ODDFELLOWSHIP.

Evening Star, Issue 3788, 15 April 1875, Page 2

ODDFELLOWSHIP.

The half-yearly meeting of the M.TJ. I*o.o. F. last night was attended by the representatives of twenty-two lodges. The D.G.M. read a statement of the progress of the Order during the past six months* and from it we extract the following: . Since the last annual statement, one lodge has been added to the number in the district namely, the Heart of Friendship Lodge, at Gatlin’s River. This brings up the number of our lodges to twenty-two—the number of members in these, at the end of 1874, being 1,474. The number of members at each age in the district, also of those joined by initiation and and clearance during the year, may be epitomised thus : —Joined by initiation, 231 f at an average of slightly under 27 years; joined by clearance, 37, at an average age of 2d years 34 ywdks . The average age of the total membership Of the district i 5.33 years 15 weeks 6 days. This has been carefully calculated because a comparison of our contributions and benefits With the tables in the general rules will principally turn upon this point. The number of imtiataons during 1874 exceeded those during 1873 by 36 : clearances in excess of 1878 by fgL. lam to say that the death-rate during 1874 was slight aa compared with that of the preceding year. For 1873 it was I members • 10 members’ wives. For last year 4 members • 3 members wives. Amount paid under this feo d Tu g 1873. L2OO. During last year, i k qAi oi, t°tal income during 1874 was L 5.901 8s Id, made up as follows .*—Oontributions, &c., to sick and funeral funds, L 2.421 Us 8d; to incidental fund, L 2.937 6s 6d; from foreign lodges and members, and for widows’ and |4 30a 6d; entrance fees, L 432 19s 6d. Of the above total L 929 7e 2d was received for interest on capital.'- ' t o ™ pe^u F® amo ?oted to a total of ■ijo,yoo I7s 3d, there being a saving on the twelve months of L 1,914 10s lOd. The amount paid as sick allowance for the year was L 748 6s 2d, being an average expenditure for the whole membership at the rate of 10s 2d per member. The Prince of Wales Lodge, Port Ohauners, baa been the most fortunate in this respect., having expended only an average of lid per member. The Roxburgh Lodge has been the most unfortunate, having expended an average of LI is 3d per member. To show how singularly the expenditure under this , varies » 1 may state tfiat during 1873 the average of the Prince of Wales Lodge was LI 3s 7d per member, while the Roxburgh Lodge expended only 4s 4d per member. The expenditure for medical attendance and medicines for the twelve months amounted to L 1,652 Os 2d. The lodges return total worth in cash and property as xT’«J 3 ° B ,ld J goods in addition, valued at L 60 0; the grand total being L 16.724. The district officers regret that sometimes from want of care, sometimes from want of knowledge on the part ■of lodge secretaries, the returns are not, in some instances, so satisfactorily drawn up as we should like. We would urge upon lodges the great desirability of stating the accounts and making the returns as full and olear as possible, and would urge upon the lodge auditors to see that the accounts are properly stated, and the items of income and expendi turo earned to the proper accounts. We would also point out that the general rules now contain a stringent provision for the finance returns being signed by the auditors. You are aware that the General Government has asked for returns from the registered societies of the Colony. While we hope these wiU be supplied as fully and carefully as possible, we flunk it may be well to wait for the resuit of the proposed new legislation in Great ±smain. There is so muoh educated intelligence—of a friendly societies and description—being brought to bear on the subject at Home that we have every reason to bope for a Bill of an eminently satisfactory kind as the outcome of the labors of the Royal Commission.

Nominations for district officers were fixed to take place in October. 1 The proposition of the Hokitika district to establish a movable committ~e for the Colony was negatived, it being the opinion of this district that it was inadvisable to appoint such a committee until more speedy comma* nication bad been established throughout the Colony.