ODD FELLOWS' DINNER.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 113, 12 May 1880, Page 2

ODD FELLOWS' DINNER.

The annual dinner of the Past Grands Lodge of Odd Fellows, and to which all Odd Fellows of other Lodges were also invited, took place at the Coach and Horses Hotel last night. Provincial Grand Master Acton Adams occupied the chair, and was supported on the right by P.P.G.M. Edwards and on the left by P.P.G.M. Amos. The vice-chair was taken by D.P.G.M. J. Batchelor, and was supported by P.P.G.M. Thomas, who, upon the removal of the cloth, took the vicechair. The dinner was in every way a most excellent one, fully maintaining the reputation of host Leach, and the repast having been done full justice to, the Cha'rman briefly proposed the health of the Queen, which was drunk iv the customary loyal manner. The Chairman then proposed The Manchester Unity of Odd Fellows. He said he believed the Unity at present mustered something like 500,000 members, and that their funds amounted to about £8 per head, or in other words they had £4,000,000 paid in to provide for their sick and distressed brethren. He then spoke of the advantage this Unity was to all who depended on what they earned from day to day, which, in case o£ accident or sickness, provided something to keep them or their families going. The toast was drunk with all honor. The Chairman then proposed His Excellency the Governor, and in doing so spoke of the interest His Excellency evinced in the welfare of those he governed, and referred particularly to his speech at the opening of the Normal School at Wellington. The toaat having been duly honored, The Vice-Chairman, P P.G.M. Thomas, proposed the Board of Directors, and this toast he immediately followed with that of the District Officers especially referring to their Worthy Grand Master, who, although he had been under a bit of a fog lately, was well able to look after the district. He had had some experience with that gentleman, and was sure that he would give his best efforts and advice for the good of the Order. The toast was drunk with musical honors. P.G.M. Acton Adams, iv replying, said he had much pleasure in returning thanks for himself as a District Officer, but he said that the greater part of the duties had fallen on the shoulders of fie other Officers, and had especially fallen on their very Worthy Corresponding Secretary Brother Besley, but he himself had done little, except visiting. The Worthy Vice-Chairman in proposing the toast had referred to his (the speaker) having been under a fog lately, and he was glad that he had referred to it, and he was still more glad that they had drunk the toast so kindly, for it showed, at all events, that they in no way blamed him. Still one's character was very dear to one, and the means which had been adopted by those opposed to him had caused him to be looked upon with suspicion throughout the colony. He wished to say, although he had been victorious in opposing the charge, that the pro secution had been a most unjust one. To put it briefly, he said, at the first trial he denied there was any written agreement, but did not say there was no agreement nor negotiations. He wished to observe that perjury was a very peculiar charge for a man who was tried on the nofes the other side had, but in this case his opponents were not able to establish so much of a case as to call on him to defend it. He had several witnesses prepared to prove that he stated "he had entered into written agreement," and nothing more. He had ample evidence, had it been admitted, to show that what he said was right, and he deeply regretted that he had not been able to give this evidence on account of the impressions which have been spread abroad by those who were politically opposed to him. Judge Broad clearly showed that he did say " no written agreement," because he remarked on his (Mr Adams) saying so, " no agreement under the statute of frauds." He said wh&t he was' saying because to some extent there had been a conspiracy to drive him out of bis position as the senior representative of the city in Parliament, and of which position, he was convinced, Mr Pitt was very jealous. He also wished to say emphatically, too, that he deeply regretted that the Justices would not allow his counsel to address them in his defence, for by their doing so they had heard but the one side of the question. Had he felt that there was any foundation for the charge against him he should have resigned his position as Grand Master. He again thanked them most heartily for the way in which they had drunk his health, for it showed that as brothers of that Order ihey were convinced there was no stigma resting on him which could make him wish to resign his position. P.D.G.M. J. Batchclor, and P.C.S. W. Besley, also returned thanks. P.P.G.M. Amos proposed The Widows' and Orphans' Fund, and in his speech he wove in a humorous story, which elicited much laughter. The toast having been duly honored, P.C.S. Besley responded, and in doing so mentioned that only some 16 widows and between 30 and 40 orphans had derived assistance from their fund during the past year, its disbursements amounting to some £150, and he said the total fund at present amounted to something like £1100. The Chairman then gave " The Lodges " which he looked upon as the foundation of their whole work. In referring to their contribution he expressed his pleasure that all the Lodges in the district were now paying Is a week, but he still reminded them that according to the calculations of Jthe Government Actuaries this scale was still somewhat behind. For his part he hoped it would prove sufficient, but he admitted that when they were paying less than Is he had grave fears. He said all the Lodges were well conducted and very fairly managed, and he connected with the toast the Noble Grand of his own Lodge, the Howard. P.G. Moyes responded. He referred to the good feeliug existing between the officers aud members, and hoped that matters would always go on in their present satisfactory style. P.P.G.M. Edwards then proposed " The Army, Navy, and Volunteers," in an amusing speech, and Gunner Topliss returned thanks in an equally humorous manner. P.P.G.M. P. Cooke gave the Town and Trade of Nelson. He said that he could not grumble about trade, but many were doing so, and more especially during the past few days, it having appeared that the Government does not intend to proceed with our railway. They must now leave that matter to their Chairman and his colleague, and trust that they would succeed in inducing the Government to go on wih the line, but all he could say was that if they did they were very clever fellows. However, if the line were not proceeded with, there was but a bad look out for tbe trade of Nelson. P.G. Chisholm, in responding, expressed a hope that some good would emanate from the public meeting to be held to-night regarding the railway, and that the numerous unemployed would soon be found work. Bro. Leech then proposed the Press in an able speech, and Mr Bannehr responded. P.P.G.M. Amos proposed our Country Visitors, expressing regret that they had not more of them. P.P.G.M. Thomas returned thanks. He said that had the weather been reasonably fine, about a dozen from his Lodge would have been present. Bro. Topliss proposed the Dinner Committee and Bro. Leech responded. Mr Kitching proposed the Host and Hostess and iv doing

so, spoke in the highest terms of the entertainment they had received. P.G. Leach returned thanks. Bro. Topliss proposed " the Chair," and Mr Adams responded. Mr Adams proposed the Vice Chair and Mr Thomas returned thanks. Mr Kitching proposed a cordial vote of thanks to Mr Prescott for the efficient manner in which he had presided at the piano, and amongst the other toasts were " The Ladies," and Miss Muntelli, to which Bro. Topliss replied. During the evening a number of capital songs and recitations were given. Amongst the latter Mr Leech and Mr Topliss distinguished themselves, whilst to the former Bros. Topliss, Thojias, Leech, North, and Miss Muntelli and others co ltributed. The party broke up about midnight after spending a really pleasant evening.