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REGISTRATION OF SOCIETIES AND BRANCHES. There were registered during the past year 32 new branches, distributed among the various orders as follows : M.U.1.0.0.F., 7 lodges ;j 1.0.0. F., 12 lodges ; A.0.F.,t;5 courts];! U.A.0.D.,1,5 lodges ; H.A.C.8.5., 3 branches ; and 2 isolated friendly societies—viz., the NightcapsfjCollieriespiedical Sick and Accident Relief Association, and the Stockton Colliery Medical and Accident Relief Association. The registrations of the following were cancelled by dissolution, &c. : — I.O.O.F.—Britannia Lodge, Campbelltown. A.O.F. —Court Havelock, Waitahuna, and Court Tuapeka, Lawrence. S.A.S.—Newton Band Society, Auckland. The secession of the Eden Tent, Auckland, of the New Zealand District No. 84, 1.0. R., has also been notified. The following amalgamations were registered :— A.O.F.—Court Pride of Waitekauri with Court Waihi (Auckland District). IJ.A.O.D.—Ahaura Lodge with Star of the West, and Seig Lodge witbjlNaumai Lodge (Grand Lodge of North Island of New Zealand). Cable Lodge with Anchor Lodge (GrandJjLodge of Canterbury). P.A.F.S.A. —Royal Standard Lodge with Queen's Own Lodge. The position of the orders in respect of registration is shown by the following summary as at the beginning and the end of 1909: —

A complete list of societies and branches on the Register as at the end of 1909 is given in Appendix 11. RULES. The rules of 41 societies and branches came under revision in one form or another for amendment during 1909, and with the passing of new legislation it is to be expected that this branch of the office will be kept fully engaged for the next few years. Complete amendments were registered during the year, viz. : — M.U.l.O.O.F.—Britannia Lodge (Wellington District); Auckland District; Waipori, Milton, and Middlemarch Lodges (Otago District). W.M.C. —North Island Brass Bands' Association. Partial Amendments of Rules registered. Partial amendments for the following were made*:— M.U.1.0.0.F. —Wellington District; Unity and Antipodean Lodges (Wellington District); Howard Lodge (Nelson District) ;~, Hawke's Bay District; Tavistock, Woodville, and Napier Lodges (Hawke's Bay District); Waikato, Parnell, and Fountain of Friendship (2) Lodges (Auckland District); Ashburton District; Westport Lodge (North Westland District); Awarua Lodge (Southland District). 1.0.0.F. —Southern Cross Lodge. A.O.F.- —Auckland District, Hawke's Bay District, Taranaki District, United Otago District. U.A.O.D. —Grand Lodge of North Island of New Zealand (2), Grand Lodge of Canterbury, Grand Lodge of Otago and Southland (2). 1.0.R. —New Zealand Central District. S.D.T.—Antidote Division. R.E.B.S.—Otago Railway Employees' Benefit Society, I.F.S.- —New Zealand Collieries Railway and Oil Syndicate Employees' Benefit Society. W.M.C.—Christchurch Working-men's Club and Mutual School of Arts, Oxford Workingmen's Club, Napier Working-men's Club (2). S.A.S. —Hawke's Bay United Friendly Societies' Dispensary, Wellington United Friendly Societies' Dispensary.

Ifame ot Order. Manchester Unity Independent Order of Odd Fellows Independent Order of Odd Fellows National Independent Order of Odd Fellows British United Order of Odd Fellows*.. Ancient Order of Foresters Ancient Order of Shepherds United Ancient Order of Druids Independent Order of Rechabites .. Sons and Daughters of Temperance Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society.. Protestant Alliance Friendly Society of Australasia Railway Employees' Benefit Society .. .. Isolated Friendly Societies Working-men's Clubs Independent Order of Good Templars Specially Authorised Societies .. Registrations at 1st January,! Established. 1909. l_ j _ 201 7 55 12 .. 3 1 138 5 I! 123 *5 .. I 45 11 39 3 13 1 14 2 17 55 18 Closed. 1 3 3 1 i i Registrations at 31st December, 1909. 208 f66 F3 Hi 140 2 125 44 11 42 12 1 16 17 55 17 Totals 736 34 10 760