I.O.O.F,. M.U.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 186, 16 August 1901, Page 2

1.0.0.F,. M.U.

HALK-YHAULS' MEETING. j THEhalf-yeirly New Plymouth District m eeting of Odifellons was h<-ld at Stratford on Thursday, being opened by Prov. G.M; John Bennett, the following being present:—Prov. D.G.M., E. Fit'on; Acting-Prov. G.T., O. E. Bellringer and Warden P.G, W. Hooker, lodges being represented by the undermentioned deputies: j-Loyal Egmont Lodge, P.P.G.M, H. T. Ainsworth, P.P.G.M. Henry Hooker, P.O. H. H. Ford; Liyal Excelsior Lodge, P.P.G M. W. '-t. Free, P.P.G.M. G. George, P.G. F. R. Pepper ell; Loyal Waitara Lodge, P.P.G.M. F. J. Brabant; Loyal Union Lidge, PIP.G M. F. Squiro, P.G. J. Parkin, P.S., J. S. Mcßobbie; Loyal EUhim Lodge, P.G. F. S. Hardy; Loyal Midhirst Lodge, P.P.G.M. A, O. Case, N.G. H. Crosby; Loyal Stratford Lodge, G.M. N. G. N ikon, N.G. W. Ford ; Loyal Toko Lodge, P.G. U. Thomas. D»puty W. Z. Wells, Loyal Manaia Lodge, sent an apology for his absence The ProVi Grand Master in his address after stating the pleasure it gave him to preside at the first dis'rict meetheld in the progressive town of Stratford, referred to thegrettbsssustained by the death of the Oorresdonding Secretary, (the late Bro. James Bellringer). He stated that n new Lodge bad been opened at Toko, for which he p e Hcted a. prosp'rous future. The LoyalJMauaia Lodge bad intimated that 'application would be made for a new Lodge at Opuniko. From the report of tha proceedings at the conference of the Order held at Woliiugton, it would be seen that it was decided to form a Biennial Moveable Committee, and Board of Directors for New Zealand, the first meeting of which was to take place in April, ar.d the next annual district meeting would be entitled to appoint 'two delegatfs to attend thereat, Owing to the heavy Cii lis of late on the district sick fund t.he question of calling up an additiooal amount from Lodges won'd have to be considered. The District Officers had decided to ask each Lodge to raise, by a concert or otherwise £5 to form the nucleus of a beneyolent fund. The district as a whole came out well in the RpgigtrarGeneral'i valuation, the deficiency of the sick and funeral funds combined amounting to ,£352, less than 12s per member. The district funeral fund showed a surplus of .£1043, which had been allocated pro rata to the feveral Lodges and credited in their respective reserve accounts of that fund. Tbe deficit ou the sick funds however reduced this surplus to a deficiency of £352 on the two funds.

The O.S, of the Order, Manchester, wrote stating that the G.M. and Board of Directors had resolved that the portrait of the late C.S. should appear in the Magazine of the Ord"r. The bilance sheet and auditors' report were read and adopted. P.P.G.M. 0. E. B- llringer was unanimously elec'ed Prov. C.S., aDd P.P.G.M. A, O. O.tfe »ai fleeted Trustee vice Prov. O.S. O. E. Bellring r.

The meeting approved of the formation of a benevolent fund and instructed the District Officers to drafo rules for its administration. • The application to open a new Lodge at Opunake was acceded to. It bote twecty-f-ix signatures. If c nvenient the Lodge is to be opened on Thursday, 29th instant. A grant of .£lO was made towards the opening expenses of the Loyal Toko Lodge. The report of the Registrar-General on the valuation of the district was read. With reference to the defic'ency of £325 on the sick funds, as the total fund is more than £I2OOO the d' ficiercy was deemed insignificant A vo f e of thanks was Recorded the Rpgisfciar for his valuable report. The following nominations we<-e made for district officersProv. G.M., Prov. D.G.M. E. Fit'on; Prov. D.G.M., P.G 's J. Parkin, F. R, Peppere 1 and R. J. Hancock. The Prov. G.M. presented a P.P.G.M.'s jewel to P.P.G.M. A. C. Cise in recognition of his services as Pr.iv. G.M. and a similar jewel to P.P.G M. George on his retirement from auditor after 17 years of service. ] A sot of regalia was also presented to P.P.G.M. G. W. Taylor. Suitable acknowledgments were mad\

iTha Prov. G.M. installed Piov. O.S. 0. E. Bellringer. It was dscided to hold the riOYt meeting at New Plymouth, j The meeting was concluded after passing a hearty vote of tharks to the

Stratfoid Brethren for their entertainment of the visitors. The totnl number of adult male and female mombers of the Order on lit January last was 837,000, being an increase of 17,473, the members of juvenile societies amounting to 115,335. The total receipts of th« Unity for 1890 am mn'ed no ,£1,253,926, while ibp txpen i'u e sick niid funeral purpcscs wa4 £878,139. The cap<t«l represented by thn various fuuds amounted to £10,406,826.