THE DRUIDS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6045, 29 September 1887, Page 3

THE DRUIDS.

I *f»^Complimentary Dinner. i A complimentary dinner was given by ■ the members of the Trafalgar Lodge, Kaiapoi, on Tuesday night, to Bro Alfrad ; Pearce, district representative, on Bia i return from Australia, where he had ' been attending the meetings of the Grand ' Lodge. The spread, which was held in : the Kaikainui Hail, was provided by Bro W. Burnip in his well-known capital style, and although the attendance waa nob so large as was anticipated, a very pleasant ! evening was spent. Among the visitors ■ present were * several from sister Lodges and tho local members of the Press. At the conclusion of the dinner, the customary loyal toasts were proposed by Bro Gil- , mour, P. A., who presided. Between the toasts songs were contributed by various brethren in a very able manner. Other toasts were "" The Board of Directors," responded to by Bro A. Pearce; "Sister Lodges," replied to by 1 Bro Eeid ; " Visiting Brethren," Bro Parker. The toasts of "The Press "and "The Ladies" were replied to hy Messrs Wilson and Mathews. During the evening Bro A. Pearce reported the result of his visit to the Grand Lodge of Victoria in a very able and interesting manner. He. stated that the Grand Lodge was not favourable to their request for a District Grand Lodge for tha Middle Island. He was sure this decision wa3 much influenced by the fact that the Canterbury delegates to the Grand Lodge, were not unanimous in their request. Bro Tomlinson, who represented No. 13 District, had thrown every possible obstacle in the way, as he stated the district he represented preferred to remain allied as heretofore to the Grand Lodge of Australia. Although not successful at the present time, he had good reason to believe from the numorous promises of support received, that the day was not far distant when their request for a Grand Lodge for the Middle Island would be granted; indeed, he had been credibly informed that had the request been for a Grand Lodge for New Zealand it would' have been granted, and acting on that information he, with other representatives, had tabled a notice of motion for next meeting to the effect that a Grand Lodge be granted to the Middle Island. He had been much surprised on arriving at Dnnedin to see by a copy of the Lyttelton Times "that the application for a District Grand Lodge for Canterbury alone was favourably received." The delegates never asked for such a thing, their object being to work harmoniously with the Otago Brethren. Bro Pearce spoke in the warmest manner of the hospitality and kindness he and his colleagues experiencedfrom their AustrpJiau brethren, who were most lavish in their attentions to them, and terminated bis remarks amid great applause by stating that he would be happy to answer any^questions asked him. During the evening Bro Gilmour presented Bro A. Pearce with a most beautiful P.D.P.'s collar as a mart of the esteem in, which he is, held by the brethren of the District Lodges he represented. Bro Pearce replied in Buitable terms, thanking the brethren for their handsome gift. The meeting broke up in peace and harmony shortly after 11 p.m.