ANNIVERSARY OF THE LOYAL TUAPEKA PIONEER LODGE,

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 187, 7 September 1871, Page 5

ANNIVERSARY OF THE LOYAL TUAPEKA PIONEER LODGE,

N..V.1.0.0.V.

The Sixth Anniversary of the above Lodge was celebrated by a supper and ball, held in the Commercial Hotel, Lawrence, on Monday last. About nine o'clock dancing commenced in the Assembly Room, and was kept up Mil close upon 12 o'clock, when the bell summoned the company to supper. The large diningroom, notwithstanding the miserable night, was packed, some of the company being unable to find seats. The tables were well laid out, and supplied with all varieties of eatables, and reflected great credit upon the caterer, Mr. Frederick Bastings. Full justice having been done to the good things provided, the Chairman, N.G. Bro. Thompson, rose and said---Ladies and gentlemen, before resuming the harmony of the evening, and the songs and toasts incidental to an affair of this sort, I will just give you a short dissertation on the present state of the Order in general, and of the Tuapeka Pioneer Lodsre in particular. From a report just publishod of the proceedings of the A. M. C. in England, I find ths total nnmber of members on Ist January lftSti belonging to the Order amounted in TOMiid numbers to 442,575, with a total capital of £3,142,438 10s lid, 4s regards

our own Lodge, I may state that it is in a very satisfactory condition — the total number of members at present amount to 80, with a capital, on 2lst June last, of £325 18s sd, which, together with the

value of goods on hand, and Lodge property, estimated at £46, gives the value of the Lodge at £371 18:* sd. A a regards the number of members, we have been almost stationary for the past two years, as each half-yearly balance leaves the number on the roll at from 80 to 85. The greatest number on the roll at any time since the formation of the Lodge was in 18(57, when we numbered 142 members ; but at that time other Lodges, Waitahuna, Waipori, Blue Spur, &c, started, and each took their quota of members from the parent Lodge. But it is a remarkable fact, as showing the difference between the members of the present day and those of '67, that tllQ total contributions received that year amounted to £270 6s 6d, or a fraction over 38s for each member, whereas for the past year, ending on 21st June last, the contributions received amounted to the sum of £219 5s Gd, or a fraction over 54s for each member. In conclusion, I may state that the demands upon our Sick and Funeral Fund for the past eighteen months have been exceptionally heavy, amounting to the sum of £L 74 11s 6d, including district levies.

The Chairman then proposed the following toast:— "The Queen and the Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows," which was responded to.

E.S. Bro. Downes sang, "Pulling hard against the stream."

V.G. Bro. M. Hay proposed "The Visiting Brothers." He was sure the brothers of the Pioneer Lodge were highly gratified to see so many visiting brothers present.

Bro. Armstrong sang " The White Squall." N.G. Bro. Clark, of "Waitahuna Lodge, first responded to the toast. He said that was the first time he had been present at an anniversary of the Tuapeka Pioneer Lodge, and he was unexpectedly called upon. With regard to the Waitahuna Lodge there was very little at the credit of the Sick and Funeral Fund, but they had the sum of £380 of a surplus fund, which, together with £30 worth of Lodge property, made the handsome total of £410. He thanked them for the kind manner in which they had drank to the toast.

N.G. Kro. Neish, of the Tapanui Lodge, in responding to the toast, said he had heard a good deal about the Tuapeka Lodge, and. had come to their anniversary to see for himself. He thought they would give the brothers of the Tapanui Lodge credit for attending in such large foree — no fewer than four members of that Lodge being present, viz., Bros. Mooney, Hewitt, Kilgour, and himself. He had a good speech prepared, but he was afraid it was fast disappearing. As far as the Tapanui Lodge was coucorned, hu was ple:>st\l co ,-ay it w.u in a vory pro'spTrvi s '. erudition. 1^ i:i"in' < f" > ship, which at the opening numbered H, had increased to 52. They had some large claims upon their funds, but when it was remembered that they had paid five years' rent in advance, and had £120 to their credit, he thought the Lod^e was in a very healthy state. Their anniversar}' takes p^ace on the 4th of October, and he thought that when they could number four representatives at the Tuapeka anniversary, the brothers of that Lodge should come out in double that force at the Tapanui Anniversary. In ■joncludmij his speech, Bro. Neish said he had experienced great pleasure in being an Oddfellow, and thous^ht Oddfellowship only required the admission of the ladies to complete the elysiuin.

Bro. Chalmers, of the Roxbourgh Lodge, was called upon to respond on behalf of that Lodge, but said that he was no hand "at speech-making, but he could sing " a hurricane," so he obliged the company with a song.

N.G. Bro. Kendall responded in behalf of the Blue Spur Lodge, and sang •' Ring thebel], watchman."

G.M. Bro. Russell proposed " Kindred Societies." He referred to the many benefits attending their connection with friendly societies, and coupled the toast with the name of C.R. Bro. Simmonds, of Ciuirt Star of Tuapeka, who, in responding, said that he hoped the two societies, Oddfellows and Foresters, would grow xip together side by side for many a day. There was room, he said, for emulation between the two societies, but there was no room for jealousy. He believed there was not one in Court Star of Tuapeka but joined with him in wishing every success to the Lodge whose anniversary they were celebrating. P.G. Bro. Fred. Bastings sang "Kiss me quick and go."

E.S. Bro. Downes, in a good speech, proposed " The Ladies, " to which Bro. W. Qmn responded.

P.G. Bro. Burns, in proposing the " Host and Hostess," said they had only recently taken possession of the hotel, and he thought if they would only carry out as they had begun, a brilliant future was awaiting them.

P.G. Bro. Fred. Bastings replied by saying that this was the first thing of the kind he had got up in New Zealand, and he was glad they were satisfied. It would be his chief aim on any future occasion to do the best in his power to give satisfaction.

The company, before adjourning to the Assembly Room to resume dancing, sang " Anld Lang Syne." Dancing was kept up till about five o'clock in the morning Mrs. Hanson presided at the piano, and Bro. J. Grant acted as M.C. Altogether the anniversary was a decided success. Had the weather been good we have no doubt there would have been a much larger attendance.