ODDFELLOWSHIP.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XII, Issue 744, 24 December 1859, Page 4

ODDFELLOWSHIP.

The 22nd of December, being the anniversary of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows in this pro. vince, was this year celebrated by the brethren of the order in the usual style; the importance of the occasion being enhanced by the day being selected as that on which to celebrate the 'inauguration of the New Hall of the City of Norwich Lodge, lately erected on the Snraner Road. During the morning of Thursday, a large number of district officers and visiting brothers arrived in town from Christchurch, Kaiapoi, arid other parts of the province; and the new hall and several public buildings of the town were decorated with the insignia of the order, presenting a gay and graceful appearance. The district meeting was hold in the new hall in the afternoon, for the election of district officers and the transaction of general business. The hall had been tastefully decorated for tho occasion. Brother Keuiudgj! was called to the office of Grand' Master, and Brother Barnard was elected Corresponding Secretary. The reports from the several lodges in the district were of a most giatifying character. The business of the meeting was brought to a close about 5 o'clock, at which time there was a considerable muster of the brethren to hoar an inaugural address. Tho officers and past officers of the order being arranged on the dais according to rank, N.G. Jonjjs stated that they had suffered a disappointment in the absence of a gentleman whom the committee had expected to deliver an address y

■under these circumstances lie called upon .Brother Brad well to offer a lev/observations on the event which' hud drawn, (hem together. Brother Bradwei,!, responded to the call, nnd in tho course of his address referred to the principles of Oddfellowship, and the history of its rise and progress in Canterbury. Ho made honourable mention of tho father of tbo order in this province —P. G. Abrahams-—of his unwearied services in the cause,, and congratulated him on having seen tho fruits of his labours in the numbers enrolled under tho banner of the Manchester Unity in this place, and in the good which had been effected. In his concluding remarks,.the speaker said nearly as follows :—"The proceedings of this day will mark an epoch in the annals of Oddfellowship in Lyttelton. This day we inaugurate a building raised out of tho slender means of a small band of brethren, which we devote to the service of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows. We dedicate it lo- Truth and Love —to tho cause of charity and human brotherhood —to that philanthropy which would stretch out a helping hancHo a sinking brother, and minister to the necessities of the poor and indigent—-to that human tenderness, akin to the Divine, which cherishes the orphan and the widow, and throws sunbeams into the domestic circle darkened by the shadow of death. Long may these walls encircle a society of men devoted to the principles and actuated by the sentiments which form the base of our order. Here may each one of: us find a refuge from political and sectarian strife. For long long years may we seek this place as an altar on which to sacrifice our individual and national prejudices. May we always find concord and harmony within these walls; and when the young men now around me, rejoicing in the pride of youth, shall have their eyes dimmed and their hairs whitened by age, may they regard this as a pleasant spot, sacred to them from its association with memories of kindly acts and " words of truth in kindness spoken." For many years may we assemble .within these walls on the anniversary of this day; and when festivities are no more for us, may our children and children's children inherit this hall, a legacy and an example: a legacy of our love, and an example of our selfsacrifice, inspiring.them .to still greater works for the amelioration of life's vicissitudes. And when earth's fair things shall be no more for us or them, let us. humbly but confidently hope that, as we have fulfilled the law of love, by dwelling togethpr as brethren upon the earth, we shall be re-united under the blessing of the Universal Father, and dwell together in the home where love shall reign for ever and ever." This address was received with every mark of approbation from the brethren assembled, and thanks to the speaker were specially ordered to be recorded on the district minute book.

The formal proceedings of the> day being now brought to a close, the. brethren adjourned for a short time and reassembled at six o'clock, at the Universal Hotel, when seventy-five sat down together to partake of the luxuries of the table, provided with his usual ability by Mr. Heaphy. Several visitors and friends of the order joined the board and assisted at the festivities. The greatest harmony prevailed throughout the evening, and at a little after midnight the whole party separated and returned to their respective homes. In connection with the spread of Oddfellowfhip throughout the province, we notice an announcement that the members of the Loyal Good Intent Lodge of Akaroa purpose celebrating their anniversary by. a ball to take place on Monday, the 2nd January, at Mr. Haylock's store, in Akaroa. We give below the scores of the great match and return match between .Avonside Cricket Club-and Eleven of all Canterbury, played on;.the..Avonside ground on Friday and Saturday last.' We have; already recorded tlie^ftcujiar -featuis;es 6f:the;"play on each side, which was gratifying to cricketers in all respects, proving the advancement of the game in the colony. The Lincoln Road Club has been revived and a match played at Messrs. Wilkinson's on the,-21st, the married beating the single. In other directions also we hear of movements among cricketers. The following is the score of Friday the 16th and Saturday the 17th insts.:— ALL CANTERBURY. Ist Innings. ■ 2nd Innings. Knyvett b Taylor 1 b Taylor .1 Griffiths b Dawe 9 b Dawe 1 Wilson b Dawe 2 b Dawe 0 Dickensoii b Dawe ...... 13 c Dawe b Taylor ...... 4 Ward b Taylor 2 runout 0 Burnell c Parkerson .... 2 hit wicket b Dawe .... 0 Stevens b Taylor -. 0 c Brittan b Taylor .... 5 Bullock run out 0 not out 2 Hodgson c Dawe b Taylor 10 run out 0 Bruce not out 3 b Taylor 10 Blakiston, b Dawe ...... 11 c Bennett b Taylor .... 2 Byes, o; wides,lo.... 15 Leg bye, 1; wides, 3 .... 3 Total 68 > Total 29 AVONSIDE. Ist Innings. . 2nd Innings. Bennett hit wist b Burnell 0 b Stevens 14 Phillips lbw b Burnell,... 4 c Wilson b Stevens .... 5 Dawe rnn out 17 c Griffiths b Stevens .. 2 Stewart v Knyvett 3 c Knyvett b Dickenson 0 Walker b Dickenson ...... 1 b Diekenson 3 Taylor c Bullock b Burnell 10 b Dickenson 7 J. Brittan c Blakiston .. 1 b Steveus 4 Holland b Burnell 0 b Dickenson 0 W. G-. Brittau not out .... 11 c Knyvett b Steveus .. 1 Parkerson c Knyvett ... 1 not out 0 FieldcGriffithsbDickensoii 1 not out •;...... 5 Bye 1 Leg byes 2; wiiies, 3 5 Total 52 Total 46 -THE RETURN MATCH. AVONSIDE. First Innings. Second Innings. J. Brittan b Buvncll 11 b Dickenson 5 Phillips lbw b Hodgson ..3 c and b Blakiston 5 Dawe b Blakiston... 32 not out 7 Bennnt c Burnoll b Blakiston 2 b Blakiston 0 Taylor c Bruceb Blakiston 12 not out 5 Stewart b Blakiston ...... 0 , Holland c Knyvett b Blakiston ,7 b Dickenson 6 W. G. Brittan b Blakiston 2 Field c Wilson b Hodgson 4 Harston not out.' f» c Knyvett b Blakiston.. 2 Walker b Hodgson 0 « Bye* 3, leg byes 1, wides 9, no balls 2. 15 Leg bye 1, wide 1 .. 2 Total 93 Total 32 ALL CANTERBURY. Ist Innings. ■ . 2nd Innings. Blakiston l> Taylor 1 cW. G. Brittau b Dawo 2 Bullock b Dawe ■ 3 hit wicket b Dawe .... 2 Bruco c BrittMi b Dawu .. 2 c Holland b Dawo .... 9 Griffiths b D.iwe 0 b Taylor 18 Knyvett leg b.w. b Taylor 3 c Fiuld b Dawe 3 Dickinson c BennettbTaj lor 0 b Dawe l(i Wilson hit wicket b Dawe 11 c>and b Dawo .. 4 Ward c Harston b Dawe 0 b Taylor 13 Stevens c Brittan b Taylor 1 not out .............. 13 Burnell not out 1 hit wicket b Dawe...... 0 Hodgson c and b Dowe 0 b Tuylor 2 Byes 2, leg bye 1, wides 6 9 Bye 1, wide (i 7 Total... 31 Total 93