Anolent Order of Foresters.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 38, 15 February 1904, Page 4

Anolent Order of Foresters.

ANNUAL MEETING. | The annual meeting of the Tara- ■ District was held in the Fores- ! teja' Hall, Stratford, on Tuesday j tyst. Difltmict Chief Raiififer llro. F. Villilinison was in the chair. There *en: also (preaont Jj.S.C.R. Hro. A. |jle,i D.B. Bro. A- JJ>.T Bro. H. R. Cattley, and Ti.S. Bro. C. Tunbridge. •- Tho following delegates represented "the undermentioned courts Court ■ Taranaki : P.C.R. Bro. J. 1). Murfay ; Oourt Wiaireka, P.C.R. Bro. 11. N. GoMwater and P.C.H. Bro. A. Wrav ; Court IngHewood Forest, I'. C.li' Bro. F". Bennett ; Court Raleigh, P.C.R. Bro. B. Chappell ; Court Egmont, Bro. W- Hopkins, P.D.C.R. ; Court Stratford, P.C.R. lire. G. Burgess ; Court Opunake, P. C.E. Bro. R. Warner; Court Pride of New Plymouth, Sister M. A. Pea,ice, P.C.R. ; Oourt Fidelity, Sister F. Gome?', F-C-Ti. The annual report of district officers for half yciaT Aidjiife Dec. 31, 1903, was read as follows ; Hespected Sisters and Brethren, —This is the Inst time we shall -have the privi'Jygp.'ot anicWssing you a s your ex'ecutive council, as tn a tew days the 20th executive council will be 1111111bered with the past. It is with great we -tender our test thanks to the officers and members of the aqventvl courts {or the nuany kini!,'iksscs received during our term of office, and we retire feeling confident ' that the some kindly consideration and courtesy will be shown to our juiccespors. 3 Tihfc wl.f>le of the courts in our district have iifeen visited 'bjy one or more of the district officers, and we found that everything was working! satisfactorily. MEMBERSHIP. During the year 110 memtiers were initiated, also two by clearance, totalling 112 ; while 51 have been struck off, viz., three by clearance, 41 by -arrears, and seven by death. THE AMOUNT OK SICKNESS. 868 weeks 5 days, as compared with 1030 weeks 2 days in the year 1902, and 4-Mch shows during the " year a decrease of 161 weeks 3 days, while the amount of sick pay totalled £658 12s Bd, being a decrease over the year 1902 of £I7B 19s. We regret to state that during the year the grim hand of death haa cl|auned no less -than six brothera, one sister, aftd six members' wives, amongst whom was our highly respected Bro. W. C. Clarke, 1V1). C.R., also district trustee. Our late Bro. Cltirke being a very old Fut'eßteif, a ishprt, resume •of his career -will be interesting. Born April 5, 1839, in Surrey, Engtlnnd, was initiated £_ member of Court Waireka on July 17, 187-2 ; appointed <S r . Boodle on June 16, 187;!, and Sr. Wojodwjard on Dec. 29 N the same year, anid on June 17, 1374, was appointed. Chief Banger, in February, 1899, he was elected I'istrict Sub-Chief Banger, and the Same month in the following year was elected. District Chief Ranger. At the opening of tlhe TVarlinaki district in 1888; our late brother was elected a <fistrict trustee, holding office until bis duuth. FUNERAL MONEY, The sum oi £2BO was paid during the year for, funeral money, being an increase of £l6O on the previous yekr. PROGRESS. The district financially has made progress, the to4|al funds of courts in the district" at t'he beginning of the year being £13,-999 0s IOJd, and at the close of the year was £ls, 068 5s 9|d, an Increase of £10&9 -Is llid on the previous year. NUMBER OF MEMBERS. The following will show the numerical and financial position of the district at the end of the year ] 903. Number of menifjers 1016 Admitted IJ2 1128 Left by Arrears 41 » Clearance 3 Death 7 ' sl „ 1077 Members—Juvenile Court 23 Juvenile Female Court G Male honorary 8 1114 This shows u most satisfactory increase for the year of 98 members, The incijoasa of the fuiJJs and the numjber of meWfcprs are most satisfactory, arid the officers and members of the courts are to be congratulated on the success that has attended their efforts. We regret to say that we have not received any further correspondence re <the formation of a subsidiary high court for New Zealand, but notice that one dis-trict which held out at the first is now reconsidering tho matter, wirieh will help to further the formation of a subsidiary high court. Part of the business to be transacted by you to-day is the election of officers for the ensuing term. Much depends on your choice, anil we ask you to give this matter careful consideration, r In returnif/r to you the trust reposed in us, we sincerely hope that no action of ours has brought discredit upon the Order, and that our labours generally have tended to the advancement of a society to which wo are proud to belong.—Signed : F. Williamson, D.C.R. ; A. J.ile, D.S.C.H. ; A. J, Tunbridge, D.B. ; H. R. Cattley, D.T. ; C. Tunbridge, D.S. The following are resolutions carried That this meeting of district delegates assembled wish to place on record the loss sustained through the' death of .the late Bro. W. C. Clarke, who took a keen interest in Forestry, and held the > position of one of the trustees, and that a letter of condolence be sent to the widow and lankily from, this district. Bros. C. F. Footc, A. H. Arnold, and C. T, Mills were re-elected district auditors for the enduing twelve months. BENEVOLENT FCXD. lx was resolved that the district officers be empowered to levy each court in this district an additional amount not exceeding one shilling - per member per annum, if at anytime it is considered necessary in the interests of the members to increase the benevolent fund. It was decided to hold the r.ext delegate meeting at Ingiewood. Bro. A. Wray, P.C.R., who is about to visit England, was appointed delegate to represent this district at the High Court of Foresters, to bo held at Southampton, England. There was keea competition for the position cf district officers, which resulted in the choice of District Chief Ranger Bro. A. Dile, District Sub-Chief Ranger Bro. A, J." TunIJrkJgje, District' nett. It was resolved that Bro. F. Williamson's name be placed on the Merit Board, and that he le, presented with a P.D.C.R. jewel. , District Ranger Bro. A. Lile then on behalf of the district presented P.D.C.R. Bro. Williamson with the jewel. Bro. Williamson, in a few words, suitably replied, thanking the members forthe Jewel, and stated that whenever h© gazed upon it it would recall the pleasant recollection of the times he had when he had been connected with the district as their, Chief Ranger. A hearty vote of thanks was given to t'be members of Court Stratford for the kindly way in which the delegates and district officers were received ami entertaiaied. Other routine business was gone fc.-jTougii and the meeting adjourned. (The above has been unavoidably told over f<n* fieveifel cUyy.),