LOYAL OAMARU LODGE, M.U.I.O.O.F. ANNUAL DINNER.

North Otago Times, Volume XI, Issue 359, 30 October 1868, Page 2

LOYAL OAMARU LODGE, M.U.I.O.O.F. ANNUAL DINNER.

The anniversary dinner of the above lodge took place at the Star and G-arter Hotel, on Tuesday. The table was Terjr elegantly laid out, and the supply of good things was both abundant and excellent. The Chair was occupied by Bro. Harper, supported on the right by P. GK M. Bro. King, and on the left by P. Gh M. Bro. Aitken. N. G-. Bro. Lindsay occupied the Vice-Chair. The attendance was not so large as on previous similar occasions ; and, although during the earlier part of the evening the conviviality somewhat flagged, this was afterwards amply made up for. After grace by the Chair, the viands were done full justice to, and, on the removal of the cloth, the Chairman gave, in suitable terms, the toast of the " Queen and Eoyal Family," which was heartily responded to. Next came the "Army, Navy, and Volunteers," coupled with the name of Capt. Steward, who responded for the Army and Volunteers ; N. Gh Bro. Lindsay making a similar acknowledgement on behalf of the Navy. Between the toast and the reply Bro. Shaw sung very excellently " The Village Choristers." Gh M. Bro. SimpsoD, in proposing " The Manchester Unity of the Independent Order of Oddfel-

lows," regretted that he was unable to give the statitics of the Order, as to its wealth and numbers, bat would advert to the fact that there was scarcely a civilised country under the son where it had not it* branches. Song— <«.The Banks of the Dee,"— P. GK M. Bro.^ King. N. Q. Bro. Lindsay, in responding to the toast, regretted with Bro. Simpson that he had not the ' statistical accounts of the Order at liis fingers ends. He howover was not an old member. The wealth of the Order might be, he beliered, be reckoned by millions. Recitation — from the " Lay of the Last Minstrel" — N. G-. Bro. Lindsay. P. Or. M. Bro. Aitken proposed " The Otago District." He was sorry that Bro. Elder, whose name had been set down upon the programme as the proposer of this was not present, as he felt sure that he would have done it full justice. Song — " God Bless tho Prince of Wales" — Bro. Dudehope. ' , ' P. Or. M. Bro. Murphy responded, and stated that he was a member of the "Rose, Shamrock, and Thistle" lodge, of Invercargill. Although the Southland lodges, which had hitherto been in the Otago district, were trying to obtain the formation of a new district, that was not to be attributed to any dissatisfaction vrith the district, but simply on account of their distance. Since Bro. Cresswell had been ProTincial Correspondent the lodges in Southland had never found any reason to* complain of the district; any matters in dispute referred to the district had. been settled promptly and fairly, and their correspondence immediately attended to. There was no doubt that the Loyal Oamaru Lodge was under a first-class district, and all they needed to do waa to work their lodge well, and to keep an eye open for the district, and the district would be sure to keep an eye open for them. (Cheers). Song— E. S. Bro. Galbraith— " Free and Easy." Bro. Payne, in proposing " The Loyal Oamaru Lodge," said that he never found his word* come so freely when surrounded by a number of gentlemen as when sitting qnietly in company with three or four, as at present. He hardly thought he should have had the honor to propose this toast, being himself a very unworthy member, having been very irregular in attendance. He must plead press of engagements in extenuation of his laxity, but if he was not often present, his heart was always with them. He was a thorough believer in Oddfellowship, and might add that he had been connected with different lodges in various parts of the world, but he did not know one that had got so many members in so short a time as the Loyal Oamaru Lodge. He could not help expressing his regret that there should be so many brethren absent that night. They should attend their anniversary dinner to a man, and he hoped that next year there would be au improvement in this respect. Song— Bro. May— "By the Sad Sea Waves." Bro. Page returned thanks for the toast on behalf of the Lodge. He also had been a very irregular attendant at his lodge duties, but he had a really valid excuse. He was a volunteer and a punctual attendant at the drills of his company. As an Oddfellow he hoped in future to be a better boy (laughter). He had been called upon to reply instead of an absent brother, and must lemark that the toasts and replies had on the original programme been put into very good hands, and he was sorry that it should be necessary to substitute others. He hoped that this course would not have to be resorted to at their next anniversary, but that on that occasion those originally drafted for these duties would be present. He had always thought there was something wrong about the lodge, or rather something wanting. He could not say what that was, but he hoped that, whatever it might be, it would be provided for, so that there might be a better attendance next year. A few statistics of the Lodge might be acceptable, and lie would give them. He found that the number of members " good on the books," was over 60, and the number of absentees not exceeding twelve months 80. Tho following was the value of the Lodge according to the last balance-sheet, viz : — Cash lent out at interest, L160 j cash in hand, L1G9 8s. 6d. ; lent to management fund, L87 Is. 5d. Total present value, L416 9s. lOd. He did not know the position of the Lodge comparatively with that of other lodges in the district. It had been necessary to make a draft upon the members, owing to their limited numbers, and the heavy expenses' of erecting a building, &c. He hoped the brethren would do their best to make the Loyal Oamaru Lodge second to none. (Cheers.) N. GK Bro. Lindsay, in giving the toast of " Kin- | dred Societies," stated that he was not a member of any other society, but he believed that the Foresters, Freemasons, and others, had all one common object in view, viz., the amelioration of the condition of their fellowmen, and the relief of the sick and destitute, they were all, he hoped, helping to hasten on the time whenAll mankind shall brithers be for a' that ! Song— P. Gh M. Bro. King—" This New Land of Ouri." Vis. Bro. Bain, A.I.O.O.P., responded to the toast in a few suitable remarks. E. S. Bro. Galbraith proposed the next toast — "Visiting Brothers," coupled with the name of P. Gh M. Bro. Murphy, which was drunk with heartiness. Song — Bro. Hook — " The Bloom is on the Rye." P. Or. M. Bro. Murphy responded in an appropriate speech, in which he furnished some very interesting statistics of the. Southland Lodges. He had received great kindness from the brethren in Oamaru and expected toon to get his clearance from the Rose, Shamrock and Thistle Lodge of Invercargill, but, whether as a member of the Loyal Oamaru Lodge or as a Visiting Brother, he would always be happy to give any assistance in his power in the interests of Oddfellowship. Mr Steward, at the request of the Chair, proposed in a humorous speech — " His Worship the Mayor, the Municipal Council, and Prosperity to the Town of Oamaru," coupled with the health of Cr. Aitken. The toast was drunk with musical honors. N. &. Bro. Lindsay, then very ably recited " Tarn O'Shanter ; " after which P. Gh M. Bro. Aitken returned thanks for the toast, dwelling upon the necessity of common action being taken ior the obtainment of improved shipping facilities. Bro. W. Bee, in a very eulogiatic speech, proposed — " The Press," coupled with the health of the Editor of the Oamahu Times. The toast was drunk with all the honors, and was suitably acknowledged. Song— Bro. Thompson — "The Sneeshin' Mull." Bro. Hook briefly proposed — " The Ladies." The toast was drunk with all the conventional honors. Song— Mr Steward—" Pat Molloy." Mr Page, in a neat speech returned thanks for the ladies, stating, in conclusion, that he warmly endorsed the couplet of the national poet of Scotland — The sweetest hours that e'er I spent, Were spent among the lasses O. Song— Mr Hardy— "The Brave Old Oak." " The Host and Hostess," given by tho Chair, was heartily received, and was acknowledged by Mr Payne. " The Chairman" given by N. Or. Bro. Lindsay and the Vice-chair by Bro. Harper were severally received with Highland honors and the greatest enthusiasm and after suitable acknowledgment had been made, the Chairman vacated, and was succeeded by P. Gh M. Bro. Aitken, under whose presidence the conviviality was prolonged until a late hour, several recitations being given and many excellent songs sung.

During a recent trial for murder at Auckland, the foreman culled the attention of the Court to the fact that one of the jurymen had received the painful intelligence that his wife wai expected to die. Unfortunately, there wu no remedy, and the juryman had to remain. — Ibid." The "Canterbury Press" says :—" Chief Justice Arney has decided, at the hearing of an important case, * Anderson v. Graham, 9 at Auckland, that whenever a defendant's body has been taken and kept in gaol for four months, under committal for a judgment debt, bis goods could not be taken in execution for the same debt." A new township has been surreyed on the Wakaia Plains, near Switzers, 5000 acres of land have also been thrown open for agricultural settlement, and a strong desire is expressed that tho town allotment! should be^ offered for sale without delay.