A.0.F., Court Pride of Parnell.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2178, 28 December 1875, Page 2

A.0.F., Court Pride of Parnell.

Anniversary Soiree and De-

monstration.

The inclement state of the weather having so materially interfered with the programme laid down by the different Friendly Societies for a demonstration at Parawai in aid of the Hospital funds, the procession which was to have heralded the day's proceedings Was postponed until the afternoon, when upwards of a hundred members of the Ancient "Order ;*bf Foresters turned out. The brass band of the Hibernian Society under the able leadership of Mr O'Connor led the ran. Next came the large banner of the Foresters' Society in Auckland, followed by the district officers, among whom we noticed Bros. P.D.C.R. Augur from Auckland, D.S.C.R. A. Campbell, and D.B.S. Coombes. Next came Mr Fotheringham with Scotia's ancient music so that no doubt- many a hardy Scot while listening to the skirl of the pipes thought himself again in his native glens. The juvenile band in connection with the order, carrying' their banner, followed by the members of the lodge in full regalia, came next in ot&% - and then the banner of the Thames lodge and the brethren two deep; After marching through, Grahamstown and Shortland as far as Butt's, corner they returned to St. George's Half, where the evening's proceedings were opened by one of those re-unions so popular on the Thames, yclept soirees; The tables were literally groaning beneath the weight of the good things with which they were so bountifully spread, and fortunate it was that the caterer so exercised his forethought for the hall was packed as closely as it well could be, and the good, things disappeared like chaff before the wind. There was, however, enough and to spare, and the whole reflected credit on,"■.Mr Robinson who catered for the occasion. The hall was tastefully decorated with flags, evergreens, banners and emblems of the Foresters' Order, and appropriate mottoes. A dais had been erected on one side of the room, and above it was an orchestra for the musicians and master of the ceremonies, a very good idea for such a crowded assembly. In the room we noticed Mr Douglas, P.M., Protestant Alliance; Mr Carthew, P.G., Chas. Bruce Jjodge; Bros. Campbell and Rawdon, District Officers at the Thames; Mr Mulligan, Past President, Hibernian Society; Mr Curtis Moore, N.G., Loyal Waikato Lodge ; P.D.C.R. Augur, and Sub. C.R. Cole, Auckland District Court; and Mr Paul, C.R., Court Pride of the North. Bro. Girvan, C.R. .Court Pride bf Parnell, took the chair. He expressed great pleasure at seeing so large an audience, and thanked the Hibernian Ban^d for their kindly assistance. He hoped that the brotherly feeling manifested by the lodges would -be further cemented. He further stated his regret, that the demonstration to have taken place in aid of the hospital had to be postponed on account of the weather. As there was a long programme to get through, he would follow the rules of the lodge to which he belonged, and limit the speakers to fire minutes each. ' 't

Song —"The Larboard Watch," by Messrs Vbwles and Billings; accompanied by Mr Reed on the piano. Mr Mulligan, on behalf of the Hibernian Society, returned thanks for the kind invitation sent to his society. He regretted the postponement of the Hospital Fete, but hoped that next Saturday as many would turn out again. : Mr Curtis Moore,^. G. Loyal Waikato Lodge, next returned thanks.

Mr Chas. Brown followed with a, song, " My old friend John," and called upon the meeting to join in the chorus, "When we were boys together," which :new feature in public singing took amazingly. Of course he got an encore, and ho then sang the last verse again. ■ Mr W. H. Reed came next with a local song, "The launch 'of the Naval Brigade boat," in which the allusions were so good that the audience were fairly convulsed. In response to an encore he gave the " Mayoral Election," in which also the local hits were very palpableMr Carthew, P.G. of the Charles Bruce Lodge, returned thanks for his invitation. He said he was was proud of being an Oddfellow, but when he saw such a gathering of Foresters and read their statistics giving such flourishing accounts of their numerical and financial strength, he thought the next best thing to being an Oddfellow was to be a Forester.

Mr Targett next sang a song, the purport of which was the benefit to be derived from the return of Sir George Grey for the Thames, and his final position as Premier. -He received ran encore, when he sang " The Teetotal Trip to Ohinemuri." This song might be all very well for the back parlour of an hotel, but not quite appropriate for a mixed audience such as Mr Targett had. before him ; last night. Considering the representatives of the Teetotal Societies had received an-invitation to be present, it was bad taste to say the least of it. : Captain Richards nextgave^oreading, '' Mormon Romance.'' • jP»

, The next part of the programme was the presentation of a very handsome clock and table : to Bro. Ahier, On the clock was engraved, "Presented to Chas. Ahier,, Esq., Secretary, by the members of the Court Pride of Parnell, 4409, for seevices rendered,* 1875." Mr Robinson made the presentation, and remarked that Mr Ahier had done more than<,his duty. He hoped he would hand it down to his children, and whatever part of the world he might be in it would remind him of "the brethren of the Court Pride o£ Parnell. \ „ Mr Ahier in a few remarks thanked the donors. :

Mr Speight next on behalf of the Eechabitesialso thanked the Society for his invitation. It was a source of as^ tomshment to him to see all gatherings of the sort so well attended. All the Societies, he said, were odd, but the oddest thing about them all was that no jealousy existed between them. They all, he believed, aimed at benefiting their members.

The District Officers were responded for by Mr Augur. Mr Mulligan proposed a vote of thanks to the chairman, which was seconded by Mr Curtis Moore.. Mr Rawdon proposed one to the ladies' which was carried by. acclamation. A dance followed, which was carried out with much spirit, but owing to' the tremendous crowd and the intense heat it must have been enjoyment under difficulties.