OPENING OF THE NEW ODDFELLOWS’ HALL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6127, 15 October 1880, Page 5

OPENING OF THE NEW ODDFELLOWS’ HALL.

The new Oddfellows’ Hall, Lichfield street, was opened yesterday evening. The proceedings commenced by some 200 members of the Order partaking of a collation. After full justice had been done to this, P.P.G.M. Kent, who filled the chair, addressed those present. The object they had met for was to open the Hall for the City of Christchurch Lodge. This hall was erected upon the spot formerly occupied by a smaller structure endeared to them by many pleasant recollections. The new hall was for the use of the Order, the larger hall on the other side of the street being too large for ordinary use, and being profitably let for other purposes. The present hall would be available for Lodge meetings and for entertainments of the class embraced in readings, &o. The lower portion of the building would be lot as offices. Ho would not detain the meeting with a history of the City of Christchurch Lodge, though ho would have liked to do so but for the time occupied by the supper. He would now declare the new hall open for Lodge business. (Loud applause.) There . was a pleasing ceremony now to bo performed I —the unfurling of the new banner.; Bros Pratt and Borland now unfurled the new banner—a very handsome one—the meeting greeting its appearance with loud apOhairman, after making some observations upon the new banner, gave the first toast, “ The Queen and Manchester Unity, which was drunk "in friendship, love end truth," the whole company singing the first ] verse of the National Anthem with great SP Tho Chairman proposed Master and Board of Directors of the Manchester Unity, coupled with the visiting brethren.” The toast was drunk with the honours of the Order. _ „ T j n P P G.M. Jenkins, of the Lyttelton Lodge, responded, giving details of the work dote by, the nine men composing the Board of Directors who managed the Order, now

numbering about 400,000 member*. A half* penny lor/per head on tbo members paid all the expenses of the Directors. Ho spoke in eulogistic terms of the present Grand Master, whoso acquaintance ho hod the honour of haring, and by whom ho had been initiated. N. G. Oxford, of the City of Norwich Lodge, responded for that Lodge. The Chairman proposed—" The District Officers and Visiting Brethren,” eulogising Bros Liddell and Woodford. Tho toast was drunk with the musical honours of the Order, and responded to by G.M. Wilkins, who gate a cheering account of the present prospects of tho Order in the North Canterbury District, which now numbered close upon a thousand members, though tho recent division of tho district had reduced thoif numbers by nearly two-thirds j by Sco. Hancock, of tho Papanui Lodge t by Deputy G.M. Woodford, on behalf of tho Pride of tho Valley Lodge j by P.G. Thompson, on behalf of the Star of Waltham Lodge j by N.Q. A. Hancock, on bohalf of Volunteer Lodge 5 by Bro M'Donald, on behalf of tho Perseverance Lodge; by N.G. Palmer, of tho Loyal Benevolent Lodge 5 by Bro Lucas, as a member of tbo North London District j and by Bro P. G, Taylor, of the Auckland District. The Ohairman said that the next toast on tho list was “ The Maj or of Christchurch," but > as that gentleman had sent an apology stating his inability to attend, the toast would bo omitted.

Dop. Prov. G. M. Bunns of the Lyttelton District, proposed, “The Loyol City of Christchurch Lodge.” Tho toast was enthusiastically drunk, and was acknowledged by Bro Webster. The following toasts were subsequently proposed, " Tho Trustees,” responded to by Bro Rodgers j “ The Medical Officers,” responded by Drs Deamor and Campbell j “The Architect, responded to by Mr J. 0. Maddison j •• The Builder,” responded to by Bro Hyndman j and " The Building Committee,” responded to by Bro Thin. In the course of the evening some capital songs were admirably sung by Bros Wilkins, Bunns, Oxford, Miller, Olephano and others, and on thnusing , recitation was given by Bro Luoas.

The meeting kept up their festivities till a late hour, tho fine hall proving itself to be well ventilated* and lighted, and its acoustic properties being especially good.