FORESTERS' ANNIVERSARY.

Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 107, 23 October 1878, Page 2

FORESTERS' ANNIVERSARY.

The Court Manawatu of the Ancient Order of Foresters celebrated its third anniversary on Saturday evening, by a grand banquet m their Hall, Palmerston. Fully sixty of the brethren took part m the proceedings, and the 'Chief Rangers of • ths various' Courts m the district were present by invitation on the occasion. The room was most tastefully decorated with ferns* arid evergreens, while the walls. were grocer fully arranged with branches of nikau palm, varied with pictures and emblems indicative of the Order. Brother Batchelar acted as caterer, and the manner m which the spread was placed upon the table, And the arrangements carried out, was'the theme of general commendation. After the wreok hod been cleared away, and the solids had given way to the fluids, the company fairly settled down to the work of enjoyment. The Worthy Chief Ranger, Brother Sanders, occupied the chair, and when the usual tributes of honor hod been paid to the Queen and her Colonial representative, he called upon Brother Snelson to propose the toast of the evening. ."'■■/' Brother SneiiSon said it was with mingled j feelings of pleasure and diffidence that he j rose to prapoae the toast which had been placed m hi 9 hands— «'* Snccess ta Court Manawatu." He. was proud to be able to say that he had had the honor of being its first Chief Ranger, and when it was borne m mind that that was but three years Ago, and that now the number, of brethren an the roll amounted to sixty- five, he thought the result was a matter for great satisfaction. But although the Court had been so successful, it had hot been without its drawbacks,: Having experienced both illness and death.' He considered, however, that/the success, like the Court itself, was but m its infancy; and as it progressed m age/it would, also progress m prosperity; They were seated* around a festive board m. a, noble and spacious hall, whioh he trusted soon to see the absolute property of the Courtj- possessing a site which was inferior to none m the town. They bad Also not only been successful m the selection of their officers, who had Administered the business of the Court and tpe Order with wisdom and discretion, but they were to be congratulated upon the brethren -..'generally..-'. They had (succeeded m being- free from those who, would be catenated to bring disv credit upon the craft, and had acted up to the motto of the Order— "Benevolence and Concord." He would ask them to fill their glosses and drink to the toast, remembering that when they did so they were drinking their own healths and suooess. He now. gave them— " Success to the Court Manawatu." - . . A'... - The toast was unanimously drunk with the honors qf the Order, fpUoeed by "For he's a jolly good .fellow." ,■ . Birother ■ Ma'bsh, m responding to- the toast, said that possibly he was one of the firsts who was identified with the , establishment of the Court; although it was quite correot that Brbther Snelson had occupied the ppsition of first .'Chief Ranger.. Since its Establishment "it had some considerable drawbacks, and at One timehe thought it would certainly go to thewall. It had, how-, •erer; weathored the storm, arid now lie way bleiised to say that it was one of the most, successful of any of theCourts in^ the'Oklor. They; had a. grand, hall which he trustedWould shortly, be theirs^ arid they wcr^ op.

the high road to prosperity. With union there was strength, and they were bound to succeed. He need scarcely refer to the misfortune which had befallen the lodge m the loss bf one of its most valued and . honored members. That was the first blow it had received, for although there had been a small share of aiokness, he trusted that the brother now afßicted would soon recover. All the brethren should unite and work together, watching over, the interest* of the Court with watchful jealousy, always remembering that m their hands and upon their actions and efforts did auoosss depend. He bad very great pleasure ia raponding to the toast. Brother Box laid it was with much pletw sure he rose to propose the toast of " Jfjndred Societies." Brother WoasTOne, Chief Ranger of th* Feuding Lodge, said that he no doubt owed the fact of his presence, to his official position m hb own Court. For his own part he regretted the invitation had been given to him alone, as he certainly would hava wished his fellow-officers had been present to partake of the pleasure which hehod «u---joyed. He had been m Palmerston some flvs years before, and then there was no inch thins as a Foresters' Court j neither was there a hall aaoh as that m which ths? tjera *•« ao Agreeably drawn together ; and what wae more; he very much questioned if, at that time, a body of men like those present oonld be; mustered together m the Manawatu. Oa . the part of himself, and the Court aver which he had the honor to preside, he> thanked them for the very cordial reception they had given him. The toast was greeted with the honors of the Order. The proceedings were then enlivened by an amusing medley, capitally given by Brother Ayers, which was sa vociferously sip- - ; plauded as to demand an eneors, m niponsty^ij to which he gave— "l'U hang my harbors a willow tree* y ; Brother Keblino was railed upon to propose the next toast, and m doing so said he felt sure it was one ta. which everyone would heartily respond. It \ was— "Our Lodge Surgeon, Dr. MadAcbla^'* who, he might soy, was as yet but a stranger amongst them. His connection, with ths> Court would fill up nn admitted want. When they reflected that it might be nsces* ■sry to have the Court rsgUtsrsd* and that this could not be done -in the- past,- theyV would See how; necessary it was: to have » ~ legally-qualified medical man m ehavge. In - making these ,' remarks he did not for a : moment wish to reflect upon the laW medical attendant, for whose abiHtis* and akilfc he had the highest respect; bat th* fact^ remained that, as sitasted before, the lodge was debarred from ita proper atatus through inability to register. He would ask thsm to drink the health of Dr. Mackohlah, their new surgeon., .-. '";,';.":.'■ The toast" woa drunk most enthusiast!- ■' catty, followed by— " JFor hV* a j[oDy goodfellow!" Dr MAOtAparANin rearwnae said that ha was not m ths habit, of making speeches, either long or short: for while the profes. ■ aion to which lis belonged left that privilege* to their brethren of ths long robsythsy , valued the adage "Speavh is aUvsro, but : silence is golden," and ths present was •» occasion upon which the aentiment becsms appennost. Ho should, however, thank them sinesrsly for ths •nthusiaatio manner m which they hsd honored the toast; and s more especially Brother Ayers for his valuable assistance m themuaio«l honors. . The Chairman then called upon Brother Ayeis to propose the toast of " Ths Lsdies." but .that gentleman evidently misunderstood the request, and amidst much merriment,, gave— "Here's health to the brewer, and -•" may he.never brew bad beer." Brother BATOHitAassid that as he had been deputed to reply on behalf of those •'. lovely creatures— -the ladies, he. certainly was not going to shrink from ths task as. Brother Ayers bad done. Although Brother Ayers had made it an expose for refusing theduty that ha was a married hu«v . he (the speaker) might asy »hat Although a Batohelar he was a married man beside. They owed a great deal to the ladies, m fact he did hot know where they all wonld be if it were not for: them ; obnasqnently ".. he had much pleasure m drinking their ' healths, and adding *' God bless thorn." The tribute was responded to Vith flow* ing hampers, concluding with. "For" thsy -. are joUy good felibws." ; -'.' : "AAAxia^ ' •"- -Brother. vNawmuv^Se^ yoardog?*; -AA'ArA. Brother CorjUfAN said that pm^Mpeane " of the most important toasts of the evening had been placed m his hahds^^ThePr»ss; R And although it 'was brought forward some* - what late m the evening, he felt convinced it would be none the lesa warmly Yreoeived ' upon that account. The Press was a power which wielded a vast influence politicslly, socially, ; morally, and commercially. It #aa '■-._ one which built up institutions, or helped " : them on the road to. progress ; md iy its' Aid a development And impetus: was given to movements which otherwise would never take place. Thia was. evidenced m their own district, where the Press had. not only given ita Able AssisUnce, but had, been ths . leader m every movement calculated to ad- . vance the district or to he beneficial m it|l results. He would ask to drink to the toast of " The Press," associated -with the ' its/a* of Mr Dungan of the Maxawatu Tmts. After the toast had been duly honored,: and Mr Ayers had led off m oapital style, "Forhe'ea jollygood fellow," ; . Mr DtwaAN briefly .responded, referring to some of the difficulties occasion-illy encountered by Press men, and concluding with heartily thanking those present .''.foe';. ■ the flattering manner, m which hta labors had been spoken of . -'. Song— Mr Batchelar— "Pour out the B^ine Wine.** .. Brother MABSHnKjt proposed ''Tha '. . Host," 'and Brother Batohbi>ab hsying re-, sponded m suitable terms, and the ' programme being then exhausted, the meeting went heart «nd soul into conrivishty, Mr Stephen Rogers evoking roars of laughter - by hie humorous ringing of "A Starry | Night for a Ramble," and "On Board the Kangaroo/ - I The harmony was kept up with great spirit until shortly before midnight, when . a most enjoyable evening was brought to a .close. • „-..-, -.■' ' ■-" -.-■ The ball m eon^eetion with the anhu versary was held on Monday: evening, and. -Vwas by far- the moat successful gathering of the kind that has been celebrated m the hall There were hot less than fifty couples, present, the arrangements were excellent, the : music good, And dancing kept up with - spirit until a lote hour on Tuesday morning, Mrs Tolman presided at thepMncu .