INVERGILL DISTRICT OF THE I.O.O.F.M.U.

Southland Times, Issue 3314, 3 February 1879, Page 3

INVERGILL DISTRICT OF THE 1.0.0.F.M.U.

+_-_.: The annual meeting of delegates from ihe lodges, under the InvercargUl District, took place on Friday evening, uvthe Oddfellows' Hall, Tay street, there being present the Pro.,G.M., Mr David Anderson ; the Deputy, Mr Matthew Mair; the Pro. C.S., Mr Scandrett; / the delegates from the Invercargill lodges 1 'were — Messsrs GoodwUlie, Stone, Smith. Ross, Porter,' Pickford, and Nutter; from the Winton lodge, Mr Cameron; andthe Riverton, •Mr Eldred. The business of the meeting was opened by , Mr Anderson, who ' said — It affords me * veiy great pleasure to meet you again at this our annual -meeting, and I have to con-' gratjulate you on the continued and steady progress of our society in this district., ki. , .deeply regret ,to announce the" death of 5 members, and 2 member's wives, during the year, £120 having been paid in funeral donations,*, members and 1 .members' -wife from the S. R."and'T. Lodge, 1 member from Raverton lodge, and 1 members' wife from St. George Lodge. The numbers of members on the Ist of January, 1878, were 445,' and on,, the Ist Januaiy, 1879, t there were 491,' showing 'an increase of 46 — of' course, that is including the new lodge at Gore. The sickness rate has been exceptionally „ .high in some of the lodges, as a short statement -wUI show. The total receipts to the • sick fund of the lodges during the year Avas #1007 4s 9d,,the amount expended £522 '• 7s 6d, leaving a balance to the credit of » -£484 17s 3d ; total for sick allowances, £439 i 2s 6d. Receipts for management were £679 J 17s sd, expended £740 17s 9d, show- \ ing £61 Os 4d over receipts. There was paid >' alone for doctors and medicine, £421 2s fid. i . The total value of all the lodges Avill be 7 A 7700. Ia ac^oidwce with the w'splutioae

passed at the special meeting, your officers opened a lodg~e at Gore with 25 members, with every prospect of it becoming a successful lodge, it being in the centre of a thriving population. We. recommend the levies for the nevt half year be 2d funeral fund, Is 6d management fund The management fund of the district has reduced its indebtedness to the iuneral from £90 to £66 15s 4d. The District LaAvs Committee held several meetings since last meeting, and some recommendations will be laid before you for your approval. , " > The meeting then proceeded tq examine the lodge balance sheets, which, were ulti--mately adopted. The usual levies Avere fixed *as recommended. Mr Mair was elected Prov. G.Mt ; Mr H. S. Hiinter, Deputy Prov. g.m. -- - . ; i • ' The question of a Board of Directors for NeAv Zealand was' remitted. to the^District Officers to report at next meeting: The'consideration of the desirableness of abolishing the District Relief- :Fund was negatived, and the proposition ' to' adopt a superannuation fund for aged members'* was referred to the District Laws Committee for consideration. The following report of the Law Committee was read, and the recommendations adopted : — Your committee have to report that they have held several meetings, but have delayed ' completing the. alterations"" proposed, to the district laws because there was an Amending Friendly Societies' Act before Parliament last session. Since the session closed, however, your committee have met, and considered the important memoranda -furnished by the Registrar-general, more' especially the information regarding the contribution of ' ' members for the sick and funeral fund, which information is attached. „-, Your committee therefore recommend that the district meeting should resolve that each lodge be valued by Messrs Leslie and Black, the public valuers. Your committee also suggest that the present committee be reappointed to carry out the work remitted to. them. It was resolved-that the. next ■district meeting take, place at Riverton, providing the railway is open, and if not, then'' at Winton, ' on the last Friday' in July next.