FORESTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXV, Issue 181, 14 August 1903, Page 4

FORESTRY.

HALF-?EAR'Y MEETWG OF THE TABANAKI DISTRIOP, A.O.F. The half-yearly meeting of the Taranaki District Ancient Order of Foresters was fold on Tuesday, 11th instant, at the Foresters' Hall, Opunake. The following district officers were present: —Bro .F. Williamson, District Chief Ranger; Bro. A. J. Tunbridge, Die tifot Beadle; Bro. H. R. Oattley, District Treasurer; Bro. 0. Tunbridge, District Secretary. The several Courts were represented os nnder:—Court Taranaki, P.O.R. Bro. J. D. Murray; Court Waireka, P.D.O.R. Bro. H. N. Goldwater, and P.C.R. Bro. A. Wray; Court Raleigh, P.O.R. Bro. 0. Sampson ; Court Btratford, P.O.R- Bro. G, Burgess; Court Egmont, P.D.O.R. Bro. J. E. Wilson ; Inglewood Forest, P.O.R. Bro. G. S. Kennedy; Court 'Opunake, P.O.R. Bro. R. Warner; Court Pside of New Plymouth, Sistsrl B. Bullot, P.O.R. The balance-sheet of the Junevile?, Couit Robin Hood, was read and ■howed the total worth of this Court as £292 15s 7d. The District balance- sheet showed the total worth of the District Fund to be £519 Us 7d.

Annual report of D'atrfct Officers for half-year ending 30th June, 1903. Respected Sisters and Brethren,—Your executive desire to submit to you our Best address, and we take this opportunity of thankiog you most sincerely for your kindness in placing us in our honourable position as the 20th Executive Council. It has been cur earnest desire in tbe past half-yGar to prove ourselves worthy of the confidence reposed in us, by endeavouring to faithfully discharge the responsible duties devolving upon up, by carefully and judiciously administering the laws of our order, and furthering to the utmost of our ability, its contined progress and prosperity. During the past halfyear all the Courts in tbe district have been officially visited, with the excep 'ion of Court Opunake, and considering the District Delegate Meeting was taking place at Opunake in August, we appointed P.O.R, Bro, Christie to visit on our behalf, and we have much pleasure in reporting that we found thißgs meet satisfac'ory. Progress of the Order.—We find that our Society's membership is es follows : —Male adult members 749,535; female adult members 8,373; honorary members, male and female 21,827; widows contributing members for Fnceral allowance 23,528 ; members of Juveni'e Societies mala and female 124,486, junior and probationary members of adult Courts 5,078; total 129,564, and being an increase during the year of 4,792 members. The funds of the Order on Decern ber, 1902, were as follows:—Court funds- £6,205,394; district funds £966,519; Juvenile Societies funds £200,977 ; widows and orphans societies funds £54,048 ; High Court funds £10,506. The increase on the year's work is ehown an £264,611 as against £210,872 in 1900. Thirty-Fix Courts bare 1566 members contributing for or receiving old age pensions. We regret to report the death of two members, and five members wives during the half-year just ended. In conclusion we most Bincerely thankyou acd the Courts in the district for the many kindnesses shown to district officers- when visiting Courts.— Signed": F. WilliamsoD, D.0.R.; A. tile, D.5.0.R.; A. J. Tunbridge, D.8.; H. R. Oattley, D.T,; O. Tunbridge, D.S.

Litters were read from Mr E. M. Smith, M.H.R., and the Hon. T. Jennings with regard to further concessions being granted to delegates attending Friendly Societies Conference by the Railway Department. It was resolved that the District Officers have discretionary power to adopt any means to gain the desired object of concessions of railway fares, etc., while delegates are attending Friendly Societies meatings.

The District Officers and auditors reports, half-yearly and juvenile balance-sheets were read and adopted. The appointment of delegates for the next Subsidiary High Court was left in the hands of the district officers to deal with. It was decided to hold the next district delegate meeting at Stratford. A hearty vote of thanks was given to Court Opunake for the kindly way in which the delegates and district officers were received and entertained.

The following were nominated for District Office:—D.S.Cß. Bro. A. Lile for D.O.R; D.B. Bro. A, J. Tunbridge for D.S.O.R; P.O.R. Bro. J. D. Murray fdr D.8.; P. 0.8. Bro. F. O. Bennett for D.8.; P.O.R. Bro, G. Burgess for D.B.

BANQTJEr. In the evening the district officers and delegates were entertained at a bar.quet by the members of Court Opunake in honour of this being the first district meeting of Foresters held at Opunake. During the evening many toasts were gone through, and a very enjoyable evening was spent.