Fatality at Tariki.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 61, 13 March 1914, Page 5

Fatality at Tariki.

AT A SHOOTING GALLERY.

LAD'S UNFORTUNATE END. Wilfred James was a bright boy, aged about 15, and as a pupil of, the Stratford District ' High School last year he was popular ""with his follows. He appeared to bo a ball of india rubber in his place as full-back for the second fifteen, rebounding off his opponents to the huge delight of the spectators and his side. He could kick and collar like a coming champion. But his career has been suddenly cut off. At tiie Tariki Show yesterday he was shot while wandering about in the vicinity of a shooting gallery. No one knows what happened. He made no complaint at the time, but, it is reported, while walking amongst the crowd was. seen to fall. This was abotit nine o'clock in the evening, and that he had been shot was not discovered until Dr Nutting arrived an hour later. Then the lad was immediately driven by motor to the New Plymouth Hospital, where he expired at four o'clock this morn-

James was shot in the abdomen, the bullet piercing his liver. The cause of the accident can only be surmised, but it is considered most probable that a bullet from the pea rifle which was being used ricochetted from the dead end at the rear of the gallerv .

Further inquiry will, of course, be made into the circumstances attending the sad affair.

A Press Association message from New Plymouth states that deceased's age was 141, and that he was the son of a farmer living at Dudley Road.

Deputy Ainsworth for being the successful member who proposed the most lady members during the past twelve months. The jewel was presented by Grand Master Bro. Mountford.

Votes of thanks were passed to the retiring officers and the newly-elected officers returned thanks for the high honor conferred on them. The 1913-1914 Report.

The District Examining Officers report for the year 1913-14 contained

inter alia:—

The Central Funeral Fund scale of payments has been subjected to some criticism. There is a feeling that in view of the favorable mortality experience the scale of payments is too aigh. The Hawke's Bay district has i proposal on the B.M.C. business sheet affecting the Central Funeral Fund which will doubtless bring the

vhole matter under review. The next valuation should give valuable information on the matter. The Order continues to make world-

vide advancement, the scale of its iperations growing larger and larger. The Unity figures show that in 1912, £1,061,902 were received in contributions for sick and funeral fund purposes, and £520,019 for interest. In he same year sick and funeral bene-

its paid totalled £1,101,547, being C'»0.645 more than the sum paid as -ontributions. How strongly , does

his show the imperative necessity fo

milcling up substantial funds during "he early days of a Lodge. If lue figures are taken for the twenty-five ,-ears ending 1912 they show that £22,_ "51,162 wer<e received for contributions and £22,642,807 were paid for dck and funeral benefits. The margin between the two is only £108,355. As showing the tremendous influence of interest earnings on the financial position during the same period, the xmds increased by £8,871,874, the total accumulated funds at the end of 1912 being. £16,135,353. The membership over the same period grew from 627,594 to 1,472,815.. In addition to the benefits already "numerated as being paid in 1912 the following sums were paid:—Medical benefits £173,278, widows and orphans £48,120, juvenile members £38,392. benevolence £34.307. These figures may serve to give some idea of the greatness and beneficence of the Order of which we are members.

The year has been a fairly prosperous one as far as our own district is concerned. The membership shows an increase of 36. The total membership is 1143, there being 1099 males and 44 females, an increase of 38 males and a decrease of 2 fe- ] males. The admissions numbered 103, of whom 99 were males and 4 females, 58 left by arrears. 5 by clearance, and 5 died, a total of 68. Five members' wives died during the year. The financial position is eminently satisfactory. The sick funds of lodges amounted to £29,158 19s 2d, management funds £275 17s 7d. The receipts on account of sick and funeral funds were £3520 6s, management funds £625 Is 103, medical expenses funds £1364 14s lid, making the total £5510 5s 9d. The expenditure for sickness benefit reached £982 2s Id, an increase of £ll7 3s 3d; funeral benefits £2lO, or £6O more than last year. Medicines and medical attendance cost £136444s lid, the total paid for benefits being £3556 17s. The value of all the funds amountled to £30,024 0s 3d, showing an increase of £1517 14s Id for the year. Lunchscn Adjournment. 1 At the luncheon held in Mr Eiely's rooms, several visitors were present ■by special invitation), and included the Mayor (Mr T. B. Crump), Mr Wilkinson, M.P., -md Mr W. Carneross, M.L.C. After the good things provided had been partaken of, a short toast-list was gone through. The first toast, proposed by tka G.M. of the Taranaki district, vras "The King," which was duly honored. Thd

'nest toast was in the hands of Bro. 0. E. Bellringer, who proposed "The Grand Master of the New Zealand j District," Bro. Bellringer stated (during his remarks that he and the 'Grand Master -were old friends, the speaker being G.M. of the New Zealand district at that time with the present G.M. as his lieutenant. He extended a hearty welcome to the G.M. on. being, present at the meeting, and urged on the young members of the Order to listen to what he had to say on the great question of consolidation, as the Manchester Unity stood in the forefront of friendly societies in New Zealand. The Grand Master, in reply, said: "I stand before you as G.M. of the New Zealand district, an honor of which I feel proud." Continuing, the G.M. said he was pleased to see a number of members of Parliament present, who, he considered, had done a lot for friendly societies. He also stated that half of the accumulated funds of the New Zealand friendly societies belonged to the Manchester Unity, which was doing good service to society. He was fortunate in belonging to a society that stood in tho forefront of friendly societies in New Zealand. Taranaki was going on wisely in building up funds, and he was pleased to see so many young delegates present, as the old members had had their day. Friendly societies had done good service towards humanity. He also paid a tribute to the Mayor (Mr Crump) on the excellent streets and good buildings to be seen in Eltham, which he considered were as good as were to be found in Auckland. He urged young brethren to, realise that they belonged to* the king of friendly societies.

The next toast was that of ''Eltham and District," which fell to the lot of P.P.G.M. Bro. C. D. Sole, of the Stratford Lodge, coupled with the names of His Worship tho Mayor, and Mr Wilkinson, and the Hon. Mr Carncross. In proposing the toast, Bro. Sole congratulated the Mayor on the rapid strides made by Eltham and its district. It was not, he said, like his own town, giving away what they should have kept—namely, the light—which, in Eltham, was being controlled by the Borough. He also congratulated tho Mayor on the excellent streets, and the fine buildings that had been erected, and were now under construction. He also paid a tribute to Mr AVilkinson as representative of one of the finest districts in New Zealand, and Bro. Sole jocularly mentioned that the first sod of the Opunako railway had not yet been turned, and introduced remarks to the effect that Ngaere would be iawie hundreds of pounds cheaper than fe Rot.i.

The Mayor said he w*as very delighted to be present, more so because lie had the opportunity to do honor to the Grand Master of the New Zealand district (Mr J. Clarke), whom he met for the first time that day. Mr Crump affirmed during his remarks that Eltham was the most progressive small borough in New Zealand. He fully appreciated the flattering remarks made by the G.M. and Mr Sole with respect to their works and buildings. The Eltham Council had adopted the tarring process' for their streets and had borrowed the money for the work, and had to rely solely on their own resources—the rates, as no revenue was derived from reserves or other vsources. He thought Eltham with no endowments was the only place in New Zealand, li the delegates present that day visited jliis town in a ievr years' time they would no doubt see all the streets i asphalted. The main street, he considered, had recouped itself in three or four years in the matter of maintenance.

Mr Cavncross, M.L.C., on rising to bis feet, was well received, and said: "Once a Mason, always a Mason." I don't know whether it applies to an Oddfellow; in that ease, then, I am one. ' Mr Sole, said Mr Carncross, appreciates our streets and buildings, but the great work in educational matters which Mr Sole has been connected with had never been recognised. Friendly' societies arc doing good work, and the M.U. stand? In the forefront of societies to-day." 'riie speaker stated that a number of members of Parliament at present sitting in the House "owed the standard of eloquence to being members of friendly societies, and he mentioned others such as the late Mr Fish (Dunedin), Mr Slight, Mr Seddon, and many others. (Applause.) Mr Wilkinson, replying, said ho was pleased to be present at the gathering of delegates representing various lodges in the Taranaki district of the Manchester Unity. He remarked that he' was instrumental in the formation of the TCltham lodge and in bringing it into existence, and with Messrs Bellringer and Ainsworth of New Plymouth, had launched the lodge. Mr Wilkinson admitted that unfortunately ho had not remained a member of the order, but ho was glad to say that the Lodge was still in existence' and was still continuing its r;ood work. He assured them that as n M.P. ho would do all ho could to further the interests of friendly societies, lie hoped the spoeches delivered during the day would be well pondered over by all present as he was sure they would be of great benefit: to all.

I P.P.G.M. Bro. Ainsworth stated that when ho first know Mr Wilkinson he was then Brother Wilkinson, and he (the speaker) was G.M. of the District. Ho-was pleased to see the 'rapid strides made hy the Elthnra Lodge, and was now glad to meet Mr Wilkinson in bis new and dignified position as a Parliamentarian. In Conclusion. Alter the Lodge business had closed, the delegates again adjourned to

•Mr Riley's luncheon rooms, where another excellent spread awaited them, the entertaining being done by the brethren of the Eltham Lodge. A vote of thanks was passed for their kind hospitality.