LODGE AFFAIRS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19041, 15 June 1936, Page 9

LODGE AFFAIRS

VISIT OP WAIROA MEMBERS

DE COSTA RITUAL GUP

The adjourned half-yearly meeting of Turanganui Lodge, No. 7, U.A.0.D., was held in the Masonic Hall on. Saturday evening, when a large .contingent of'members of Wairoa Lodge was present,' the occasion being the installation of officers by the district president, Bro. L. W. Elbbitt, and also a ritual contest between the sitting officers of Wairoa and Turanganui lodges for the De Costa Cup, held, by the latter. There was a large assemblage, Over 60 members being in attendance, the A.D., Bro. A. Craill presiding, with a full complement of officers. The .balance • sheet for the. half-year, read by the secretary, Bro. M. W. Craig, was of a highly satisfactory character, and after the Grand Lodge book examiner, Bro. T. G. Lawless, had commented on the different fundls, flie report and balance sheet were unanimously adopted. Sick pay totalling £35 13s was passed for payment, and benevolence was extended to two deserving cases. One candidate was initiated! as a member, whilst three further nominations were received. On the arrival of the Wairoa members they were given a very warm welcome by the Arch Druid and members. As'the business was of a lengthy nature, no time was lost, in l getting under way, and the district president, Bro. L. VV. Ebbitt, being announced and given Druidic honours, on entering, he installed the various officers into their chairs for the current term. The ceremony was a most impressive one, and was carried out by the, installing,officer with credit not only to himself but" to tho Grand Lodge. The contest for the De Costa. Ritual Cup was then proceeded with, Bros. John Jackson and C W. Izod, Turanganui, and H. L. Harker and Gordon. Wairoa, acting as judges. The local lodge, holders of the cup, led' off and gave a really creditable performance, being heartily applauded 1 on concluding. Wairoa then took the floor, and as they proceeded it. was soon, apparent that they would be hard to (beat, the different, charges being rendered in a clear and most impressive manner. Warm applause followed! their fine effort. Bro. If. L. Harker, on behalf of his colleagues, gave the verdict in favour of the Wairoa representatives, whose performance, it was staled, had been a sterling one, and the victory was mainly achieved by its Both teams had done excellently, and the charges were given almost, word perfect, the,decision going to Wairoa by a very slight majority of, points. Hearty applause greeted the victors. Bro.: H- 11. De Costa, the donor of tho cup, was requested to present thst trophy to the A.D. of the Wairoa lodge, and i'n< doing so he remarked that when he gave the cup for competition' he did not anticipate that it woiild create such friendly rivalry as ho had Witnessed that evening Bro. De Costa congratulated the winners and also; the losers, and said.it was a surprise to liim to witiress: such a masterly rendition of the initiation ceremony. '

■ At the conclusion of the meeting the assemblage adjourned downstairs,_ where the visitors were entertained with refreshments. The newly-installed' Arch Druid, Bro. C. McGraunaehai), presided, and a, lengthy toast-lis-t was* gone through. A very enjoyable time was spent, the speeches of the various speakers being highly interesting. Before concluding, Bros. Darker and Cordon referred to the friendly feeling existing between the two lodges, and on the. hospifiabla manner in which they were always entertained on visiting Gisborne. "Auld Lang Syne" waij sung just as midnight approached. .