H.—l

2

CONVERSION OP EEGISTEY. 5. Fourteen lodges, originally registered as separate societies, were registered as branches of the Grand Lodge of Canterbury, U.A.O.D. The names of the lodges are Pioneer, Hope of St. Albans, Mistletoe, Ethelbert, Lyttelton Hearts of Oak, Star of Anglesea, Perseverance, Hope of Amberley, Anchor, Ohoka, Timaru, Ivy of Linwood, Trafalgar, and Star of Ashburton. Begisteation op New Eules. 6. Eegistration of a complete amendment of rules— i.e., of a complete set of new rules—was made in respect of the under-mentioned societies and branches : — M.U.l.O.O.P.—Nelson District, Ashley District. A.O.F. — Court Stratford (Taranaki District), Nelson District. U.A.O.D.—Timaru Lodge (Grand Lodge of Canterbury). W.M.C.—Petone Working-men's Club. Begisteation op Paetial Amendment op Bules. 7. Begistration of a partial amendment of rules was made in respect of the under-mentioned societies and branches :— M.U.1.0.0.P.' —Good Intent Lodge (Auckland District), Auckland District, Parnell Lodge (Auckland District), Duke of Cambridge Lodge (Auckland District), Benwick Lodge (Marlborough District). N.l.O.O.F.—Auckland Provincial District. A.O.F. —Hawke's Bay District. U.A.O.D.—Excelsior Lodge (twice), Grand Lodge of Canterbury, Endeavour Lodge. I.O.B.—Hope of Auckland Tent (New Zealand District). S.D.T.—Grand Division of New Zealand. B.E.B.S.—Otago Bailway Employes' Benefit Society. I.F.S. —Denniston Collieries Medical and Accident Belief Association. Statistics foe 1892. 8. The number of lodges* whose returns are tabulated is 379, and of central bodies 30, distributed according to Orders as follows :—

9. In Tables 1., V., and VI., attached to this report, the respective district totals include the funds of the central bodies. 10. In the final column of Table I. is entered the average surplus or deficiency per member, as shown at the last valuation of the society. 11. In the monetary tables, except the first, shillings and pence have been omitted, there being no apparent advantage in publishing the values more accurately than as shown by the nearest pound. 12. The number of members of these lodges at the end of the year was 28,754. 13. The following balance-sheet gives their total funds (including those of the central bodies) as on the 31st December, 1892 :— Funds. £ Assets. £ Sick and Funeral Funds .. .. .. 443,587 Investments at interest .. .. .. 355,973 Medical and Management Funds, goods, &c. ~ 57,568 Value of land and buildings .. .. .. 113,061 Gash not bearing interest .. .. .. 20,556 Value of goods .. .. .. .. 10,340 Other assets .. .. .. .. 1,223 £501,155 £501,155 14. The following summary shows the disposition of the various investments at interest, together with the respective average rates per cent. :—

Society. Central Bodies. Lodges. Society. Central Bodies. Lodges. il.U.I.O.O.F. .O.O.F. .. .. 3.U.O.O.F. LO.F. LO.S. 14 1 1 1 8 130 27 2 1 101 1 ! U.A.O.D. .. I.O.E. S.D.T. H.A.C.B.S. P.A.F.S.A. E.E.B.S... 2 1 1 1 40 83 13 17 12 2

Mode of Investment. Amount. Eate per Cent. )n deposit with the Post-Office Savings-Bank )n deposit with other banks )n mortgage of freehold property ~.n Government and municipal debentures )ther investments I £ 14,132 11,720 65,010 244,755 11,171 9,187 4-5 4-0f 4-9 7-1 6-8 6-0 £355,975 6-1 * The word " lodge," when applied to all societies, is to bo ui ' court," " tent," &c, as used in the various Orders. t Interest on sums exceeding £200 in the P.O.S.B. was at the rat ;he present rates being 4 and 3J per cent, respectively. iderstood as embracing the synonymous terms i of 4 per cent. In 1893 a reduction was made.