HAURAKI LODGE

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 60, Issue 4342, 11 October 1950, Page 8

HAURAKI LODGE

55TH ANNIVERSARY HAPPY CELEBRATION COROMANDEL GATHERING The Loyal Hauraki Lodge celebrated its fifty-fifth anniversary on Monday, October 2, when, following the usual fortnightly meeting in the lodge hall, in Coromandel a social and dance was held in the R.S.A. hall. There was a good attendance of members at the meeting which was presided over by the N.G., Bro. J. E. Beech.

The district grand master, Bro. A. J. C. Crawford,, attended the meeting and following a cordial welcome he was accorded the honours of the order. Four members from the Loyal Porsonby Lodge were also in attendance and brought greetings from Person by lodge and they were given a warm -welcome. Bro. Crawford briefly ad■dressed the members on lodge affairs. He also referred to the illness of P.G. Bro. Pitcher, secretary of the Ponsonby lodge, and the serious accident in Christchurch which had happened to the grand master of New Zealand, Bro. A. Gow, who had had his leg broken in four places and also his arm broken when he was knocked over by « car. Bro. Gow would be unable to continue his activities as grand master for the remainder of his term of office'and, it was feared his injuries to some extent would be permanent. The secretary was instructed to send the lodge’s greetings to those two brothers, together with hopes of their .speedy recovery. Greetings were received from P.G. Bro. >W. Peters, Bro. and Sister Lee Terfeet, Sister P. Riley, Sister E A Riley and Bro. F. 'A. Marshall, all of whom were unable to be present at the anniversary meeting. After the meeting closed an ad-

joumment was made to the R.SA. hall, wheremanyfriendsand relatives ■of the members were gathered to + ake part in the celebration of the anniversary of the lodge. Over 100 members and their friends

spent a very happy evening dancing to popular music supplied by the "Melody Quartette Orchestra, consisting of Mrs E. M. Lucas (piano), Miss T. and Mr Hans Browne (saxophones) and Miss M. Browne (drums). An extra foxtrot was played by Mr Hans Browne and Bro. Eric Gamble assisted -on the drums. The duties of M.C. -were carried out by Bro. K. M. Neil. Bro. Crawford, D.G.M., gave a brief address in which he referred to the banner on the wall, “Friendship, Love and Truth.” “We, as lodge members,” he said, “endeavour to live up to those ■words on the banner. The Manchester

unity upholds the principles of helping each other.” He spoke of the blow received by all friendly societies from Social .Security, which took away all their benefits. However, the Man- . Chester Unity was trying to find other benefits to take their place and a project was lon foot to place before the Governmentment whereby sick ■pay would be greatly increased and members would only pay into their lodges and not through Social Security. If the Government considered their project, it would be greatly to young people’s advantage to win friendly societies, said Bro. Crawford. He briefly referred to the activities of the Hauraki Lodge and the good work done by the members. In conclusion, he commended the young people present, who were not already members of a lodge, to seriously consider joining up with, a friendly society and so . make provision for times of sickness or stress. A very enjoyable buffet supper was served, at the conclusion of which a birthday cake decorated in blue and gold (the lodge colours) was cut by Mrs Crawford, senior, mother of the D.G.lty. Bro. Crawford asked all to stand and sing happy birthday. This request being acceeded to, everyone was allowed to sample the cake. Bro. Crawford thanked all the friends present for coming along and making the fifty-fifth birthday of the Hauraki lodge such a happy one. After supper had' been disposed of dancing continued and popular items were interspersed between the dances. Two solos by Miss Lottie Yates, •“Serenade of the Balls’’ and “Galway Bay,” were very sweetly sung. Songs were sung by three of the Browne sisters in their usual popular style and they were all accorded applause. t A piano duet was played by Mrs Ball and Mrs iSucas. A Mlonte Carlo waltz was won by Mr and Mrs B. S. Shandley. Dancing concluded just after midnight, bringing to a close a happy and successful birthday.