Forestry.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 186, 11 August 1904, Page 4

Forestry.

| Ths. half-yearly r'istrict meeting of the Taranaki Distiict, A.O.F* was held in the Foresters' Hall, Inglewood, on Tuesday, August 9th. District Chief Ranger Bro. A. Lite was in the chair. There were also present : District Sulb-Chief Ranger Bro. A. J. Tunbridge, District Beadle Bro. F. Bennett, District Treasurer Bro. H. R. Cattley, and the District Secretary. The following delegates represemtod the undermentioned Courts : Courts Taranaki : P;D.C.R. Bro. N. GoldIng ; Waireka. P.D.C.R. Bro. H. X. Goldwatcr and P.C.R. Bro. G. Braund; Inglewood Forest, P.C.R, Bro. G. Kennedy ; Raleigh, P.C.R. Bro. C. Sampson; Hawera, P.D.C. ,R. Bro. J. E. Wilson; Stratford, P. C.R. Bro. ft. Burgess; Opunake, P.C.R. Bro. R. Warner ; Pride of New Plymouth, Sister A. Wells, P.C.R. ; Fidelity, Sister A. Gomer. Amongst the visitors' were P.C.R. Bro. G. W. Bennett, P.D.C.R. Bro. J. U. Poach, P.C.R. Bro. Gernoeffer, ind Chief Ranger Sister F. M. Kennedy, of Court Inglewood Forest, '.'. C.R. Bro. J. D. Murray, of Court Taranaki, and Sister E. Wells, o' Court Pride of Xew Plymouth. The district officers' report was as follows :—ln presenting you our initial report we desire to convey to v-ou our thanks for the honour you have done us in placing us at the he a d of the district, as its twentyirst executive council. Although we are duly impressed with the responsibilities attached to the position we shall use our best endeavours by -•lose attention to business and impartially considering all matters Drought before us to justify the confidence = placed in us. During the past few months the courts in the district have been visited, and it is our pleasant duty to report that in almost every instance the conduct of Business was found to be very satisfactory. We desire, however; to draw the attention of members to a more punctual attendance, especially to the country courts. We are pleased to draw your attention to the fact that our district has now been in existence twenty-one years, and at the time of the formation of the Taranaki district there were three courts, viz., Court Taranaki No. 4356, opened in February, 1865, Court Waireka No. 4925, opened April 17th, 1867 ; and Inglewood Forest No. 5685, opened January 6th, 1876. By reference to old minutes of the meetings for the formation of the district, which were held on March 27th, April 17th, and June 26th, and July, 1883, the delegates present on those memorable occasions were Bros. J. T. Davis, Abner King, N. Golding, J. M. Vivian, of Court Tara»aki; Bros. E. R. Bendall, W, C. Clarke, C. Tunbridge and A. Wray, of Court Waireka; and Bros. G, S. Kennedy, J. W. King, J. C. Peach and A. Lamb, of Court Inglewood Forest. Of those present on that date, the late Bros. J. T. Davis, A, King, J. M. Vivian, of Court Taranaki ; Bros. W. C. Clarke and E. R. Bendall, of Court Waireka,, Bro. A. Lamb, of Court Inglewood Forest, have been called to join the great brotherhood.

The election of the first district officers resulted in the choice of : Bro. A. King, District Chief Ranger, Bro. J. C« Peach, District Sulb-Chief Hanger, Bro. J. T. Davis, District Treasurer, and Bro. C. Tunbridge, District Secretary. Bros. C. F. Foote and A. H. Arnold were duly elected the first auditors. Bros. C. F. Foote and A. H. Arnold are still Holding the honourable position of auditors, and long may they reign. The first trustees of the district were Bros. E. R. Bendall, W, C. Clarke, M. McGonnell. The numerical and financial position of the courts at the formation was as follows :—Court Taranaki, 6IA, members, with funds £770; Court Waireka. 116 members, with £1)51; Court Inglewood Forest, 44 members, with £211; Court Robin Hood (juveniles) 11 members, with £BB. The total members were 233, with funds amounting to £2017 15s od.. Tho district officers and brethren of the courts then put their ihoulder to the wheel, and in October. 1883, D.C.R. Bro. A. King, with a staff of officers, opened Court Kaleigh at Waitara, our present D.C.R., Bro. A. Lile being the founder. Court Egmont, Hawera, was opened in Octolier, 1884, P.D.C.R. iiro. R. H. Kivell being the founder, and on November 3rd, 1885, Court Patea was admitted a branch, and jn June 27th, 1887, Court Stratford was opened. Court Pride of Sew Plymouth (female court) was opened on August 23rd, 189!f. Court Fidelity (female court) Hawera, was opened on Decomlber 27th, 1893. During the twenty-one years the nett increase of lands amounted to £14,366 3s 10|d, and members numbered 1113. Since the formation of the district the grim hand of death has claimed no less a number than 01 brethren, 2 sisters, and 37 members' wives ; and 1 the total- amount paid out for iuneral money amounts to £2540.

During the present year the district officers visited Court Ingilewood Forest, and they have great pleasure in stating that Sister May Kennedy was installed a Chief Ranger of that court, which we have to place on record, as she is the only sister in \ T ew Zealand at present that has aspired to that office in mixed courts. In conclusion we have to thank the members of the various courts (or the courtesy and kindness shown to us, and hope that the next six months will prove a success to the members of our societies.—Yours fraternally, A< Lile, D.C.R. ; A, J, Tunbridge, D.S.C.R. ; H. R. Cattley, D.T. ; F. C. Bennett, D.B. ; C. Tunbridge, D.S. A resolution was passed that the next district delegate meeting be neld at Waitara, and also a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Court Inglewood Forest for tho kind manner in which the delegates and district officers were received and entertained. The nomination: of officers lesulted in :—D.S.C.R. Bro. A, J, Turibridge for District Chief Ranger, D.B. Bro. F. C. Bennett for District Sub-Chief Ranger, P.C.R. Bros. G. Braund, G. Burgess and J. D. Murray for District Beadle. Other routine business was gone through, and the meet/tag closed. Ihe world's typewriting record is hi'ld by a woman who has accomplished the reniarkaiblo feat of writing 20,400 words in six hours. She had only ten minutes' rest.