ANNIVERSARY OF COURT STAR OF TUAPEKA, A.O,F.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 150, 22 December 1870, Page 6

ANNIVERSARY OF COURT STAR OF TUAPEKA, A.O,F.

The second anniversary of this Court was celebrated in the Athemeuin Hall, Lawrence, on Thursday last, by a noiroc, concert, and ball. The hail was very tastefully decorated with fern ipnves and a variety of evergreens and flowers, flags, &c, and on entering uresent d a very enchanting appearance. Nearly 120 ladies and gentlemen sat down to tea, which was provided under contract by Mr. Wootton. The tables were crowded with all imaginable kinds of fancy bread and nick-nacks, and were laid out with such taste and skill as we have never before witnessed in Lawrence. The fruits of the season were not wanting, there being a large quantity of cherries and strawberries, supplied by the subcommittee. Very general satisfaction was expressed by the company with the handsome manner in which Mr. "Wootton fulfilled his contract.

After all preseiit had enjoyed their tea and a pleasant chit-chat, the tables were cleared away, and the concert commenced. The concert was interspersed with addresses by brothers of the two Societies of Foresters and Oddfellows. C.R. Bro. Bennett occupied the chair, aud on the platform we observed P.C.K's Bros. Titeliener and Morison, of Court Star of Tuapoka ; P.C.R. Bro. Busst, of Court Havelock; N.G. Bro. Burns and P.G. Bro. Jeffery, of the Loyal Tuapeka Pioneer Lodge, M.U.1.0.0.F. ; and N.G-. Bro. fxilrov, of the Loyal Blue Spur Lodge, M.U.1.0.0.F.

Bro. Bennett, C.R., in opening the proceedings, said — Being Chief Ranger on this occasion, the duty devolved on him to give an opening address. He y/as happy to say that during the two •years that the Court Star had been m existence, not one of the brothers who had been initiated had died, nor had any of their wives ; although several who joined the Society had reaped the benefit of their association in the brotherhood, not only in the shape of medical attendance-, but also in the more substantial aid, viz., sick pay, which they had the same right to receive ns if they -were drawing tlieir own money from the bank. When the Court was first established, they started under most agreeable auspices — upwards of 83 having been initiated on tho first evening. At the close of the first year of their existence they numbered nearly SO strong. During last year they had added considerably to their number, and although at the present time they did not muster so many as fiey did at their last anniversary, still at the same time they had satisfaction in knowing that pome of them whom they had initiated as brothers, had extended Forestry to .other parts, by clearance from their Court. Some of those who joined Forestry for the first time in Court Rtar of Tu.ipeka, had been enabled to reap the benefits of Forestry by the introduction they received from that

Court to Courts in other pi*ovinces of New Zer.land, and also to Courts in "Victoria and Tasmania. Although as

ho had stated, there had been no

death" in the membership during the past year, still there had been a counidorabls amount of sickness amongst gome of the members, thereby causing a heavy drain upon the funds of the Court. At the same time, it pleased him to state that they had not only money laid out at interest, but a considerable balance to their credit in the Bank. Some present may not be aware pf the broad principles upon which forestry is founded. xVllow him to inform those persons present, who are ignorant of this matter, that Forestry is the binding together in the ties of

brotherhood and love of men for the purposes of benevolence and mutual

?ud in times of sickness and distress. A nobler object could not have been conceived by the mind of the greatest philanthropist who had ever lived. It

mi^lit not he out of place for him, in i-iosin:* these remarks, to urge those

brothers who had joined the Order to exercise that forbearance towards one another so necessary to the carrying aut of the God like motto of the Order, viz. — " Unity, Benevolence, iii} I Concord. — (Great applause.) Phe Chairman then called upon P C.T*-. Bro. Tjtchener, tp address the meeting. That gentleman made an f-loquent speech, in which he extolled rio enumerable benefits to be derived iVom Forestry. Mr. Kendall sang "King the bell, watchman," the company joining lifartiij" in the chorus. Tn reply to an encore, Mr. Kendall sang " Johnny, I hardly knew ye." Bro. Jeffery, P.G., proposed " Success to Court Star of Tuapeka." Bro. Devonshire, of Court Havelock, sang " The Nervous Cure " in character. This song was received with deafening applause and loud calls for au encore. In response to this, Bro. Devonshire Rano- "The long-tail bl.ie." Bro. Bennett, C.R., responded in b^'ialf of Court Star of Tuapeka. The Masters Titchener recited Brutiiß and Cassias to the infinite pati faction of tbo meeting.

Mr. Francis sang " G-ood-bye sweetheart, good-bye " with efTecfc. Bro. Morrison, 8.C.R., proposed " Success and prosperity to the Loyal Blue Spur Lodge of Oddfellows." Bro. Bus&t sang " Three cheers for all Foresters true," a song of his own teritlngr, and which, was mupb. appre-

Bro. Gilroy, N.G., l'esponded in behalf of the Blue Spur Lodge. Bro. Sutherland sang " Palling hard against the stream," and in reply to au encore sing " Work boys work.'' P. (..Ml. iii'o. Tire'iener proposed "Success and prosperity to Court Havelock, coupled with the name of P,C.R. Bro. Busst."

Bro. John Robertson, Waitahuna, san* " Phoebe Brown ;" encore, "The reason why." P.C.U. Bro. Busst responded in behalf of Court Havelock in an interesting speech, in which he referred to the great and increasing band of Foresters spread ovea the globe, and the beneficial influence they had upon society.

P.C.Tt. Bro. Titcchner proposed " Kindred Societies."

Bro. Busst sang " The Christmas Pudding."

KG-. Bro. "Burns, of the Loyal Tuapeka Pioneer Lodge, replied on behalf of kindred societies.

The Chairman proposed " Health and good wishes to the Ladies." They had done their part well that evening, and Mrs. "Wootton had given the company a good spread. He would call upon Mr. Edwin Foord to respond.

Nr Foord replied, and said ho trusted by the next anniversary to be enjoying the pleasures of matrimony. Bro. Morrison proposed the "Fourth Estate " coupled with the name of Mr. Ferguson, who responded on behalf of the" Tuapeka Times."

The Hall was then cleared for dancing, which was gone into with spirit and kept up till day-break. Mr. Burton, from the Teviot, presided at the harmonium during the concert and dancing.