M.U.O.O.F.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4622, 27 October 1883, Page 2

M.U.0.0.F.

The quarterly meeting of the Auckland District for the transaction of the usual business was held last evening in the Hall, Richmond street, and at its conclusion the officers and several guests to the number of about fifty sat down to dinner in the Hall. P.P.G.M., L. J. Bagnall presided, and he was assisted by the N.G. of the Loyal Waikato Lodge as vice-Cbairman. On the right of the Chairman were G.M. McNab, and Deputies Fowler and Mills, and on the left Deputies Connolly, Bennett, Cole, and Hobson. After the repast, the preparation of which had been entrusted to, and carefully carried out by Mr Scott of Rolleston street, was disposed of, the Chairman called upon those present to honor the toast of H.M. the Queen. The " Army, Navy, and Volunteers," was proposed by P.G. Lowe, and responded to by Sec. Barlow, Bro.' Wakeham, and Deputy Connolly, who highly eulogised the late Thames Scottish Brigade. P.P. D.G. Connolly then proposed " the local governing bodies," and favorably compared the footpaths of the town with those of Auckland. Cr Speight responded on behalf of the Borough, and Cr Bagnall (Chairman) for the County, the latter re« marking that the visitors might be disillusionised were they to travel over some of the County roads. P.G.N. MoNab proposed tie " G,M. and Board of Directors of the M.U," and referred to the strides made by Oddfellowship. This toast was responded to by P.P.G.M. Cole, who gave some interesting figures showing that the Order had increased its membership by nearly 50,000 since last year, and there was £5,000,000 of a surolus fund to its credit. The order had 476,000 members, and was actuarily stated to be the soundest in the world. "The District Officers" was proposed by the Chairman, and was.

acknowledged by G.N. McNab, and Warden Mills. Musical honors were accorded to " Our Guests," which was proposed by the N.G. of the local Lodge. P.P.G.M.!s Cole and Hobson. responded, and thanked their entertainers for their hospitality. Bro. Syms gave " Kindred Societies," which was acknowledged by Messrs Frioker and Speight,—the latter of whom gave some interesting details in connection with the working of tl^ Kechabite Order. P.P.G.M. Cole proposed " Thames Lodges," which was accorded society honors, and duly re" sponded to by the Chairman. "The Sick and Distressed of the Order" was entrusted to P.G. Teasdale; V.Gr. Ord proposed "The Ladies," which was acknowledged by Bro. Dent; "The Press" was eulogised by Sec. Barlow, and responded to by Mr Hickey ; " Our next Merry Meeting," proposed by the Chairman ; and after " Auld Lang Syne " had been sung the meeting separated. The evening was enlivened by the vocal efforts of several of the brethren, who sang several songs at intervals during the proceedings. In the course of the evening P.P.G.M. Bagnall in a neat and complimentary speech presented the retiring Secretary Ahier with ahandsomely framed, and elegantly illuminated testimonial, which was recorded as follows :—Loyal Waikato Lodge, No. 5444.—T0 Charles Ahier, P.G.—Dear Sir and Brother, — We have the honour to convey to you the following resolution passed at the ' quarterly meeting held on the 17fch of SepI tember, 1883:—Moved by P.P.G.M. Bagnail, and seconded by V.G. Ord : " That the thanks of the Lodge be accorded to P.G. Ahier for the faithful and satisfactory manner in which he has discharged the duties of Permanent Secretary of this Lodge during the past ten years, and we hope that he may be successful in the new sphere to which he has removed.—Yours fraternally, P. Hebbeht, N.G.; W. C. Obd, V.G.; W. J. Baelow, Secretary." This was suitably acknowledged by the recipient who expressed his sense of the assistance he had received from the Chair* man and the District Offiers of the Order.