ANCIENT ORDER OF FORESTERS,

Otago Witness, Issue 2506, 2 April 1902, Page 45

ANCIENT ORDER OF FORESTERS,

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Otago District of the Ancient Order of Foresters opened in the Athenaeum Hall, Oamaru, on Saturday forenoon, the District Chief Ranger (Bro. John Hope) presiding. The other district officers present were: — D.S C.R. Bro. William Black, D.T. Bro. J. Macfie, D.S. Bro. W. Woodland, D.B. Bro. Alex. Swanson, and I.D.P.C.R. Bro. John Patterson. The following delegates were also in attendance: — From Court Pride of Dunedin— P.D.C.R 's Bros* G. W. Gcddes, R. W. Ingram, John Wilson, and P. C.R. Bro. John CJark; Court Enterprise — P.D.C.R. Bro. John. Melville and P C R.s Bros. A. Walker, H. Spears, and E. Tumbull; Court Robin Hood— P.C.R.'s Bros. W. G. Fail and M. Dillon; Court Pride of Leith— P.D.C.R. Bro. J. Rcbertpon and P.C R.s Bros. W. B. Anderson ,and W. Richardson ; Court Bruce— P.C.R.'s Bros. J. Dickson and J. M'Murtrie. and R. Thow; Court Pride of Oamaru— P.C.R.'s Bros. W. Cairns. J. Pocklington, and W. Lang; Court Havelock— P.C.R. Bro. R. M'Cara; Court Roxburgh— P.C.R. Bro. J. Craig; Court Star of the South— P.C.R.'s Bros. .J. Couling, W. Sampson, A. M'Cullough. and G. Sheehan ; Court St. Andrew — P.D C.R. Bro. C. Williams and P.C.R. J. Ingram ; Court Excelsior — P.C.R.'s Bros. W. Palmer and W. Bridges; Court Litt'e John— C.R Bro. J. W. Auld : Court Woodland's Pride— P.C.R.'s Sisters W. A. Black, J. Smith, and M. Watson ; Court Victoria— Sec. M. E. Rivers ; Court Munro —P.C.R. Sis. M. Dickie. After formal business the D.C.R. read the annual report, which stated, inter alia : — Your exeruhve have to leport having vi=ited the various courts in and around Dunedin. The district officers (with the exception of Bros. Black, Hwanson. and Patterson, whe were detained through business) paid a visit to the courts in Southland. The first court visited, was Royai Oak at Wyudbam, where we met with a cordial reception, Bros. AlVilinchy and Miller, attending to us :n true brolherly style. In the evening we visited the court officially, and have great pleasure in testifying to the sound condition of the funds end the excellent manner in which they conduct their business. The next court visited was Southern Star, at the Bluff. We had looked forward to this meeting with some misgivings. However, we were agreeably surprised, as we had a, grand reception and a. splendid meeting, some 30 odd brothers being present. Two candidates were initiated, the ceremony being conducted in a very creditable manner. The officers and members were healthy and intelligent brothers, and very little seemed wanting ■50 make Southern Star a flourishing court. The brothers seemed well pleased to see us, and we are sure good will lesult from our visit. We may here- mention the great kindness of C.R. Bro. M'Cullough, of Court Star of the South, for escorting us to the Bluff, and his untiring energy for our welfare. We intended visiting Court Pride of the Lake, but delayed our visit until some future time. We had the pleasure of a visit to Court Queen of the South, where- we were well received by the sisters. They had a fair meeting. Two candidates were initiated into our Ancient Order, the ceremony being conducted very well indeed. The court seems to be going along fairly well, and with careful management ought to make its hrfiuence felt for good. Our next and final visit was to a combined meeting of Star of the Forest and Star of the South. Owing to our being unable to visit Star of the Forest in their own court room, Court Star of the South gave the members a cordial invitation to meet us along with themselves. The meeting took place on the 27th February, and was a red-letter day in Forestry. Official visits were paid by Queen of the South, Southern Star, and Star of the Forest. Your district officers met with a great reception — Foresters' fire being given in true style. Here also we had the pleasure of seeing the initiation ceremony performed, and we feel safe in saying we never saw it better done. The general business of the court was well conducted, and it was a treat to see the respect which was shown to the C.R. Your executive are more convinced than ever of the wisdom that led to the adoption of country visits. Our recent visit but confirms the opinion of the first visit to the goldfields. We feel certain that much good will be the result of our visit to Southland. The following comparative statement 9ho\vs our numerical position, which is incomplete from the fact that two of our courts (up to the present time) have failed to sent! in their returns foi the year ended December last. — 1900. 1901. dumber of members on roll at beginning of year 2574 2604 Admitted by initiation .. .. 260 266 Admitted by clearance .^ .. 4 — 2a38 2870 Left by arrears .. .. .. .. .. 211 192 Left by clearance .. ...... 2 — Left by resignation-. .-. .. ... 2 j Left by death .. .. ... «. .. 19 15 Total losses 234 207 Members at the end of the year.. 2604 2G63 G-ain for the year 30 59 From the foregoing statement it will be seen that whilst we have initiated 26G members during the year, no less than 192 have left us by arrears and by death 15, a, total oi 207, leaving us with a gain of 59 members for the year. While this is a little belter than the previous year, we can scarcely look upon it as being satisfactory. Our courts make a large number of members, but the problem how to keep them has yet to be solved. If each court were to appoint a small committee to vi3it unruiancial members, and ascertain the cause, some good might result from such visitations. We merely throw out the suggestion. The following is a summary issued by the High Court, showing the position the order was m at the end of the year 1900. — Male adult benefit members . .. „ 735,198 Female aduit benefit members ... „ 7,239 742,487 Honorary member 1 ;, male find female.. 21,599 Juvenile members, male and female . 128,935 Widows rontiibuting- to funeral hind . 21,562 Total 914,583 1 his dop's not include a large number of courts that were uudei suspension. The funds of the order on the 31st December, 1900, were aB follows — Cunrt f inida . „ .. . £5,702,053 District t , „ 580,381 Juvenile J. 186,769 "Widows and orphans «r •• 51,042 High Court funds 5,66(5 Fiom the last report issued by the regi a trar of friendly societies, New Zealand, giving data to December 1, 1899, we find that the total number of our order m New Zealand was 11,251 with funds amounting to £201,451 2s sd. Of that amount j£lfil,6oß was invested, the avernge raie of interest being 5 8 per cent., and the average of our district 5.7 per cent. Fiom the ftboTo it will be seea tu&t a, y#tl l«r*e sjimjgaj[_

unproductive. We think ,sonxe »f our own courts are a little lax in this respect. The report was unanimously adopted. P.D.C.R. Bro. Youttgmau read the balance sheet and auditors' report for the year, showing an increase of £836 12s o£d, while' the total worth of the district was shown, to be £11,398 17s 3£d, and that of the district and the courts combined £45,830 17s 3JLd. Bro. J. WilsGn, secretary of the Juvenile District, submitted a satisfactory report of this branch of the order. It was resolved to grant Court Robin Hood the sum of £50. In the matter of country delegates' expenses, a committee was appointed to formulate a scheme and submit the game to the next district meeting. ; The establishment of a district members* fund was deferred for further consideration. The following Were- elected the District Executive for the ensuing year,: — D.0.R., Bro. William Black; D.S.C.R., Bro. A. I Swanson; D.T., Bro. J. Macfie; D.S., Bro. W. Woodland: D.8., Bro. J. Clark; trustee, Bro. H. Spears ; auditor, Bro. J. Gillies, jun. The installation was performed by Bro3. Wl Cairns and J. B. Tavcrner. Dunedin was fixed aa the place for the next district meeting. It was resolved to present the retiring D.C R. (Bro. Hope) with the usual testimonial, and to place his name on the respect board. The retiring I.P.D.C.R. (Bro. Patterson) was presented wit.h a P.D.CrR's. certificate J and neck ribbon, together with a handsome marble flock. The recipient, in acknowledging the gift, referred to the pleasure it had. afforded him in discharging the- duties apparrainiiig to the highest office-'in the district. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Court Pride of Oamaru and Court Victoria for the very hearty manner in which they had entertained the district officers and delegates, special mention being made of I Bro. Cairns. During the afternoon a telegran 7 was received from the secretary ot the M.U.I O.O.I?. (J. Hopcraft), who were holding their district meeting at Kaitangatfl, conveying fraternal s;rfptings, which were heartily received and reciprocated by telegr;iph.