ODDFELLOWS' JUBILEE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 13 April 1907, Page 2

ODDFELLOWS' JUBILEE.

11l replying at the Oddfellows' Jubilee banquet on Thursday evening to the toast to the health of the four members of the Egmont Lodge, Mi 1 Robert Hughes sincerely thanked the brethren for their kind thought in invitiuviting him to be 'their guest us "father of Iho lodge.'' As there were hut few present who knew the circumMances he would explain the origin of the title . In l#f>7 a friend having spoken to hiin of the value of frienm.r societies ami how they encouraged thrift, he determined to try to establish one in New Pyimoutli. lie. learned from Ihe late Thomas Wood (who had come from Melbourne to cuter Ins employment) thai he wan.' an Oddfellow and he askeil him if he* knew of any other here. Air Wood mentioned 'tile late Nathaniel ITookerj Mr Hughes called on the latter and explained his desire. Mr Hooker was very pleased at the idea, and in reply to an euquiry as to whether there were any more Oddfellows in the district, he named the late X 11. IT. Smith, of Afangorei, Mr Hughes goi; these three to meet h'fii flt his house to talk the matter over. Mr Hooker said he knew Mr .Terry, Waite in Auckland, who stood high in the Order, and Mr Hughes was deputc<] to write to him on the subject. Mr* Waite replied that he would he most happ to come down ami establish a lodge providing his expenses wore. paid. Another meeting was held, ami the question of finance was raised. This wasmet bv the speaker (Mr Hughes) agreeing to advance the money (about Clft) estimated to be necessary. The oHV" was gladly accepted, and Mr w:ote to Mr "Waite inviting him | com;- down a« soon as convenient. Mr Waite came, and the hnlge was duly opened on the Oth of April ]S,"i7. under the name of the Loyal Kgmont Lodge. Tie (Air Hughes) was the second person in'tiated, and was appointed treasurer. Hie lodge, which hail so humble an origin, now numbered 037 members, Doulitr less there were young men in the hall ' thai night; who would he privileged to attend the celebration of their nexjl* jubilee oO years licnce. He hoped they would then look upon a lodge whichj numbered its members hy thousands. Al'r Hughes again thanked the lodge for so kindlv doing honor to the old mem.* bcrs of 1857. Speaking at the Oddfellows' jubiieo dinner on Thursday night. Air AV. T. Jennings, M.ILR., quoted some interesting figures of the fearlv day*, contemporaneous wflh the opening of iho Loyal Kgmont Lodge in IS.". When the

]<)([%<• was established the qiinnlify of lanvl In crop and cultivation in the province only amounted to 10,22.'! acres. The were nuunlv composed of wlic.it. potatoes, oats, and hops showed ~p very ivoli in the returns of (hose days. Fifty | rears ago, there were H2!l horses. 252:

horned cattle. 1.1.1-18 sheep, .-nil] 111.-.1 pigs in tlic province of Now Plymouth. The number and tonnage of vessels ontorn} outwards ."iO yours ago amounted to 00 vessels, with a tonnage of 8118 tons, The vessels outward the same

year were (18, with tonnage agfri'ogativfi Slid.'). 'J'he imports for tiif same period amounted to £27,215; exports to I ,f1).30f1. The population numbered i 2485, and the total number of Maoris was 1782. The average prce for land sold was 10s per acre.