ODD FELLOWSHIP.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 100, 25 September 1874, Page 3

ODD FELLOWSHIP.

The anniversary of the Loyal City of Christchurch Lodge, 1.0.0.F.M.D., was celebrated last evening by a dinner in the Oddfellows' Hall. About one hundred gentlemen sat down to a very capital spread, provided by liro T. Grantham in a way which would have done credit to any caterer. The hall was nicely decorated with flags, and on the dais behind the chairman was displayed the banner of the lodge, and also some very fine pot plants. The chair was occupied by his Honor the Superintendent, supported on the right by Mr John Anderson, 13ro Sawtell, and Dr Campbell, and on the left by Deputy Provincial Grand Master Clarke, and Prov C.S. Bro Charles Jane. The vice-chairs were filled by P.G. TaafEe and N G. Jones. The usual loyal toasts having been given and duly honored. His Honor gave " The Army, Navy, and Volunteers," coupled with the name of Bio Paton. Bro Paton briefly responded. The Vice-Chairman (R. G. Taafc) proposed " The Members of the General Assembly." In doing so, he might say that the Assembly of New Zealand would compare favourably with the legislative bodies of any country in the world. He would couple the toast with the name of their chairman, Bro W. liolleston. His Honor responded to the toast in a few words. Dr Campbell proposed " His Honor the Superintendent and the Executive Council." His Honor, both as a private citizen and a ruler, had made himself respected by all. [Cheers.J His Honor was never forgetful

of the interests of the working class, the foundation of the success of a young colony such as this. [Cheers.] As regarded the Provincial Council, they were a body of gentlemen who had the interests of the province at heart, and he believed they had done very trood service. As it was probable that the office of his Honor the Superintendent and the functions of the Provincial Council would soon become a thing of the past, he regretted that the toast had not fallen into the hands of an experienced speaker, who would have told them what these institutions had done in the past. He would couple the toast with the name of Mr S. P. Andrews, The toast was drunk with three times three and musical honors. His Honor the Superintendent responded on behalf of himself, thanking those present for the way in which the toast had been re. ceived. Dr Campbell in his speech had made a very unpleasant prognostication, but this was a matter on which doctors even could not agree, and he thought it very probable that the diagnosis in this matter might not be a correct one. However this might be, he trusted that what ho had endeavored to do would not die in the minds of the people of this province. [Cheers. | He could assure them that the kindness he had always experienced from the people in the discharge of his duty would always livein his mind. [Cheers.] lie again thanked them for the maimer in which the toast had been received. Mr S. P. Andrews said that whether the Provincial Council was abolished or not, he thought thpy would all give the members of the Provincial Council credit for doiuc the very best they could for the interests o( the community. The Provincial Council, he knew, looked upon the progress of the great brotherhood, the anniversary of a branch of which they had met that night to celebrate, with great interest, as inculcating in the minds of the people self reliant principles. [Cheers]. Mr John Anderson said that he rose to propose a toast of which he had some knowledge, viz, that of his Worship the Mayor and the City Council. He could tell them that whoever sought the office of a City Councillor would find that he had succeeded to a great deal of hard work. Dr Campbell had spoken of the probability of the office of Superintendent becoming extinct, but he would say, if politics were allowed at this meeting, that he was opposed to the abolition of the provinces altogether, and he hoped the day was very far distant when the provinces of the Middle Island would be abolished. [Hear.] However, let this be as it mi ght with the office of Superintendent, they could not well do without a Mayor so long as they were a city. They had, he might say, been very fortunate in obtaining the services of hardworking men as Mayors of the city, and he hoped this would also be the case in the future. He regretted that his Worship the Mayor was unable to be present that evening, but in his absence he would couple the toast with the name of Mr Henry Sawtell, who had himself very efficiently filled the office of Mayor of the city, [Cheers.] The toast was drunk with cheers. Mr Sawtell briefly responded on behalf of his Worship the Mayor, remarking that it was somewhat strange that one ex-Mayor should have proposed the toast and another responded to it. P. Prov. G. M. Jane then proposed the G.M. and board of directors of the unity, coupled with the name of Prov. C. S. James. The toast was drunk with lodge honors. Provincial C. S. James responded, and in doing so, stated that the total number of members in the Unity was 481,051, and the increase during the past twelve months had been 11,000 or nearly 1000 per month. The amount paid for sickness had been £299,851, and on account of deaths, £9r>,f>72. The total capital of the Unity was £:?,6f0,000, and their position had now been ascertained to be the largest friendly society in the world as regarded numbers an 1 funds. [Cheers.] From those few statistics, it would be seeu that the Unity did a large amount of good, and was in a highly nourishing condition. [Cheers.] His Honor then rose, and proposed the officers of the North Canterbury district, coupled with the name of the Deputy-pro-vincial Grand Master, Clarke. D.I'.G.M. Clarke in responding to the toast said that he would give them a few figures as regarded the progress of the district daring the past two or three years. In 1871 there were six lodges with a total of 280 members; in 1872 seven lodges with 333 members, and in the present year to this number they had added five lodges already opened, and one to be opened during the next week at Doyleston, making altogether thirteen lodges in the district, making the largest district in New Zealand. The total funds of the North Canterbury district amounted to £BOOO with 900 members, thus showing an increase of nearly treble the number of members during the past two or three years. He thanked them very heartily for the way in which the toast had been received by them. [Hear, hear.] His Honor then presented P.P.G.M. Jane and P.i'.G.M. Vennal on behalf of the members of the Loyal City of Christ church Lodge with a handsome timepiece each. This presentation was made as a mark of esteem for the able manner in which they had discharged the duties, very onerous ones, devolving upon them as officers of a popular institution such as this. He trusted that the recipients would live long to remember the mark of esteem that evening presented to them. The timepieces, which were of marble, bore the following inscription on the front of the base :—" M.D.I.O.U.J*'. Presented by the Loyal City of Cluistchurch Lodge (No. 4G02) to P. Prov G. M. Jane, as a mark of respect for past services. Sept. 21, 1874. E. Jones, N.G." The same inscription was engraved on the clock presented to P.P.G.M. Vennal, and both were surmounted by a bronze figure. Both gentlemen acknowledged the compliment. The vice-chair (N.G, Pro Jones) proposed sister lodges in the district. The. toast was drunk with lodge honors. D.I'.G.M. Clark, on behalf of the Kaiapoi Lodge; N.G. Eraser, Woodend Lodge ; Pro Hogg, Loyal Volunteer Lodge ; E. S. Sandford for the Benevolent Lodge ; N.G. Aherne for the Ri'.ngiora Lodge ; N.G. Toomer, for the Loyal Perseverance (WoolstonJ Lodge ; Bro Turner also spoke on behalf of a Victorian Lodge, Several other toasts were proposed and duly honored, and during the evening some very capital songs were sung by Bros Stapleton, Cooper. Boaz, Jones, Stapleton, T. Hobbs, Clcphane, H. A. Davis, Whitfield, and others, aud the meeting broke up at an early hour, having spent a very agreeable evening.