MEETING OF SOCIETIES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12531, 19 June 1901, Page 4

MEETING OF SOCIETIES.

At the ordinary meeting of the Rangiora Druids Lodge, on Monday evening, an excellent explanation of the benefits the Lodges of Canterbury would receive by becoming affiliated with,the Grand Lodge of Canterbury was given by Bro W. Smith, and it was unanimously decided to join the Grand Lodge. Two candidates were initiated during the evening. A well-attended, meeting of the North Canterbury Poultry, Pigeon and Canary Club was held at Rangiora on Tuesday evening. 'Mr W. Smith was in the chair. A special prize of a guinea from Mr T. Chapman was received with thanks. The arrangements for the show on June 25 comprised the principal part of the business. The services: of the Rangiora Brass Band were accepted. Mr G. Duke was appointed caretaker of exhibits. It was decided to hold! the usual supper on the first night of the show. Mr J. Brown kindly promised to give, all the chaff required fox the poultry pens. The Secretary reported! that the entries were coming in well, and it was expected they would outnumber those of last year.

At the half-yearly meeting of the Perseverance Lodge, U.A.0.D., the balancesheet was presented, showing a, surplus of £440 14s 7d. The following officers were installed: —A.D., Bro J. Watson; V.A., Bro Kingeford; Secretary, Bro Pollard; Treasurer, Bro Hooker; LG,, Bro Dale; 0.G., Bro Clark; A.D.B.’s, Bros Warburton and Grose; V.A.B.’s, Bros Nixon and J. Cotton; Minute Secretary, Bro Cannington ; Auditor, Bro Harrup. A meeting of the committee of the Children’s Aid Society was held on Thursday evening in the City Council Chambers. There was a large attendance of members, and Mr Chrystall presided. Several cases of children living in immoral houses were dealt with, and members of committee commented on the great difficulty of getting children removed! from such surroundings. It was decided that in future meetings of the committee should take place once in four weeks. The Secretary reported that Mr M’Olatchie had given sufficient coal for the use of the kindergarten to last during the winter months.

The half-yearly meeting of the Pioneer Lodge No. 1, U.A.0.D., was held on Monday evening, A.D. Bro Bowers in the chair. The sum of £ll 10s was passed for sick pay. The balance-sheet showed that the profit for the half-year had amounted to £9s'lss 6di. The Benevolent Fund, although other claims have been very heavy for tho half-year, showed a. balance of £8 10s. The following officers were elected and installed:—A.U., Bro W. Darlow; V. A., Bro Lyness; Secretary, Bro J. Swinnerton; Treasurer, Bro C. Tomson; A.D.B.’s, Bro H. Smith and Bro W. Neate; V.A.B.’a, Bro Sutton and Bro Buxton ; Minute Secretary, Bro W. Rowe (reelected) ; 1.G., Bro S. Kennedy; 0.G., Bro Carpenter. The Benevolent Committee was re-elected.

The third annual meeting of the St Luke’s Young Men’s Club was he]s on Friday, in the St Luke’s Schoolroom. There was a very small attendance of members. The Chairman (Archdeacon Lingard) read the annual report, which, owing to increased expenditure, and through members leaving the club without paying- their subscriptions, amounting to a little over £3, showed a deficiency for the year of £2 9s sd. To meet this,. the committee had. decided to raise the junior members’ fee to 2s 6d a quarter, and the senior® to 3s. By this step the income would be increased by £4 12s. it was decided to raise the age of the junior members from sixteen years to eighteen. Votes of thanks were passed to the Chairman and several other members for services rendered to the club.

At tho weekly meeting of the Lyttelton Literary and Debating Society, held on Friday evening, there was a.good attendance. Mr A. Henderson, vice-president, was in the chair. A debate took place on the question “Which, most influence® public opinion, newspapers or books?” Mr G. Lanrenson led off in support of the newspapers, and Captain Manning on behalf of books. Several members spoke in the discussion which followed, and a vote taken at the close resulted jn favour of newspapers by a small majority. 'A. vote of thanks was passed to Mr Laurenson and Captain Manning. At the meeting of the East Belt Literary and Musical Society on June 6, Dr Chilton, M.A., delivered a lecture on “ A Winter on the Continent,” with limelight illustrations. The schoolroom was well filled, and at the close a hearty vote of thanks was passed to the lecturer.

The monthly meeting of the Lancashire Society was held on Wednesday evening. The President (Mr Gibbs) was in the chair. There was a large attendance of members, and a very pleasant evening was spent. An excellent paper was read by Mr Bellhouse, on “Federation, in its Bearing on New Zealand Trade.” The main conclusions drawn were decidedly against New Zealand Joining the Federated States. In acknowledging a vote of thanks, Mr Bellhouse promised another paper. A paper by the President, on "The Limitations Affecting New Zealand Manufactures,” will shortly be read. An important notice of motion was given by Mr Seed for the next meeting. The Treasurer reported that a credit balance of £7 Is 8d was in hand.

The fortnightly meeting of the Eidgley Ledge of American Oddfellows was -held in the Orange Hall on Wednesday evening. The N.G., Bro G. East-wood, presided. There was a good attendance of members. The quoits tournament, which is now proceeding, is greatly appreciated, and the trophy is being vigorously competed for by the members. There was a large attendance at the halfyearly summoned meeting of the Rangiora Oddfellows’ Lodge, held on Monday evening. Bro S. Ayers was unanimously elected a Trustee, in the place of Bro A. B. Blackett, resigned, and it was resolved to present a framed past officer’s certificate of merit, and a Past Grand’s jewel, to the latter, in recognition of his services. Officers for the ensuing term were elected as follows : —G.M., Bro R. Parkin; N.G., Bro T. K. Chapman; V.G., Bro J. Doggett; and E.S., Bro J. Bishop. On behalf of the members, P.P.G.M. Gillespie presented a handsomely-framed certificate to Bro L. Hunnibell, who has served the Lodge as treasurer for thirty-one years, the' membership when he took office being twenty-nine, and is now three hundred and fifty. A bonus of £lllss was passed for payment to a brother who bad attained the age of sixty years. A vote of thanks was passed to Bro E. Payne, the retiring Grand Master, and it was decided to recommend him for the Purple degree, to place his name on tho merit-board, and present him with a past officer's certificate. A candidate was initiated and two were proposed. Accounts' amounting to £123 15s Si wire passed for payment and the Lodge closed. The officers elected by the Pioneer Juvenile Ledge were.-—G.M., Bro Doggett; N.G., Bro N Jones; V.G., Bro A. H. Hills; E.S., Bro J. Macka.y. Two candidates were initiated.