The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1868.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 309, 31 December 1868, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1868.

A recent publication has been handed to us for perusal, the contents of which are invested with especial interest as regards those of our re iders who are members of the various branches of what are known as ' Friendly Societies' that bave been established iv tbis city. We allude to the annual report of the thirty-fourth High Court, or 'Aunual Parliament' of the Order of Foresters Friendly Society, beld during the past autumn at Wolverhampton, which has been forwarded to the officers of tbat Order in Nelson by the last mail from Europe. As many of our readers, if we except the more enquiring members of the Order, are unacquainted with the history of Forestry, it may be well to state that Friendly Societies, as they at present exist, were not established in England until 1745, when under the name of Royal Foresters, the present flourishing society was founded at Kuaresborough, to be reorganised at a convention held at Rochdale iv 1834, when the benevolent features were placed on a generally improved aud sounded basis, and its name was changed to that under which it is now known to most parts of the civilised world-* — ' The Ancient Order of Foresters.' Between that time and the present, the Order, like that great kindred institution, the Oddfellows Friendly Society, has made gigantic strides, especially in recent years. A few statistics will prove how marked this success has been, and while tbey show how much the efforts of working men can accomplish in bringing the members of their class together for good purposes, they equally indicate the rapid growth amongst the masses of the population of a foresight, aud a resolve to prepare for future contingencies, which cannot be too much admired or too much encouraged. Twenty-five years ago, the number of : members was about 40,000 ; on the Ist of December last year it had increased to 336,791, financial, not including honorary, members ; — a growth prodigious enough to excite the wonder of those who, a quarter nf a century ago, convinced pf its usefulness, and satisfied of its adaptation to the requirements of the times, prophesied for it a rapid and annually increasing success. Nor is this army of Foresters confined to the United Kingdom, for the parent Society has now branches in most of the colonies, and in other parts of the world. These 300,000 Foresters are comprised in 3,920 Courts, which constitute 231

Districts, and this total of financial members shows an increase of 15,456 in the last year, while, in the same period, the number of honorary members grew from 6,050, to 6,529. It may be interesting to know that the Foresters are distributed over the world in the following proportions -.—England 304,056; Ireland, 1,193; Scotland, 2,486: Wales, 13,283; New Zealand, 1,420 ; South Africa, 198 ; New South Wales, 912; South Australia, 2,B3o; United States, 191; Victoria, 9,819 ; and the West Indies, 100 . It is probable that the figures in the United KiDgdom would have beeu even larger, bufc for the bad state of trade in 1867, the loss sustained by secessions through non-payment having been 20,543. Having now given some idea of tbe numerical streugth of this 'united benevolent, and harmonious Order,' we proceed to notice its general financial coudition, as exhibited in the report before us, and the amount it has received and expended on sickness and funerals duriug the past year. It appears, then, that the income of those of the Courts of Great Britain and Ireland which had sent in returns (354 have not done so) amounted to £366,840 15s 8d (including £26,810 for interest on funds invested), and that | the payments for sick and funeral allowances, and district funeral levies, reached £273,501 17s 66, leaving a balance of £93,338 18s 4d to be added to the sick and funeral funds of Courts for the year. We now come to the accumulated funds of the Order, which show a gratifying increase upon the previous year, for on the 31st December, 1866, the total ' worth' of the 292,174 members from whose Courts returns had beeu received, was £1,010,434 Os lld, and at the corresponding period last year the total worth of the 299,994 members whose Courts had forwarded returns was £1,099,475 16s 9J, showiug an increase in funds in 1867 of £89,041 15s lOd. We may mention that, in addition to the parent Society, there are also in existence in Great Britain, about 50 Juvenile Foresters' Societies, with nearly 5,000 members, and affiliated to the Ancient Order of Foresters is what is called the Ancient Order of Shepherds, or second degree of Forestry, comprising 172 registered Districts, 2,852 registered Courts, and 602 ' Sanctuaries.' Members of this Society must be Foresters, but all Foresters are not necessarily * Shepherds.' It may readily be imagined that in so large a society, growing so enormously and rapidly every year, the busiuess of the 'High Court' becomes annually more important ; many alterations being necessary, or considered to be necessary, to enable it more exactly to meet the requirements of the progressive ; age in which we live. Accordingly the ! Report to which our attention has been directed constitutes a document of rather portentous dimensions, presenting the most elaborately drawn up reports of the proceedings of the Society, which are rendered all the more interesting when we remember that the business of the Society is performed by working men, and that most methodically aud admirably, as the returns show, proving that the training which intelligent men undergo by taking part in the management of their own local Courts, is of value in fitting them to act as responsible officers in their owu Society, and also to fulfil more efficiently the daily duties of life.

To-morrow being New-year's Day, according to our annual custom, in order to allow our employes to participate in the holiday, there will be no publication of this journal. There seems to be only too gpod reason ( to fear that smallpox has been introduced [ into Victoria, Ifc appears tbat the chief

mate of the barque Avondale, from China; was admitted into the Melbourne Hospital^ on the 24th uit, and three days afterwards it was ascertained that his ailment was undoubtedly smallpox. Two of the crew had died during the voyage, the disease having broken out shortly after her departure from port. The vessel was at once ordered to the Quarantine Ground, the patient was removed to the Immigration Depot hospital, all persons connected with which have been vaccinated; and every measure adopted to stay the progress of so fell a disease. An enquiry will be instituted into the alleged neglect on the part either of the captain or thei health officer at the Heads, for failing td report the existence of smallpox on board; In view of this discovery, which bas created a very considerable panic in Melbourne, we would suggest that it might be wise, prevention being better than cure, in the authorities here to exercise some surveillance over the arrival of . vessels from Australian ports. The anniversary of the Motueka Wesleyan Methodist Sunday School took place on the 28th inst., and was well attended. Devotional exercises having been led by the Re*- R. L. Vickers, the Rev S. Poole, chairman, in commencing the proceedings , made an appropriate address, and the annual report having been read by Mr John Delany, it was moved by the Rev MrSheriff, and seconded by the Rev. Mr Ronaldson, that tbe report be adopted. Thefollowing were then proposed by Rev* R. L. Vickers, and seconded by Mr J. Alexander, as members of the Sunday School Committee for the ensuing year: — Messrs J. Delany, A.Franklin, G. Glover, W. Chamberlain, W. Douglas, G. Hawkin, J. W. Gower, B. Lovell, H. Staples, J. Alexander, J. Southerly. andß. Lovely junior. On the motion of Mr J. Gower, seconded by Mr J. Delany, tbe thanks of the meeting were given to tbose ladies aud gentlemen who had assisted at the anniversary. Several pieces were recited by the pupils of the school, in a manner that reflected much credit on both pupils and teachers, and some hymns having been sung, the proceedings terminated. The usual fortnightly meeting of th 9 Board of Works took place last night at the Board-room, New-year's Day falling on Friday, the usual day of meeting. Ail the members of the Board were present except Mr Hooper, Mr Bentley beiug in the chair*. The minutes of the previous meeting haviug been read and confirmed* a letter was read from the City Lamplighter, Mr Sigley, referring to the complaint made as to the deficiencies in his department, and explaining that they arose from a leakage in the upper part of the lamps, which was ordered to be rectified. A plank bridge near Mr Rolhweirs^ in Tasman-street, was ordered to be repaired. The Surveyor drew the^attention of the Board to the injury committed by the flood of February last, in Brook-street Valley, and to the repairs that are still requisite, in order to obviate as far as possible, any further damage, in case of recurrence of a similar flood. The matter was referred to the Public Works Committee, for their inspection and report at the next meeting. On the motion of Mr Webb, it was resolved that a special meeting be held on Thursday next, at 5 o'clock, for the purpose of considering the amount of rate to be levied on the city for the coming year. Several accounts having been passed, the Board adjourned to Thursday next. The great Masonic Festival of St. John the Evangelist was celebrated yesterday* the actual day having fallen this year on a Sunday. Business having been transacted at tbe Lodge-Room, at * high noon,£ a goodly company of the officers aud brethren of the craft, together with several visiting brethren, dined st the Nelson

1 fur '.i 11 1 in 1 '1 ■■ i' ■■— Hotel, Coliingwood-street, and did all possible justice to the capital viands prepared for their refection by mine host, Brother M'Gee. Th 6 newly-elected W.M. Dr Scaly was in the chair, having for 'the fourth time, been re-elected to that important position in the Lodge, and the various Masonic aud local toasts were received very enthusiastically, not forgetting the health of the retiring W.M., Dr Squires, with acknowledgment of tbe zeal and efficiency he had displayed. Tbe election to fill the vacancy at the Board of Governors of Nelson College created by the resignation of W. Adams, Esq., takes place to-morrow, at noon, at tbe Courthouse. Only two candidates bave as yet presented themselves, Messrs A. Sclanders, of Nelson, and D. Jennings, ■of Motueka. The same time and place is fixed for the election of two auditors under the Nelson Trust Funds Act. We would remind ratepayers that this being the last day dn which the City Assessment is open for inspection, any •appeals against the same must be sent in •to the Clerk of the Resident Magistrates' Court, aud also to the Clerk to tbe Board within seven days' time from this date. . Should tbe weather prove favorable tomorrow, holiday seekers will have no right to complain of tbe lack df amusements provided for them, tbe two excursion trips to be made by the steamers Lady Barkly and Moutoa being supple•mented by races and sports, which are to be held on the Race Course at Stoke, tbe new proprietor of the Turf Hotel having announced his iv ten tion of giving a variety of prizes to the successful competitors. These amusements, with the Oddfellows' annuai dinner, independently bf private festivities in tbe evening, will form the local programme for New Year's Day. It was rumored in Wellington last week, that the First-class Militia would be sent to the Front shortly. The Post says that the idea is, that in the event of Colonel • Wbitmore's arrival from Napier with his men, as large a force aspossible be collected at Wellington to supplement his command, and despatched to Wanganui. All the available force will be massed tbere, aud a combined forward /movement made ; tbe Tjest traiued men going to the front, and \ the less effective holding redoubts and (positions, and by %heer force of numbers crushing Tito Kowaru. This seems a feasible enough plan if properly carried ont, but we are sadly afraid it will, like all our previous warlike enterprises, fail for want' of a competent chief. MrMacleay on the llth inst tabled a 'motion in the General Assembly of New South Wales, for the appointment of a committee to investigate the O'Farrell conspiracy, with power to send for persons and papers. Much ill-feeling has arisen out of Mr Parkes's admission that the secret report on which his announcement at Kiama respecting the intended assasination of the Prince were based were still in his possession.. An Adelaide telegrams says that extraordinary . disclosures bave been made before the select committee which was appointed to investigate the question of the volunteer staff. \