ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4479, 28 July 1875, Page 3

ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS.

The fifteenth annual meeting, to receive the report of the Odd Fellows’ Hall Committee, was held yesterday evening, in the side-room attached to the Odd Fellows* Hall, the Grand Master in the chair. The following report was submitted to the meeting, and after' some discussion, confirmed : “Your committee have much pleasure in presenting their annual report, and feel confident that the amount of business transacted during the year, and the profits arising from the letting of the hall, will prove satisfactory to the members ; more especially when it is considered the great competition the committee have had to contend with, by the vast improvements effected in the Theatre Royal. “ In accordance with instructions received at last general meeting, your have effected the several improvements indicated: front seats have been cushioned, and the back seats raised, together with several minor improvements, the total cost of which has been £lO7 4s. 6d. “ The steam excursion to Somes Island was not so successful this year as on former occasions ; but through the kindness of Messrs. W. and G. Turnbull and Co., who remitted £lO, and the directors of the N.Z.S.S. Company, who remitted £5, together with the balance from the soiree, your committee were enabled to present to each of the three lodges the sum of £5 12s. 10d., to go towards their management expenses fund. “ The hall has been let 158 times during the year, and the receipts have been £469 4s. 6d. The side-rooms and offices have been fully let, and have considerably improved the revenue. “The sum of £l6 14s, 6d. is owing to the hall; and liabilities to the amount of some £1 10s. incurred for glazing. “ The balance in the bank on the 30th June was £IBB 19s. 4d., out of which £2O 16s. 3d. has been paid on account of last month’s accounts, leaving a balance of £l6B 3s. Id., which it is proposed to give to the lodges as a dividend, less 30 per cent, to be paid to the insurance fund, which was established in 1871.

“ The present state of the hall requires that repairs should. he effected duriug the ensuing year. A new floor to the hall is absolutely necessary, and will have to he put down as soon as convenient. But your committee would submit for the consideration of the members the propriety of keeping pace with the times. The present hall is found to be too small for the accommodation of the increasing population of the place, and the facilities afforded by the Theatre Royal is a great inducement to theatrical companies engaging the theatre instead of the hall. A proposition has been submitted by Mr. Thomas Turnbull, the architect, which your committee would submit to the serious consideration of the members. If the suggestions were carried out, it would result in a large income to the hall, and make it one of the finest properties in the colony. The land which is now lying useless would then be profitably used, and the property made the most valuable in the city of Wellington. “In conclusion, your committee desire to acknowledge the services of the custodian, Mr. R. A. Marshall, which have been unremitting in the interests of the Order, and would be glad if a substantial recognition of his services were accorded by the general meeting.” A plan of a new hall having been submitted to the meeting by Mr. Turnbull, a considerable dismission ensued, when Mr. McKenzie, in reference to building a new hall, said that it was highly essential that the order should consider well what they were about to do, and not rashly incur liabilities. He strongly urged upon the meeting not to be led away by any couleur de rose representations of large profits to be derived from the rent of offices that might form part of any proposed new hall.

Several speakers followed in the same strain, the general feeling appearing to be in favor of cautiousness in incurring liabilities. Ultimately the following proposition was passed and carried:

Proposed by S. Walters, seconded by J. Smith, —“ That Messrs. J. Smith, T. McKenzie, Russel], Prideaux, Gascoigne, with power to add to their number, be appointed a committee to bring up a report as to building a new hall, &c.” Carried unanimously. The meeting then adjourned for one month. The meeting to be convened by advertisement.