a piece of ground, on which was being erected a lodge-room, which would shortly be i opened. The statement of the different accounts of the district and lodges were read and adopted. The fellowing nominations for district officers, to be elected in March next, wars made :— For Provincial Grand Master, P.D.G.M. M. Collett; for Provincial Deputy-Grand Master, P.G.s 1. Waddell, G. Bradley, and W. Brown. A committee, consisting of the district officers and Bros. Waddell, Brown, Abrahams, Bradley, and W. H. " Cooper, were appointed to revise the district rules, and report to next meeting. An application from tho Woodville Lodge to hold their meetings fortnightly instead of monthly was granted. Levies for the funeral, management, and benevolent funds were made. The next district meeting was decided to be held in Napier. Propositions for holding it at Porangahau and Waipukurau were made, but the former was withdrawn, the district officers stating that they intended visiting Porangahau before next meeting, and the latter was put and lost. Votes of thanks were recorded to the district officers. After the meeting" several members were advanced to the higher degrees of the order. - - ■ • • - - At the conclusion of the sports held in connection with the anniversary of the Abbotsford Lodge published in yesterday's issue, a procession of Oddfellows in full regalia, headed by the Waipawa brass band, marched round the township, and at 5 o'clock the members'of the order and friends sat down to a dinner in the Oddfellowa' Hall, at which Bro. KG. Abrahams presided. After ample justice had been done to the excellent spread provided by Bro. Carson, the usual toaats of "The Queen and Boyal Family," " General Assembly," and " Array and Navy " were proposed and duly responded to. The toast of " The Manchester Unity" was proposed by P,D.G.M. Collett, in a few appropriated remarks. This was responded to by P.G-.M. Bee, in which he Btated that the strength of the Manchester "Unity of Oddfellows on the Ist January last was 547. 9i9, and they possessed a capital of £5,177,230, or an average of £9 10a per member, and the amount paid for sick and funeral benefits during the past year was £5?-6,212. He expatiated on the benefits derived from persons belonging to friendly societies. He also stated that the full strength of friendly societies was 4,500,000, and that they possessed a capital of £12,000,000, and while tho Oddfellows only numbered one-ninth of this strength, they possessed nearly one-half of the total capital. The toast of " The Hawke's Bay District " was proposed by Bro. T*.G. Brown, and responded to by Provincial Corresponding Secretary Fielder, who stated that the district was separated from the Welliugton district and established on the 23rd August, 1878, starting with five lodges with 308 members, and funds amounting to £2613 ; and that there are now eight lodges in the district, with 473 members, and funds amounting to £4362, or an average of £9 10s per member, being the same as the Unity average. He also stated that beside paying medical attendance and medicines, the sum of £834 had been dispensed for Bick allowance, and' £285 for funeral donations. The lowest experience of sickness was during the half-year ending December, 1880, and tha highest in the corresponding term of 1879. The toast of " The Abbotsford Lodge " was proposed by Bro. P.G. Bradley. He congratulated the members on the great progress the lodge had made since its opening. Bro. Secretary Johnson, in responding, stated that the Abbotsford wa3 the second strongest lodge in the district, and he hoped that in a short time their numbers would exceed that of the Napier Lodge. They had 133 members good on the books, with funds amounting to £1335, or an average of £10 per member. The toast of "Kindred Societies" was then given, with a hearty wish for their prosperity. This was ably responded to by Mr J. W. M'Dougall, a member of the A.O. Foresters. He stated that the Foresters, who had been for some years past close on tha heels of the Oddfellows, had now gained the premier position in strength, and he hoped in a few years that their financial 1 condition would be on a par with that of ( the Oddfellows. The toasts of "The Delegates," "Visiting Brethren," "Press," "Banquet Committee," "Ladies," and "The Caterer " were given and duly responded to. Several songs were very creditably given at intervals, and the party broke up about 7 p.m., when the hall was cleared for the ball, at which about 65 couple attended. Dancing was kept up with great spirit until about 5 o'clock next morning.