H.—l2

2

amount of correspondence on each of the different heads mentioned, but the number of letters, &c, recorded amounted during the year to 20G —many letters received not requiring to be placed on record. The correspondence issuing from the office has occupied 708 pages of the letter-book. (_) Reference of Rules to Revising Barrister, and Dealing with his Report, either by Registration or Forwarding Copies of his Objections. —Technical difficulties in the working of the Act have involved many discussions aud settlements of principle by interview between the Registrar and Revising Barrister. (k.) Personal Examination of Branch Rules by Registrar in Terms of Regulation 50. (/.) Recording (on notice given) Changes of Name, Place, Trustees, Secretaries, Sfc. —This always entails a certain amount of correspondence, often increased by the information being insufficiently given. (ot.) Framing and Issue of Forms of Return and Abstract for Quinquennial Valuations. —The preparation of these forms has been purely an actuarial matter, and the duty consequently has devolved upon the Actuary. (n.) Devising Cards and New Forms of Annual Return, and Issue thereof iviili subsequent Explanatory Correspondence. —The remarks on the card system and the new forms will be found further on. The card system being new to the societies, correspondence was entailed explanatory of the action to be taken. (0.) Correspondence with Trade Unions relative to proposed Registration and Administration of Act. 2. Societies Registered during the Tear. A list of applications for registry, and how disposed of, and a list of registered societies to date, are given in Schedules I. and 11. appended hereto. The following societies have registered [the numbers given are the register numbers] : — No. 143. — Court Queen ofthe Isles, No. 2,703, Ancient Order of Foresters, Lyttelton. —This society was previously registered, but applied for cancelment of registry in order to register a complete amendment of rules, such amendment having been practically prohibited by the provision of " Tho Friendly Societies Act, 1877," which required amendments to be gazetted ; and this course was adopted to evade that difficulty. This court contributes to, and takes part by delegates in the government of, the United Canterbury District, but is registered as a separate society. No. 144.— Wellington District, Ancient Order of Foresters. —This society was previously registered as the United Wellington District, Ancient Order of Foresters, but obtained cancellation of its registration for the same reason as in the previous case, and registered anew, under the above name, as a society having branches. No. 145.— The Auckland Branch, No. 81, Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society. — Although this society is a branch, yet, as the central body of the order is outside the colony (in Melbourne), it could only be registered as a separate society. No. 146.-— The Independent Order of Odd Felloics of Neio Zealand. —This society is registered as having branches. The registered office is at Dunedin. This society was also registered under a different name, but obtained cancellation of its registry for similar reasons to those given in Nos. 143, 144. This is the only friendly society in New Zealand having branches not, so far as ascertainable by the rules, affiliated to an order outside the colony. Tho forms and ceremonies of this society assimilate in character to those of the American Order of Odd Fellows rather than to those of the Manchester Unity. No. 147.— The Progress Division, No. 5, of the Sons of Temperance of Australasia. —Office at Kaiapoi. No. 148.— The New Zealand Railways Employes Benefit Society, Christchurch Branch. No. 149. — The New Zealand Prudential Assurance Society. —Registered office at Auckland. This is a collecting society within the meaning of section 31 of " The Friendly Societies Act, 1877." 3. New Branches Registered during the Tear. Tiie following lodges and courts were registered as branches of registered societies : — Independent Order of Odd Fellows of New Zealand, Friendly Society. —1, Loyal Pioneer Lodge, situated at Dunedin ; 2, Loyal Star of Canterbury Lodge, situated at Timaru ; 3, Loyal Mount Ida Lodge, situated at Naseby; 4, Loyal Alexandrovna Lodge, situated at Temuka; 5, Loyal Unity Lodge, situated at South Dunedin; 6, Loyal Point Lodge, situated at Pleasant Point; 7, Loyal Avon Lodge, situated at Christchurch; 8, Loyal Southern Cross Lodge, situated at Wellington; 9, Loj'al Rangitikei Lodge, situated at Bulls ; 10, Loyal Winchester Lodge, situated at AYinchester; 11, Loyal Wanganui Lodge, situated at Wanganui; 12, Loyal Alfred Lodge, situated at Oamaru ; 13, Loyal Green Island Lodge, situated at Green Island; 14, Loyal Ravensbourno Lodge, situated at Ravensbourne. Wellington District, Ancient Order of Foresters. —l, Court Robin Hood, situated at Wellington"; 2, Court Sir George Bowen, situated at Wellington; 3, Court Lord Clyde, situated at Wairoa, Hawke's Bay ; 4, Court Clarendon, situated at Picton ; 5, Court Manawatu, situated at Palmerston (North) ; 6, Court Loyal Feilding, situated at Feilding; 7, Court William Gladstone, situated at Gisborne; 8, Court Pioneer, situated at Tinui, Whareama ; 9, Court Roderick Dhu, situated at Wanganui. Otago District of the Manchester Unity Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Friendly Society. — 1, Loyal Outram Lodge, situated at Outram. 4. Registered Societies Converted into Registered Branches during the Tear. (1.) The Loyal Marlborough Lodge, No. 4,929, 1.0.0. F., M.U., Register No. 90. situated at Blenheim, was converted into a registered branch of the Marlborough District, 1.0.0. F., M.U., Register No. 77.