Hawke's Bay Herald. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1884. FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6972, 26 September 1884, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Herald. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1884. FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

The annual report of the Registrar of Friendly Societies gives some interesting details of the working of the various societies, and shows how widespread are their ramifications in New Zealand. Fourteen different Orders are registered, the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows heading the list with 107 lodges, the Foresters coming next with 75 courts, the Rechabites third with 26 tents, and the Druids fourth with 22 lodges. There are in all 272 branches of Friendly Societies in the colony, with 19,206 members. The total funds amount to £232,469, of which £204,780 belong to the sick and funeral funds. This gives an average of £12 2s Id per member, which is a little less than the average last year, but the Registrar explains that this is due to the starting of a number of new lodges, which naturally have smaller averages per member than older-established lodges. The new members during the year numbered 3386, the lapses (including clearances to other lodges) were 2109, and the deaths 129, giving a net increase of 1148. The report notes that "as in the year 1880 a net loss was reasonably assumed to be a consequence of depression of trade in the colony, it seems only fair to suppose that the above considerable increase in membership indicates that there was laßt year some improvement in the general prosperity, or at any rate of the working-classes." It is worthy of note that exactly the opposite deduction is indicated by the returns of the Postoffice Savings Bank. The average members per lodge number 70-6, but five lodges have over 300 members, and fifteen over 200, though nearlyh alf the lodges (131) have under 50 members. The deaths of members were at the rate of only 6*92 per 1000, while the claimants for sick allowances were 2586, or 139 per cent., the average of sickness being less than one day per member in the year. The Registrar adds "The comparison of these results with corresponding averages obtained from the experience of eight of the earliest-established lodges of the Manchester Unity affords, like similar comparisons instituted in the Registrar's former reports, striking proof of the rapid rate at which the sickness experience of a society increases with increasing age. The average age of these eight lodges was 36 years, and the number of members sick was 166 per cent; The average sickness was I'B3 week per member and above 11 weeks per member siok." The total amount paid as sick benefits was £13,738, and £2853 was paid to the survivors of deceased members. The total receipts of the sick and funeral funds were £46,459 or £2 9s lOd per member, and the payments £23,352, or £1 5s 2d per member.

On the fourth page will be found a letter respecting licensing districts, "Jottings at Random," and a letter from an occasional correspondent at Forangahau, "We are requested to state that Jacob Faithful's consultation on the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club's spring meeting is filling fast. The list will positively close on October 2nd, so that intending investors will do well to hurry up. At the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr B. Patten, J.P., Hugh M'Keown was charged with drunkenness. He pleaded nut guilty, but the evidence of the arresting constable proved the offence, and defendant was fined 5a and costs, with the usual alternative. The summer season of out-door musical performances by the Garrison Band will commence this evening, when the following programme will be performed in Clivesquare : — Quick march, "Triumphant;" fantasia, "String of Pearls;" quadrille, "Jolly Girls;" waltz, "Loving and Hoping}" polka, " Pistonette ;" galop, " Early Morning ;" "God Save the Queen." Special fares of 4s each, including the railway journey to and from the racecourse platform and admission to the course, will be issued for the races next month, but no tickets for the . racecourse platform only will be issued. Ordinary tickets to Hastings will be issued by trains which stop at the railway station there, but most of the special trains will run right to the course, and will not Btcp at the station. The usual meeting of the Olive-equare Mutual Improvement Association was held last evening. There was a good attendance. The announced debate on " Land Nationalisation " was opened, and a lively discussion followed, a number of members speaking for and against the nationalisation idea. Owing to the question not being fully elisoussed when closing time arrived, it was decided to adjourn the debate to a future occasion. The next meeting of the association will take the form of a '*• social evening." The inemcienoy of the lighterage service carried on by Mr Kinross and others, and the excessive charges imposed, have long been subjects of complaint. Consequently a movement to sebure a better and oheaper service has been started. . It is proposed to form a joint-stock company with sufficient capital for the purchase of a Bteamer. and lighten, and a number of the leading importers have already agreed to take shares in the venture, »nd to gir» the new company their custom.

The prespeotus of the new oompany will probably appear in a few days. " T. J." writeB :— " I am anxious to run in the forthcoming sports and have entered. I see men entered who hare lately won money prizeß, thus debarring them from taking part as amateurs. Will the faot of my running against them prevent me from in future running as an amateur P" We think not. The question, however, is not likely to arise. We understand that it is .contemplated shortly to form an amateur athletic association here, and then such points aB the one raised by "T. J." will doubtless be provided for. Mr Harker made his first appearance with the auctioneer's hammer at Meanee yesterday, When he sold the whole Of the sto'cft dh' the mission property at very fair prices. Mr Harker proved himself quite able to reply promptly to the "chaff" which is generally levied at knights of the hammer at such sales, and raised more than one laugh. When he was offering a horse he was ques- • tioned as to the animal's pedigree. As, : there was no genealogical tree handy, Mr Harker replied, " This animal, gentlemen, relies on his own merits, and, in the words I of the Poet Laureate, 'is too proud to ask I from whence he came.' " Xovers of genuine amusement are reminded* that Webb's Jfctoyal Marionetteß will open at j the Theatre Boyal , to-morrow evening, and those who attend in the hope of witnessing ' an entertainment at once humorous and unique will not be disappointed. The per-; ■ formance, while one intensely enjoyable to juveniles, is also of such a high order of mechanical excellence that adults find hearty - amusement in witnessing the Hfe-inooking antics of the figures; Added to this} tile -words and musio of the marionette • perfor- „ „ manoe is high-class, and the entertainment generally is one that is sure to be largely' !-i---pitronised. Those who caw the Marionetteß „r -when in Napier six years ago -will visit the theatre to renew pleasant associations, and " those who have not yet had the same pleasure Bhould make a point of remedying the '• " omission. ' ';' ; i At the Criterion Hotel yesterday, Messrs' 0. B. Hoadley and Co. submitted to auotion ' the privileges in connection with the Hawke's ■ Bay Agricultural and .Pastoral Society's i } show at Hastings, the following prices being ' realised: — Grand stand" bar and publicans: booth, £53, Mr Ashfcon ; right to sell cata- ••';- loguea of entries, £L 5, Mr S. Freeman 's confebtionery booth, £5, Mr Vaughan j fruit; Btall, £2, Mr Prebble ; fanoy goods stallj .' ! £1 ss, Mr Jacobs. At the same time and ' place the same auctioneers sold the privilege's in connection -with the Spring meeting of the . • Hawke's Bay Jookey Club. The following prices were obtained :- Grand stand, £4A t Mr Asliton ; second stand bar, £70, Mr Ashton ; second stand luncheon room, £2, Mr M'Oartney; fancy goods stall, £2, Mr Dennett ; confectionery stall, £5, Mr Vaughan; fruit stall, £4 10s, Mr Prebble: cards, £31, Mr Prebble. The Uapier Orchestral Society gave an excellent popular concert at the Theatre. Boyal last evening, under the able conduotorship of Mr J. Stephens. There was a fair attendance of the public, the stalls being particularly well filled. Those responsible for ■■■ the arrangements are to be congratulated ■ ' upon the punctuality -with -which the per-' : formance commenoed, and for the moderate length of the programme, the common mistake of a too lengthy list of items being carefully aveided. The concert was opened with - ! an overture by the orchestra, "Marco Spada," a taking piece of mujnc that was de* .> serredly appreciated. This was followed by :: ; a part song (serenade), "Beat, Dearest, Best," harmoniously rendered by Messrs ■■■ Finch, Stephens, Sheath, and Fowler. Mr Sheath, next sang, " Let Me Love Thee" in .'" good style, and was much applauded. The :■ next item, a most enjoyable one, was a violin- '■■ 1 cello solo, " Nineralla." This was played in most artistic style by Mr Humphries, and the • audience accorded the performer a most pronounced encore. In response he played another pretty solo, " Stara of the Night are Dawning," and was again loudly applauded. Miss Hitchinga, who followed, was also loudly encored for her rendering; of a pretty ' ballad entitled " Parting," but contented herself with bowing her acknowledgments in ; response. The first part of the programmer ~\ was brought to a conclusion by an item deserving more extended notice than our space will allow of. This was a new waltz, entirely composed and arranged for a band of ten performers by Mr George Garry, and entitled " Lena." A pretty vein ' of melody runs through, the composition, which is throughout distinguished ' by marked musical ability. This number was most excellently rendered by the orchestra, and the audience testified their enjoyment by a perfeot storm of applause. If Mr ' - Garry can write a few more pieces equal to ( ,. "Lena "he will achieve an honorable po»i- ' tion in his profession. After an interval of nearly ten minutes the Becond portion of the concert was opened with an overture by the orchestra, " Poet and Peasant." Mis 3 Ellison followed with a pleasing song entitled*' " Listening," and was deservedly applauded." , The next item, an instrumental trio (Andante), waa a very enjoyable one.- This was cleverly given by Messrs Spaokman (piano), ■ Humphries (violincello), and Browne (cabinet organ), and was much appreciated. Miss '. Kennedy followed with a pleasing song, " The old, sweet story," and was loudly and deservedly! encored, the singer responding with another pretty song entitled " The Romany Lass." A cornet solo followed (La ; Mia Letizia), an excellent piece of instrumentation by Mr George Garry, which was loudly applauded. A very pretty glee, " How could I bear," was the next item on the programme. This was artistically given by Messrs Finch, Stephens, Sheath, and Fowler, and met with deserved appreciation. Tho performance concluded with an overture by the orchestra, " Domino Noir." Mr H. G. Spaekman acted as accompanjist with his well-known ability. Enjoy Life. — What a truly boautitul world we live in I We can desire no better when in good health ; but how often do the majority of people feel like giving it up disheartened, discouraged and worried out with disease, when there is no occasion for this feeling. Green's August Flower will J make them as free from disease as when ' born. Dyspepsia and liver complaint are the direct cause of seventy-five per cent, of such maladies as biliousness, indigestion, siok headache, coafciveness, nervous prostration, dizziness of the head, palpitation of the heari>, and other distressing symptoms. Three doses of August Flower will prove its wonderful effect. Sold by all Druggists at 3s 6d per bottle. Sample bottleß, 6d. Try it. 226

Some who are in the sixties may recolleot a semi-religious publication called the Visitor that once ran through England. An extract from its February number of the year 1836 haß been forwarded by an English correspondent, and as it relates to a very interesting event in connection with the settlement of the colony, we make no apology for producing it. Thus it runs : — " The Introduction of the Printing Press into New Zealand — Mr W. B. Wade, superintendent of the press, writeß as follows on this and other topics, January 10, 1835 : The arrival of the press is, as we expected, hailed by our friends here as a memorable event in New Zealand ; and as for the natives, those who have assisted in bringing it ashore shouted and danced on the Band when told it was 'tapubapuka- a book-press, or a book-making machine.' There is an extraordinary demand for books all around. A few words are added on the same topio by Mr W. Colenso, who went out as a printer ; and on whom the exultations t of the day, marked by the arrival of the . press, appear to have been liberally bo- <f stowed. We found our dear brethren, who rejoiced to see us, in health. The next morning the natives surrounded us, crying, ' Ka pai mihanere— very good missionary,' uttering exclamations of joy, and tendering us their hands on every Bide j and when the Sev. W. Williams gave them to understand that I was a printer, and came out to print books for them, they wore quite elated. No hero of olden time was eyer received by his army with greater eclat ; they appeared as if they would deify me. During the week I was busily employed with the natives in landing the ' goods ; and on Saturday, January 23, 1835 - a memorable epoch in the annals of New , Zealand— l succeeded in getting the printing ■> press landed. I was obliged to unpack it on board, but I am happy to cay it is all safe on shore. Could you but have witnessed the natives when it was landed I They danced, shouted, and capered about in the water, giving vent to the wildest effusions of joy ; inquiring the use of this, and the place of that, with all that eagerneßß for which uncivilised nature is remarkable ; certainly they had never seen such a thing before. I trust soon to be enabled to get it to work." A Lady's Wish.—" Oh, how I do wish my skin was as dear and toft as youre 1" said a