PAST GRANDS' DINNER.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 11, 11 May 1881, Page 2

PAST GRANDS' DINNER.

Tbe annual dinner of the Past Grands in connection with the Nelson district of the ludeptndent Order of Oddfellows was held last evening at the Nelson Hotel, when some thirty members of the Order were present, the chair being occupied by P.P.G.M. Henry Edwards, and tbe vice by PG.M. James Batchelor. After due justice had been done to the excellent dinner wHiflh had been pjfejpared by Host McGee, the cioth was removed, and tbe Chairman called upon those present to drink the health of "The Qusen and the Manchester Unity." He stated that it had been a timehonored custom amongst Oddfellows to couple lhe Order with the name of the Queen, aa it was well known that t,he meHihertt of the Institution were as lojral to the Constitution as any of ber subjects. The remaining formal toasts having baen given and duly honored, P.P.G M. J; P. Cooke proposed* the health of the " Board of Directors, an«a eulogised their efforts to extend the Usefulness of the Order amongst avery class of meti* and spdke of the great i__al which the present Board displayed in controlling the whole of the Lodges in the district., , n , A GjV«M Master Batchelor briefly responded P P.G M. Amos proposed tbe health of the " District Officers," and in doing so took occasion to give credit to the " old identities," the pioneers in the past, who had been the instruments of bringing tbe Order to it. present sound position. He spoke in very feeling terms of the great loss the Order had sustained in the absence of their much respected brother, P.P.G.M. Acton Adams, whose opinion upon any point connected with the Order had aiwaya proved so valuable. Provincial Deputy G. M. Lammas replied, and iv doing so pointed out that the usefulness of the Order was fast spreading itself in the country, and he bad much pleasure in informing the meeting that himself and otber members of the Travellers' Rest Lodge were shortly about to assist in tbe opening of a new Lodge at Dovedale, which would be affiliated with the Motueka district. CS. IJesley also respoudfed in a few . well chosen remarks. P.P GM. Thomas proposed the " Widows and Orphans' Fund." He held that there was no institution in connection with the Order so valuable aB this fund. A large number of widows and children of deceased members were annually reaping the benefits, and be had much pleasure in stating that the fund was in a most prosperous position. P.P.G.M* Percy proposed the health of the " The Lodges. 3 ' He nad been a member of the Order for some 2 ( J years, and had neter regretted having taken tbe finst step in joining such a useful body, which commended itself to the notice of every member of the community. Dr Collins, the surgeon of the Nelson Lodge, proposed the health of the "Town and Trade of Nelson" which was duly honored. The remaining toasts "The Press" proposed by P.G. Leitch responded to by P.G. M'Eachen, "Country Members," proposed by P.G. Topliss responded to by P.D.G.M. Saunders and P.P.G.M. Thomas, " Dinner Committee," «* The Chairman," " The Ladies," and tbe " Host and Hostess," were all duly honored, and a number of songs and recitations given by various members of the Order brought a very pleasant evening to a close.