HALF-YEARLY MEETING OF FORESTERS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 10994, 11 August 1897, Page 2

HALF-YEARLY MEETING OF FORESTERS.

riiE meeting was held at Stratford on Tuesday, vrhenf the following •fficers of the district were present :— Bros. H. R. Cattley, D.C.It. ; E. D. Beane, D.5.0.R. ; A King, D.T.; C. Tunbridge, D.S. ; J_no. Hewer, District Beadl*. Delegates present :— Sisters Gomer, Court Fidelity, Hawera ; M. A. Tunbridge, Court Pride el New Plymouth ; Bros. S. W. Jackson, Court Turauaki ; W. J. Guarin, Court Waireka ; A. Lile, Court Raleigh, Wai tara ; J. C. Peach, Court Inglawood Forest ; Burgess, Court Stratford ; J. E. Wilson, Court Egmont, Hawera ; Sherwood, Court Pataa. The half-yearly report staked inter alia i that all the Coarts in th« district were , visited duriug the half year, and ths Executive is gratified to be in a position to state that, without exception, their internal working is satisfactory. Ths officers evince a careful interest in their duties, and the member? generally are ready w>th cordial support. It is with deep regret that we report the death of 1 one male, ons> femile, and one juvenile member during the half year. Although we have nothing of more than ordinary intorest to report upon this occasion, we feel sure you will be pleased to learn that Forestry 13 Btill progressing in this dis'trict,asit is all over the world. From the 3rd quarterly report of the 63rd Executive Council, Norwick, April, 1897, we cull the following statistical information . — Male Adult Benefit Members, 721,280; female, 5,123 ; Widows, contributing members for funeral allowances, 18537 ; Msmbors of the Juvenile Societies, male and female, 120,006 ; honorary membars, male and femilo, 20,445 ; total, 885,391. These figures show increases of 11337 in m»le adulk membars, of 113 in widows, and 12 in honorary members, , and decreases of 2011 in femalo adult mombera, and of 2GG-A in juvenile members, or a net decrease in the aggregativo membership, when compared with tho previous year, of 2913 Perhaps tho mo3t striking feature is the reduction in tho number ol the javeuile members, but this is explained by th° omission of one district from which no return was received, with a membership of 524 C. This will also explain the decrease in fun-is of the same district which was shown la3t year to be worth £16,365. Tho funds of tho Order on December 31st, 189G, amounted to £5,827,549— a netiucroase of £210,519. Tour executive is pleased to note that in the now Directory aro included no fewer than 140 Courts for females, with 5123 benefit members, 550 honorary members, and £4083 in funds. 'J heso figure show in increase on tho year of 37 Courts, 1437 benfit membars, aud 142 honorary members, with a gain in funds of £1489. The District Laws, as amended at the last' Delegate meating were in due course submitted to the Registrar for revision, and ara now making fair progress in the hands of the printer.— The auditors' report and balanoe-sheet were road and adopted. — A lettor was received from the Friendly Societies' Vigilance Committee, Wellington, urging the necessity of the appointment of a similar committee throughout the colony to watch all matters of interest — especially of legislation —to Foresters . A com witteo consisting of the District Officers, with Bros. J. C. Peach and Guerin,.were appointed a Yigilanco | Committee for the Taraaaki District. — A giantiug of 3d per member from the District Benevolent Fund was voted to the widow and children of the late permanent secretary (Bro J. B. Ballan Stead). — It was decided that the next District Delegate Meeting to 'be bald at Inglawood.— D*.C.R. Bro. E. D. Beano was nominated for the offica of District Chief Rauger and Bros. Lile, W. J. Guerin, and J. E. Wilsoa for the office »f District Sub chief Rauger. — A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Court Stratford for the handsome manner in wh ; ch the District Officers and delegates had been entertained.