ANCIENT ORDER OF FORESTERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2560, 8 April 1903, Page 12

ANCIENT ORDER OF FORESTERS.

The annual meeting of A.0.F., United Otago district, was held in the district chambers, Stuart street, on Thursday. Bro. W. Black, D.C.R., presided, and the following office-bearers were present: — Bros. A. Samson, D.5.0.R. ; James Macfie, D.T. ; J. Clark, D.8. ; J. Hope, J.P.D.C.R. The delegates present were : — Court Pride c f Dunedin — P.D.C.R. Bro. G. Morgan, P.C.R's. Bros. J. Taverner, T. Ireland, R. Loraine; Court Enterprise — P.D.C.R. Bro. J. Melville, P.C.R's. Bros. H. Spears, W. G. .lolly, J. R. Wilson, and T. Wilson; Court Robin Hood— P.C.R's. Bros. W. G. Fail and M. Dillon: Court Pride of ihe L&ith— P.D.C.R. Bro. J. Robertson, P.C.R'e. Bros. W. B. Anderson and TV. Richardson; Court Bruce — P.C.R's. Bros. John Burns, E. Hollick, and R. Thorne; Star of the Dunstan— P.C.R. Bro. John Smart; Pride of Oamaru — P.CR's.. Bros. W. Caini3 and A. Webster; Court Havelock—P.C.R. Bro. R. M'Ara; Court Star of the South— P.Cß's. Bros. R. Foley and A. L. M'Culloch; Court" St. Andrew— P.D.CJI'?. Bros. J. Ingram and C. Williams; Court Excalsior— P.C.R's. Bros. J. J. Graham and W. Palmer; Court Little John— P.C.R. Bro. A. Sinclair; Court Royal Oak— P.C.R. Bro. W. A. Young; Court Woodland's Pride— P.C.R's. Sisters J. Smith, M. Watson, and Wilson; Court ! AHcroria— P.C.R. Sister M. Rivers: Court I Pride of Roslyn— P.C.R. Sister C. Webster ; Courfc Marion— P.C.R. Sister M. Dickie; Court of tho Southern Star— P.C.R. Bro. A M'Nish. The D.C.R. apologised for Bro. W. Woodland, D.S. Bro. J. Macfie was appointed acting-secretary. We make the following extracts from the report of the district executive: — [ Once more our annual meeting has come round, and we have now the pleasure and privilege of presenting our report for the past year. Before we proceed we desire to extend to you a hearty welcome, and on behalf of the executive and Dunedin suburban courts, permit us to extend the right hand of fellowship to those delegates from country courts. We hope your short stay in our city will be pleasant to yourselves and profitable to the U.O.D. Since our last meeting the South African war has come to an end. A number of our members having fallen in the 'struggle, we wish, although late, to place on record our sympathy with the relatives and friends of our brothers who have lost their lives in the conflict, and trust that it may be many years before we are again called to take up arms oa behalf of our great Empire.

Yis'ts to Courts.— During the year we have visited the courts in and around Dunedin several times. We also visited Courts Star of the South, Southern Star, Qusen of the South, Bruce, and Pride of Oaraaru. At the lastnamed court we had the pleasure of- assisting at" the presentation of a purse of sovereigns to the late secretary, Bro. W. Cairns, who has retired from the office after 20 odd years' service, and inember3 one and all testified to the valuable services he had rendered to the court. When wo state that Bro. Cairns had introduced into the court over 100 members during his term of office, you can judge of his work. While we have no reason to complain of our reception in any of the courts visited, and desire to convey to them all our hearty thanks for their kindness, we would not be doing our duty if we omitted to specially mention the country courts, who excel all others in their endeavours to make our short stay amongst them a pleasant one. Their kindness and hospitality knows no bounds, and we can assure them that it has been highly appreciated.

The Numerical Statement.— From the fact that Courts Woodland's Pride and Dickson have not forwarded their returns, the numerical statement is incomplete. As to the former court, we know it is a very difficult matter for the present secretary (Sister M. Watson) to make up her returns, ov/ing to the fact that she has not yet got over the difficulties bequeathed her by her predecessor, but we believe every effort is being made to get those returns made up. Taking the number shown in last year's report as a basis, our position is as follows: —

1901. — Number o£ members on roll at beginning of year, 2604; admitted by initiation, 256;— total, 2570. Left by arrears, 192; by death, 15; — total, 20". Members at the end cf the year, 2G63. Gain for the year, 59. 1902. — Number of members on the roll at the ■beginning of the year, 2663; admitted by initiation, 250; admitted by clearance, 10; — total. 2923. Left by arrears, 161 ; by clearance, li; by resignation, 5; by deaths, 17; — total, 194. Members at the end of the year., 2729. Gain for the year, 66. From the above state nent you will observe that we have initiated 250 members, and admitted by clearance 10 — 260 in- all. Court Star also top the list by striking off 36.3 by clearance and four clearances— a splendid record. They also top the list by striking off 36.3 by clearance and one by deatn. The number of members vrs introduce is very aaUsUstorr. but it is to

b? regretted that snch a laTge>number continue to drop out year after year, and it is quite evident that we have not yet discovered a remedy which will prevent members from Tunning out. Financial Position.— Turning to the financial position, we find a brighter state of things.' Our district funds show an increase amounting to £461 6s 5Jd, after having written off £155 los 3 on the property at Waverley, which has beenin our hands for a number of yeara- This loss we very much regret, but tbere is one satisfaction in knowing that this the first and only lo3s we have sustained. Let us hope it will be the last. The value of the court funds in 1901 was £34,432, and in 1902 £35.529; of district funds, £11.398 in 1901, and £11,788 in 1902— showing ail increase of £1136. Sick pay disbursed in. 1901 amounted to £2529. and in 1902 to £2890. Funeral claims paid in 1901 were £300, and £525 in 1902. The report for 1900 of the registrar of friend!y societies gives the following, information regarding cur order in the co'.ony: — Totai number of members, 11,487, with. funds amounting t-> £211.233. We axe pleased. to note that our colony keeps th 9 lead as "regards the average amount standing to the credit of .each member of all friendly societies in New, Zealand. In I\Tew Zealand the average per member is £19 ; 0s 9d; in Victoria, £13.8s 10d;' in. South Australia, £11 2s 9d; in New South Wales, £8 12s lid; the other colonies showing a lower average. The Agenda Paper. — Since issuing the business papa- we have learnt lhat our stock of rules^is getting low, and we would-suggest that a committee be appointed at this meeting to deal with the question. This is a work of considerable magnitude, and will take some time ti accomplish. Another matter we would ask you to settle to-day is to fix an insurance office for the district, where all cur secretaries shall be insured. The position is this : A number of years ago the District Executive and the trustees fixed on the New Zealand Insurance Company > for the purpose. Brothers Spears and Jolly waited upon us, and asked that all securities be transferred to the Victoria Insurance Company. Bro. Jolly being employed there, it was suggested that he would be in a position to look after onr interests better 'if insured in that office. They also expreseed the opinion that your executive had nothing to do with the matter. That being so, and the district meeting being so close at hand, we thought it advisable to bring the question before you to-day, so that whatever office is chosen (and we think it advisable they should be in one office) it will remain until altered by another district meeting. The adoption of the annual report was moved by Bro. Taverner, seconded by Bro. Wilson, and carried. Bro. R. Ingram, P.D.C.R., read the balance sheet and auditors' report, which were adopted. The following motions were agreed to: — " That law 61 be amended by adding— ' That no court secretary be eligible to be elected as a district auditor.' " To alter rule 105 — " That the words ' returns under tho law ' shall mean balance sheets, levies, etc." " That a committee be appointed to sekcfc a uniform set of books to b9 kept by every court secretary." " That female courts be allowed to amalgamate or attach themselves to male courts under rule 124, the funds of each to be kept entirely separate." " That the sum of £100 be voted to Bro. W. Woodland as an expression of goodwill and esteem, and to mark our appreciation of his long and faithful services, on his retiring from office through failing health." — A number of delegates spoke in appreciative terms of the work done by Bro. Woodland, and expressed regret at his absence. " That the salaries for the year be the same as last year.'" P.D.C.R. Bro. J. Wilson read a report from the juvenile district. Fraternal greetings were received from the M.U.1.0.0.F. A committee was appointed to revise the rules. The following office-bearers were elected : For D.C.R. , Bro. Alex. Swanson; for D.S.CR., Bro. John Chirk: (or D.T.. Bro. John Hope; for D.S., Bro. James Macfie; for D.8., Bro. W. A. Young; for District Trustee, Bro. William Mearns; for District Auditor, Bro. H. Youngman. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to P.D.C.R. Bro. W. Black. Dunedin was chosen for the next district meeting. It was resolved that a letter from the district executive be sent to Bro. Woodland sympathising with him in his illness, and expressing thanks for his past services. The question of joining the Friendly Societies' Council of Otago was discussed. A motion favouring the proposal was lost. The D.C.R. (Bro. Swanson) presented Bro. J. Hope, P.D.C.R.. with the P.D.C.R's. certificate and nook ribbon, tad

aho a handsome clock in recognition oi his past services to the district.

I A number of the country delegates who at-tended-the annual meeting of the A\O.F.,_ United Otago District, held on Wednes- . day, were taksn • £or a ■ trip' -down tho I harbour in the steamer Onslow yesterday. " I The party, made up, as it was of- both town and country members, was a fairly numerous one.: and, the weather being fine, the trip -proved, most enjoyable. The little steamer called at several places of interest on ' the way down, and passed close to H.M.S. Wallaroo, the crew, | of which the party cheeced lustily. On reaching the Kaik a landing wa* effected, after ample ! justice had bsen done to the luncheon provided on board the steamer, and a visit of inspection' ! was paid to the guns at the Hea^s. The light- | house was also visited, and the pleasureI seekers then returned on board the steamer,' which soon after cast off her moorings, and, steamed back to town, reaching Dunedin wharf' 1 about 6.30 p.m. The visitors expressed themselves as highly delighted with- 1 their outing* •".