FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 5657, 5 January 1880, Page 2

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

The sixth annual meeting of the members of the Auckland Branch, No. SI. XL A. C.B. Society, took place in St. Patrick's Hall, on 22nd .December, for the purpose of electing officers for thti ensuing -ix months. There was a large attendance of members, and much interest manifested in the proceedings.

: he following were appointed cffics-beartrs : President, M. Connolly'; vice president, P. Lynch; secretary, James O'Brien; treasurer, C. Little ; warden, James Ryan; suirdian, T. Roe ; sick visitors, P. Bartley and C. O'Connor ; auditors, T. H. White and B. Cronin; medical attendant, Dr. Uuxtable; juvenile committee, W. G. Connolly, W. Jennings, and J. O'B. i-n. The balance-sheet and report, brought up by the secretary, showed that the drain on the funds during the last quaiter of the presentyear on account of sickness, wa3 much heavier than during any previous quarter. Despite this, however, there was a increase in the moneys to the credit of the Satisfaction was expressed on the report of the delegates representing the society in the United Friendly Societies Demonstration Committee, that everything was progressing favourably, and doubtless would result in a successful gathering. \ otes of thanks were passed to the retiring officers, and a special vote of thanks was accorded to Dr. Wine, late medicil attendant of the branch, and reg-et expressed that he was obliged to sever his connection with the society.

The seventeenth anniversary of the Court City of Auckland, A.0.P., was celebrated by a concert and. bill, on December 26, at the Choral Hall. Theie were from two to three hundred present, and the proceedings were throughout of an extremely pleasant and harmonious character. Mr. James Sticlibury, C.E , presided. There were on the platform, representatives from Courts Zealandia, Eureka, Piide of Newmarket, Pride of Oaehunga, Coromandel, and Pride of Paruell (Thames). Also, from Good Intent, Fountain of Friendship, and "Parnell Lodges, 1.0.0. F., M.U.; National Order of Oddfellows, Loyal United Friends, Kechabites, and Hibernian Societies. The Chairman made a brief introductory speech, congratulating 1113 brother members on the progress made by the court during the pa?t J ear, after whish the financial report "was read by the secretary. Brother Holland. From it we gather that the balance to the sick and general fund at the end of last year wa3 £2420 4s, to which has to be added for contributions £456 9s 43; initiation fees, £10 lis; contributions for members of other courts, £22s 6s; interest added, £115 14s. 2d; general money from district, £20 —making a total of £3034 4s 6d. There bas "been expended this year for sick pay, £202 4s; district account, £G6 10s 6i; to other Courts, £22 Cs; general management on account of district, £20: total expenditure, £311 0a Gd. Credit belance at present, £2773 4a ; increase on year, £353. Only one death had taken place during the year—that of a very old member of the Order. As to management fund the receipts for the year have been : For contributions, fees. &c., £292 12s lid ; balance at close of last year, £61 16a 4d ; total to this fund, £354s 93 3kl. The expenditure had been £30S 2s 81, which included an item of £30 for a banuer, which had been ordered from borne, and was shortly expected to arrive. The number of members on the books at the end of last year were 259; left, 25 ; admitted, 39 : thus leaving an increase to the Court membership of 14. Songs were then given by Messrs. .HiJl, Allen, and McEwen, and a recitation by Mr. A. Smith. The representatives of the various Friendly Societies present made biief speeches, in response to the call of the chairman, amongst them Brother Whisker,of Court Coromandel. A few closing remarks by the chairman brought this portion of the evening's proceedings to a termination, when the ball was cieared for dancing, which was kept np-with spirit to an early hour in the morning. Brother T. Holland acixl a? M.C., and ably fulfilled his duties to the satisfaction of the guests.

G OD TEMPLARISM. A considerable number of the members of the Order of Good Templars, and other frieuds of the tempe ance movement in Tauranga, assembled in the vacant ground near Mr! Bodell's residence, on the Cameron Road, on December 4, to witness the laying of ths foundation-block of the Good Templars' Hall which is to be erected there. This b idy, which, was established in Tauranga about five years ago, has already gained a large number of adherents, a-.d, when the subject c.f building premises for the meetings of the brethren and sisters was mooted more than a year ago, the proj cfc was entered iota with great suirii by the and in a short time nearly £120 was raised towards the carrying-out of the work. The land ou which the building is to be erected is freehold, and the property will be vested in trustees for the benefit of the lodge for all tima to come. The erection of the building has been enfcinsted to Mr. David London, the architect being Mr. B. S. Corlett.