GATHERING OF FORESTERS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 109, 9 May 1908, Page 8

GATHERING OF FORESTERS.

COURT CLARENDON ANNIVERSARY,.

On Thursday night (writes ourPic- {- ton correspondent) one of the most successful social gatherings yet held in Picton took place, when,; the mem-: I bers of Court Clarendon A.ChF, met at a dinner to celebrate the 34th , anniversary of their Lodge. ■ There w-as-^a representative gathering of. brethren, and invited guests, and M°st. Nicoll provided a banquet worthy of the occasion. Bro. J W Perano. C.R., occupied the chair" and £c was supported on either hand by the Mayor and ex-Mayor of the town, officers of the Lodge, Councillors and representative citizens. Ihe Chairman, in his opening remarks, welcomed the visitors to this their 34th; anniversary celebration of the Lodge. The speeches were bright, humorous and instructive, and all breathed ™c spirit of progress and good-fel-lowship. The function was a most successful one, arid this was due to the. able chairmanship of Bro Peraiio, who kept, the ball rolling. Toasts, songs and recitations followed one another in quick succession, and altogether a pleasurable, instructive and successful was spent. After the usual loyal toast had been drunk, Bro. G. Smith proposed The Army, Navy, and Volunteers," and m the course of his remarks said that men of thought recognised that there was work for the defence forces vo do in the near future. Capt. Robinson responded, and after pointing to the glorious tradi-1 tions of our defence forces, said that it was the duty of everyone to qualify himself for the defence of his nome ™?°^? ll¥ % & Riddell then proposed the toast, -Court Clarendon." Me thanked-the Court for honouring ! him with an-"invitation to be pre-i sent. He referred to the good- ! fpllowshjp brought about by Friendly i Societies. They had mingled together old and young for upwards of thirty-four years in peaceful Picton, and at the end of that time were able to produce a grand record of -which they might justly feel proud. He asked the visitors heartily to respond to the toast, which he coupled with the; name >of Bro., J. Blizzard, the genial and popular secretary. The toast.was accepted with musical honours.

Bro. J. Blizzard, in responding, traced the history of the Lodge from the year 1874, when it was first formed as oneof the ten courts of the Wellington district. The membership of the province was 920, and the value of its funds was £4200. Today the membership was about 4000,

and the funds were £14,900. Lodge Clarendon in 1.876 had ,36 members, and their funds were £110. To-day the membership was 101, and the funcb were nearly; £3000. Forestry was not, a; charitable institution. Member's 'paid contributions for benefits promised by the Friendly Societies, and the Government took car© that, the societies fulfilled their engagements.. ■ t < Mr S Fell then proposed "The ' Mayor and Councillors of Picton. : Thel-eynotes of his speech were "progress, fight fairly, and avoid bitterness.'" He coupled with the toast ' the names of the Mayor and Councillors Riddell, McCormick and G. \ *~ The Mayor (Mr G. Maitland) made a happy speech, and pointed to the 'great services of Mr J. Blizzard. | This gentleman had been secretary , 'to the Lodge for thirty-three years, '< secretary to the Presbyterian Church ) twenty-five- years, and Town Clerk I twelve years. ■. ; Councillor McCormick said that it ' seemed that this body (the Foresters) i was a society where the strong help- i ed the weak. It had his hearty support. He referred to the Council's grand water supply, which would be found to be so reproductive that it j would ndt cost the ratepayers •a j penny. Dr Redman proposed "Trade and Commerce." Napoleon had in derision 'called us a nation of shopkeepers. To-day almost everyone was proud to belong to some form of trade. It was an honourable occupation. Messrs McCormick; Fell, and Ma it- ; land responded. ' i Bro. G.. Blizzard proposed "Our, Medical Officer,'' and said the Court was indeed fortunate in having the . services of such an able surgeon as Dr. Redman. 11 In his reply, Dr. Redman, as a medical man, said he had ' endeavoured to do his best; one could not do more. • ' ", " Other' toasts were "Kindred Societies," proposed by Bro. Madden, and responded to by Bro. H. C Madsen: "Absent Members" {Bro. A. Clinch), the mover, making special reference to Bro. :A. T. Card, -one of the- founders -end. a ';trust§e -or the Lodge; i"Tfie phairman" (Mr J.\ Blizzard) responded'to by Bro. J.\W. Perano); "Our Guests" (Bro. A. Clinch, responded to by Messrs Martin and Branch); "Th&Press," "The Ladies,"' and "The Host and Hostess." During the evening songs were rendered by Messrs Riddell, Clinch,. Madsen, "Robinson, Mclntosh .and Young;Mr 11. Western recited; Dt. Redman gave a humorous story, and Messrs Madsen and Riddell sang a' dueti- Mr Racy played the accompaniments, and was assisted with the.violin by.Bro. A. Bush. Thfc Chief. Ranger and officers of the Lodge Clarendon are to be complimented on ,the successful function,1 which cannot but be for the production of good to the Lodge and to the public generally.