FORESTERS' CONVERSAZIONE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume X, Issue 3607, 28 August 1886, Page 2

FORESTERS' CONVERSAZIONE.

A most enjoyable evening was spent in the Publio Hall last night, the occasion being the celebration of the eighteenth anniversary of Court Pride of Oamaru, A.O.F. The meeting took the form of a social one, and 90 of the brethren, .; their wives and friends, sat down to a tea provided by Mr Kilgour, in his best style. The Secretary (Bro. W. Cairns) occupied the chair. When all had partaken of the good things provided, the Chairman gave a very interesting address on the order as a whole, showing that there were now united together under its banner more than the whole population of New Zealand, and that they had bat one common object, viz. j the well-being cf their fellow men. He also showed that those whom sickness. and distress had overtaken, together with those claimed by the hand of death, shared in the annual expenditure of nearly half a million. ' The Chairman advocated the establishment,, by the various courts and lodges, of juvenile societies throughout the country, stating that in connection with the A.O.F. there were 59 000 such members with a capital of L 67,000, and that, by means of their association with the body, a spirit of economy and thrift was fostered in the minds of the youth, and the parent societies were constantly recuited. A number of songs were admirably rendered by Misses White, Pocklington, Moody, and Mrs Harwood. Two humorous Scotch readings were given by Bros. Cuthbert and Hunter, and a number of additional songs sung by the brothers and friends. This brought the entertainment part of the programme to a close. The tables were then. cleared, the room was given in charge of Bro. A. Pelvin, M.C., and dancing was commenced. The younger people thoroughly enjoyed themselves under the inspiring strains of the violin and harp, and the gathering broke up at 3.30, thus ending a most successful entertainment.