Independent Order of Rechabites.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 39, 15 February 1901, Page 3

Independent Order of Rechabites.

NEW ZEALAND CENTRAL DISTRICT, No. 86. TWENTY-NINTH ANNUAL MEETING. The 29th annual meeting of the above Order was opened in the Wesleyan Schoolroom, Bright street, yesterday. The meeting was called to order by the D.C.R. at 10 o’clock, and opened with the usual ceremonies. The following officers and representatives answered to their names : D.C.R., Bro. W. J. Gaudin (Wellington). D.D.R., Bro. AV. Stead (Invercargill). D.T., Bro. A. J. Bennett (Wellington). D.5.J.8., Bro. T. Fathers (Nelson Male Tents). No. 1, AVellington, Bros. S. Youmans, J. Goer, and J. Rash. ~ 2, Napier, Bro. E. Mayson. „ 4, Blenheim, Bro. 11. Jellyman. „ 6, AVellington, Bro. J. AV. Hall. „ 11, AVaipukurau, Bro. M. G. Nasmith, jun. ~ 14, Sanson, Bro. 11. AA'ebb. ~ 17, Nelson, Bro. .1. M. Calder. „ 18, New Plymouth, Bro. J. Whitaker. ~ 19, AVellington, Bro. J. C. Bell. „ 20, Dunedin, Bros. AA r . H. Uttley and AV. H. Johnston. „ 26, Christchurch, Bros. A. Palmer and F. Coles. „ 27, Invercargill, Bros. J. Kisscll ahd J. AVesney. n 28, Norscwood, Bro. A. Olsen. „ 81, Ormondville, Bro. J. Newling. „ 88, Mastorton, Bro. SV. Easthope. „ 42, Carterton, Bro. AVhite. ~ 45, Wakefield, Bro. A. Robertson. „ 49, Kaikora N., Bro. T. Fathers. „ 52, Palmerston North, Bro. AV. John-

„ 54, Gisborne, Bro. A. Georgeson. „ 55, Ilawera, Bro. F. 11. Barnard. „ 56, Pahiatua, Bro. C. AV. Roberts. „ 57, Brightwalcr, Bro. 11. Hill. „ 58, Stratford, Bro. AVhitakcr. „ 59, Inglewood, Bro. F. AV. Cone.

Fhxialk Buanches. No. 1, AVellington, Sister J. Youmans, „ 4, Nelson, Bro. S. 11. Sherwood.

„ 5, Invercargill, Sister Lumsdcn. The District Chief Ruler, in a brief speoeh, welcomed the representatives to Gisborne.

The delegate representing No. 32 Tent, AVoodvillc, Bro. J. Harding, was unable to attend through illness. The Hon. F. 11. Fraser, M.L.C., Secretary of the District, through a severe illness, was not able to leave Wellington, and Bro. A. J. Bennett, Treasurer, was appointed Acting Secretary, and Bro. AVhitakcr, Assistant Secretary.

It was decided to appoint Bro. Nasmith (Times) and Bro. F. Coles (Herald) as Press representatives. Bro. Alf. Pool was elected to act as Guardian and Levile for the session. The Distriot Chief Ruler, in his address, made reference to the death of the late Queen, and it was decided to adjourn for half an hour out of respect to her memory. On resuming the following resolution was carried: —“ This Council desires to place on record its sorrow at the loss sustained by the Empire in the removal by death of our late beloved Sovereign Lady Queen Victoria. AA r c cannot forget that during Her Majesty’s reign all the disabilities placed upon Friendly Societies have been removed by legal enactment, and they have become free to carry out their beneficent purposes. AVc further desire to express our satisfaction that Queen Victoria has loft the Empire a son worthy to succeed her, and to whom we transfer the love and loyalty we ever had for our Arietoria the Good. And we pray that Almighty God may be pleased to long spare him to reign over a free, united, and poacc-loving people.” It was decided to send the following telegram to the District Secretary: — “ Hon. F. 11. Fraser, Wellington : Greetings from District Council assembled, expressing great sorrow at your illness; hoping you are improving and will soon be back again,” Azotes of sympathy wore passed to Bro. AV. B. Cole, P.D.C.R., and Bro. D. Hall, P.D.C.R.

The annual report was read by the Acting-secretary, and was as follows; —

Brothors and Sisters, —We havo the honor to lay before you for your consideration the , 2 ( Jth annual report and statement for the year ending Decombor, 1900. Since our last District General Meeting one new Tent has ; been opened at Inglewood, to be known as the Moa Tent, No. 59. This Tent was opened by Past Chief Euler, Brother J. Whitaker, in Octobor, 1899. Several Brothers from the New Plymouth Tent accompanied and assisted Brother J. Whitaker in its institution. We regret to state that one Tent had to be closed; this is The Eose of Sharon, No. 15, owing to the culpable negligence of the Tent secretary, and the utter indifference of tho members. There are now 27 male Tents and 3 female, with a membership of 1290, benefit. There are also 57 honorary members. Wo have not taken into account the juvenile membership, as the returns sent in by tho various Tents are incomplete and the District Superintendent, Juvenile Branch, will report with regard to same. The foregoing figures show an increase of benefit members to be 102, whilst the honorary members have decreased by two, there being now 57 as against 59, making the total membership 1347. As to the district funds, from the funeral fund the sum of £395 has been paid on account of ten brothors, two sisters, and seven brothers’ wives. From the Benevolent Fund, three separate sums of £5 have been paid; total, £ls. From the Tent Sick Pay Guarantee Fund, the sum of £l9 10s has been paid to district members for sick allowances. The information furnished by the annual return from the Tents to the District as to the Sick Fund of ' the various Tents shows that there is an increase of £lO2l 10s. There appears to be no increase in the Contingent Funds. The total Siok Funds are now £19,717 15s 6d ; Contingent, £420 03 Gd; total Tent Funds, £20,143 10s 2d. The District Funds show an increase of £1250 14s sd, and now stand at £7039 8s Sd. The Tent and District Funds added together give the grand total of £27,783 4s Bd. This amount divided among the members pro rata would give each £2l 10s ljd, being an increase of 8s 4.sd for eaoh member over our last statement. The Sick expenditure, as shown by the furnished returns, is 2194 weeks and throe days, being at the rate of one week, four days, five hours for each benefit member in the district. The amount disbursed on account of this sickness being £1855 9s 9d, or at the rate of £1 8s 9Jd per member, as against 19s 4d as furnished by the last report. The official visiting of the Tents has been performed by the District Deputy Euler, ;the District Secretary, the District Treasurer, and P.C.E. Bro. Whitaker, and we trust has resulted in good. The proposition carried at the last District General Meeting that the District Officers endeavor to obtain from the Railway authorities similar conditions in railway travelling, to our members attending District General Meetings, as enjoyed by other bodies. This was duly attended to, and we have now the concessions granted to us similar to those of other bodies. The quinquennial valuation of the Tents and District has been finished printed in book form, and sent to all the Tent members throughout the district. On the whole we deem the report satisfactory. We would call the attention of the Tent secretaries and trustees to the neoessity for the greatest precaution being used in the investment of Tent funds. The lowering of the rate of interest has made a considerable difference to our invested funds, and will continue to do so for soma time to come. The matters to claim yotir attention, as in the business paper before you, will, we trust, receive your best consideration, and the results arrived at will be in the interests of the district and order.—We are, yours in the bonds of the Order, Wm. J. Gaudix, District Chief Ruler. W. Stead, District Deputy Euler. Fiusgia H, F<uss:r, District Secty.

A lot of discussion took place, the report being ultimately adopted. The Council resumed at 2 o’clock, after the luncheon adjournment. The officers’ roll was called, and the minutes of the meeting held in the morning were read and confirmed. The District Superintendent of Juvenile Branches, Bro. T. Fathers, presented the following report:— “Brethren: Great national events have transpired since we last met in Council. The last and most lamented has been the death of Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria, which has overwhelmed the nation with sorrow. Under Ahctoria the Good, Friendly Societies have had the fullest liberty oQ

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