SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF THE LOYAL "WAIPORI LODGE M.U.I.O.O.F

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 62, 17 April 1869, Page 3

SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF T HE LOYAL "WAIPORI LODGE M.U.1.0.0.F

The second amriversar y of the above Lodge was celebrated in the Oddfel- | lows' Hall, "Waipori, on Monday evening, by a grand supper* and ball. Seldom has ifc bee;i our to witness, out of Dunedin, a> sceae of the description equal in splendour to that Avhich met our view on entering the hall. The guests, numbering about eighty, were all seated at the tables, which were groaning wifrli their load of good things ; the hall w.is well lit up and beautifully decorated",, and to bo ushered from the bleak cold night into such a scene of fe&'tiviiy and rejoicing, was quite entrancing. 'The decorations were most elaborate, and a large quantity of ferns and other lesva es were wrought into many artistic devices, which showed -the., delicate tquciu of the female hand. Nothing could speak more, potently of -the strength of the Oddfellows in Waipori,' and their appreciation of this honourable Order,' than the great care which had' been devoted to the preparation and decoration of the hall. The table, too, was crowded with dishes of every variety, and the guests appeared to do ample justice to the various delicacies placed before them. • Perhaps this is the best compliment that could be paid to tne. host and hostess, Mr. and Mrs. Johnston, who catered so well for the occasion.

N.G-. Pillings occupied the chair, and V.Gr. Stevens the vice-chair. The brothers of the Order in ~W"aipori turned out well, and the Foresters were represented, by Bros. Butler, Eobinson, and others. The Tuapeka Pioneer Lodge was represented by Bro. Jeffery, N.G-., and. Bro. Donovan ; and the Blue Spur Lodge had its representative in Bro. Williams, P.Gh

Supper being ended, the Chairman proposed "The Queen and the Manchester Unity Independent Order's of Oddfellows," which was responded to wi^h .musical honours}. Mr. Smith, who presided at the pianoforte, played the National Anthem.

The next toast was, " The District Officers, coupled with the name of Bro. P.G 1 . "Williams." >

S6ng — " Thy bright smile haunts me still;" Bro. J. Cox. ;

Bro, Williams, in responding to the toast, said it was well for them to recollect the District Officers, for they had arduous duties to perform ; but meetings such as that amply recompensed them for their labours. ".The Sick and Afflicted of our Order," a very appropriate toast, was then drunk in silence.

Song — " Hard times come again no more," by Bro. Earrant, in the chorua of which the company joined heartily.

" Kindred Societies " was responded to by Bro. Butler, P.C.E., Waipori Lodge A.O.R Song — " Pulling hard against the stream," by Bro. Cairnes.

"The Loyal Blue Spur Lodge" was responded to by Bro. P.Gr. Williams, who said that tho Waipori Lodge was looked upon at the Spur with great interest, as it .might be said. the two Lodges were born at the same time.

•" Somebody," by Mr. I'er-

Song—' guson.

'•The Loyal Tuapeka- Pioneer-Lodge " was responded to by Bro. Jeifery, N.GK He regretted Tuapeka did not muster a better attendance that evening, which ho thought was accounted for by the long distance and bad weather.

■" The Uocksparrow," by Bro

Song — ' Donovan.

Bro. "Williams proposed " Success to the Loyal Waipori Lodge," and the Chairman in reply, spoke in flattering terms of the success which had. attended the Lodge since its formation two years past. 119 was. glad tcrsay there were G-J< members good on the books ; iv a financial position the Lodge was very healthy. They had £18-4 16 4 in the bank, and as much out of it, in the form of goods &c, and he was certain the Lodge would go on and prosper and accomplish the good it had in view.

" The Mining Interest," was responded to by Bro. Ritchie, in a few appropriate words.

Hong, " Norah Daly," by Mr. W. Naylor.

"Tho Commercial Interest." associated with the name of Mr. Cable, was replied to by that gentleman in his own humerous manner.

Song, "Came ye by Athol," by Mr. Buchanan.

"The Agricultural Interest," was responded to by Mr. Macledowney in a neat speech. He hoped the Agri cultural Interest would not infringe on the mining.

Song, "John Barleycorn," by Br. Stevens, V.G-.

" Tho Ladies " found an able and eloquent representative iv Mr. Buchanan, no could not imagine why he was called upon to reply to the toast, unless it was ,owing to tho groat •devotion he had for the fair sex. He would speak for the ladies as , if he were one himself, and he Avould say that the man who passed through life without taking unto himself a wife, fails in the mission for which he was sent 4 into the .world. A song had been sung which, as a lady he thought should not be allowed — it was " Paddle your own canoe." The man who wrote such a song, he was certain, had either been refused, by every girl he asked, or he had nottheplucktopop the question. "The Press" was responded to by Mr. Ferguson,

After the toast. "The Host and Hostess," and a vote of thanks to the chairman were given, and several songs sung, the company adjourned to allow time fur preparing for dancing, which was afterwards "commenced and kept up with great spirit till daylight.