OTAGO DISTRICT, M.U.I.O.O.F.

Evening Star, Issue 3011, 12 October 1872, Page 2

OTAGO DISTRICT, M.U.1.0.0.F.

The annual meeting of the District Committee was held on Wednesday. Of the twenty-one Lodges comprising the district, sixteen were represented by delegates. The unrepresented Lodges were : Dalton Lodge, Balclutha; Prince Alfred Lodge, Waikouaiti; Waiporai Lodge, Waipori ; 'Cromwell Lodge, Cromwell; Arrow (new Lodge), Arrowtown. P.G.W., Bro Swan, presided, and read a report, from which we extract the folowitu ; The returns of the affairs of the district showed that at the end of last June we numbered 1181 members, belonging to 20 Lodges. The admissions by initiation during the six months—January to June—were 115; by clearance, six. The amount received for entrance fees was L 227 6s 6d, The amount received for contributions, and for levies, tines, interest, &c., was L 2202 ls4d. Amount received for Foreign Lodges and Widow and Orphan Fund, L4B os 6. The expenditure for sick benefits was L 519 8s Id ; for medical attendance and medicines, L 687 17s 2d ; for management expenses, Foreign Lodges, Widow and Orphan Fund, &c., LS4G 16s 9d ; leaving a balance of saving on the half-year’s transactions of L 693 lls4 J. The total value of the Lodges at the end of June was L 11,005. That however, includes goods to the aggregite value of upwards of L7OO ; so that the accumulated capital of the Lodges forming this District might be set down at over L 10,300, in ca ham real estate. During the six months which have elapsed since the half-yearly meeting in April, not a single claim had been made on the Funeral Fund of the District. This contrasted very favorably with the previous half-year, when there was an expenditure of Ll6O. A now Lodge was added to the number in the District on Tuesday, the Ist of October, P. P.G, M. Rogers, assisted by other Past Officers, having, on that date, opened the Loyal Arrow Lodge. Those who wished for further information will find it readily accessible in the Abstract of Lodge Returns prepared by the Secretary. He found the following words used by the editor of the Lancaster Guardian in the remarks prefacing the Report of Proceedings of the last A.M.C. : —“The prudential and benevolent organisations known under the name of Friendly Societies, have become a great power for good in this country. They exercise an important influence on the social relations of the whole people, while they conduce to the comfort, to the present material prosperity, and the future happiness uf their members. -Their influence and the benefits they confer on society generally are constantly extending, and are acknowledged by all conditions of men.” He had been a member of the Manchester Unity for fourteen years, and fully appreciated the truth of these words. At the conclusion o£ the Grand Master’s address, the balance sheets and auditors’ reports were read and adopted. It was resolved that the next meeting for Purple and District Lectures should be held at the Oddfellows’ Hall on the last Wednesday in January, and that in future the degrees of Past officers be given before the Purple Degree. Owing to there not having been any claim made" on the funeral fund during the past six months, it was resolved that there be no levy for funeral fund purposes. The levy for incidental expense fund was fixed at one shilling per member. D.P.G.M., Bro. F. Beissel, was elected Provincial Grand Master, P.G., Bro. T. Stewart was elected D. Prov. Grand Master. P.C.S., Bro. A. Sligo, was re-elected Secretary, and Mr Robin was reelected Treasurer.