ODDFELLOWSHIP.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 66, 7 March 1908, Page 2

ODDFELLOWSHIP.

NEW I'EYMUUTU DISTRICT.

'J'liu annual Jiieoting of l/liu New Plymouth district of Oddfellows was held at Midhirst on Thursday, l'rov. (j.M.

liro. C. D. Solo presided.' The other Ay-

tricl ollicers were:—l'rov. D.C.M. Bin. ' K. W. Oliver. I'rov. l'.S. liro. L'. K llellringer, Wardenl'.C. Bio. W. Hooker, Tlie following deputies represent".! then- Lodge*:- Kgmont' (Now J'lvniontii) I'.l'.C.M. liro. Harris Kurd, I'.C. liro. Archie Hooker. I'.C. Hro. W. lint lor, and .s.C. Jim. V. L. Webster. Kxeelsior (New I'lyinoutlil I'.l'.C.M. I'.i.i. F. K. I'cppcrell. I'.C. lir... W. .1. Clelainl. nnil ['.«. Bro. K. 11. llellringer; '.Vaitarn, P.P/UI. Bro. K..1. Brabant and V.(i. Urn. W. 11. Clare; fni.ni 111-.iwcnt). I'.C. liro. C. S. Smith; Alalia ia, B.C. liro. Dill and X.(i. liro. .1. W. Snowdoii; Lltham, I'.l'.C.M. Urn. !•'. Aninore. CM. Bro. W. Scnwii. Y.C. liro. .1. Andrews: Midhirst. I'.l'.C.M. ffro. li. ,1. Hancock. I'.C. lirn. W. .Mnunlfcml: Strnlfonl. I'.C. liro. S. fillt-l'i-ss, I'.C. liro. .1. Lawson; Toko, l'.S. liro. li. K. Siiiimniis; Opuuake. I'.C. lirn. A. Collins; Kaponga. I'.C. liro. A. ■ Melville and I'.C. liro. A. Lewis. . I'.l'.C.M. liro. Hancock, on helialf of

the Loyal .Midhirst Lodge, tendered a hearty'welcome to die delegates. The district ollicers rcpnrti>d having visited all lodges during tlie year. <ienerally there, was an increased interest heing shown by the iiK'nihers, but tic attendance in most instances was far from what it ought In be. The Kaponga. Ma.naia, and Kit ham lodges jet a good example in this respect, ami it would lie well it the other lodges would endeavor to emulate them. They wen licit able to arrange for the opening o nnv new lodges. The l'rov. l'.S. visit ed I'atea, and reported that it wouh lie inadvisable to open a lodge there -i | present. lnglewood «ih more hupefal and within a short time it was hopei to have a lodge established in that im

port a ill centre. The Loyal Stratford Lodge liad the matter of the annual gathering of Lodges in hand, and hoped to arrajigo for a great united picnic by rail to .Mount Kgmont some time this year. With regard to the increased funeral l>eiielit or society insurance scheme, there was too much dill'cienee of opinion among the districts to allow of the scheme being successfully flouted. Three districts were in. favor, two against, lour sent no replies and took no action, and one favored a considerably modified scheme being submit ted to a plebiscite of the members. The matter would, again be dealt with at the .M.C. meeting. The new Friendly SocicTics' Bill had not been passed, although it was hoped that this would have been done last session. At the ' recpiest of the <1..\1. and board of directors, M.'sP. were communicated with, , asking them to urge the necessity of passing the Hill, but nothing came of it. A circular had been issued to lodges liy the Registrar, enquiring as to the number of members admitted to hospitals in 11)117. The enquiry was made ■' with a. view to extending, some conces- > sious to members who might have the ' misfortune of having to go into lios- '• pital for treatment. The sick and v funeral fund statement showed that Cllll os Sd had been paid out to mem f hers in the year, a decrease of £175 Us " lid from the previous year's record; '■ funeral claims were £2(iO, or £IOO more than- in I'.lOli. The total worth '" of the funds was .U',1.445 18s 4d, or 1 £123:! is lid better than in the for- >' mer year. The Provincial C.S. reported that the mortality in HlOi was extremely heacy, ,'' no less than eight members and two IS members' wives having passed away in " the year; since men one member anil 1S one member's wife had died. The total assessment for the year was £4OB 15s a Hid, of which £2O 7s lid was called tip. "' The funeral claims absorbed the whole '' of thi* and some .tali in addition, £2Ol. ' having been paid, for claims made. The statement ol balances shower; 1 credits as iollow:—«ick and funeral ;, fund (lodges), UU,445 18s -Id; districl '• funeral fund, CU74 10s 3d; lodges' medical and management funds, £340 0s 2d: district management fund, £74 Us 7.1, , benevolent tuiid, £23 his 7d: Midhirsl st hall fund, Clli:) 10s: total, £20,723 15.lld, an increase of £1282 llis Ud upoi lv the balance of l!)0(i. 'The various reports were adopted.

The district committee was real pointed, with the addition of I'.P.G.J liro. Sole, to revise the rules and re port lo the next annual meeting. The management levy was fixed .1

ninepence per member per quarter. Mule 3 was altered to provide for the admission to district meetings of "noje but members in good standing and in possession of the password." It was decided to hold the next district meeting at Stratford. Elections.

The following officers were elected

Prov. (1.M., Bro. F. W. Oliver (Kaponga); D.P.G..M., Uro. W. Cleland (Excelsior); Auditor, l'.l'.Ci.M. liro. F. It. I'epperell; Warden, P.P.G.M. Bro, Brabant. The ollieers were installed by the l'rov. U.M. .Nominations were received: For Pro;. G.M., D.P.G.M. Bro. Cleland; for D.P.G..M., P.G. liro. \V. Jlountford (Midhirst), P.ti. Bro. S. Burgess (Stratford). P.ti. Bro. E. 11. JJellringer (Excelsior), P.ti. Bio. A. Melville (Kaponga), P.S. Bro. Simmons (Toko), P.G. Bro. M. .). Campbell (Hawera), P.G.'s Bros. L. Webster and W. 11. Butler (Egmont). P.P.G.M. Bro. C. 1). Sole and P.S. Bro. (.'. li. Bellringer were appointed delegates to the annual movable conference to be held in New Plymouth at Kaster lime, and the meeting discussed the order-paper. PRESENTATIONS.

I (Sold jewels were presented to the re- | tiring l'rov. G.M. and to C.S. Bro. Bellringer, the latter in recognition of seven years' service. The gold jewel presented by the corresponding Secretary for the member proposing the largest number of members initiated into any lodge during the year was handed to P.O. Bro. J. 8. Thome (Loyal Stratford), whose record was sixteen. The delegates were most hospitably entertained by the Loyal Midhirst Ijodge. a capital luncheon lieing served at the Mount Egmnnl Lodge. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the Midhirst Lodge for their kindness.