LOYAL BLUE SPUR LODGE,

Tuapeka Times, Volume IV, Issue 220, 18 April 1872, Page 7

LOYAL BLUE SPUR LODGE,

M.U.1.0 O.F.

FIFTH ANNIVERSARY. (From a Correspondent.)

The fifth anniversary of the above Lodae was celebrated on the 1 Oth insb. As formerly", the celebration consisted of a soiree, addresses, songs, and a ball. The weather on the evening was very unpropitious ; nevertheless it did not mar the successful passing off of the proceedings. The youth, beauty, and fashion of the "town" and suburbs were not debarred from coming out to be present, and many visitors from Lawrence, "Wetheratones, aud Waitahuna braved the weather and attended. On no previous occasion has there been such an assemblage of " fair women and brave men " gathered together at the Spur. Indeed, it gave youi* correspondent the impression that the Order, all hough always respectable, is decidedly looking up.

The first part of the proceedings consisted of the destruction of the tea and eatables, the task of providing which, had been entrusted to Messrs. Mills and Son, nnd by them well and faithfully executed. The following, ladies presided at the tea tables: — Miss E. Worley, Brosuan, Miller, E. Clarke, Jessie Pope, and G-ilmour. The eating and tea drinking; having been satisfactorily got through, the tables were removed and a semi public meeting held. The NT.G-. o? the Lodge, Bro. William Creswick, took the chair and delivered an excellent address on the principles and advantages of Oddfellowship.

The Secretary, Bi-o. T. F. Morris, read the report aa follows :—: —

You will perceive by the subjoined abstract, taken from the two .last half-yearly' balance sheets, what progress the Lodge has made during the past twelve months ; and it must be very gratifying to find that the Lodge has made a bold stand in holding it 3 ground, considering the longcontinued depression and the state of sickness the Lodge has had to contend with.

The total number of members in 1870 was 434,100. The number of members initiated during the year was 29,970. The number of deaths the same year was 5,437 ; leaving a total number of members to January, 1871, of 442.575.

Bro. John King sang a song — "Watching my father returning to me."'

Mr. M'Lelland, being called upon, delivered an address. "

Mr. Muirhead, of the Court Star of Tuapeka, gave " Many happy returns of the clay." He was honoured with an encore, and sang "The British lion."

G-.M. Bro. Joseph Kendall gave " Ring the bell, watchman," and in response to an encore sang " Johnny, I hardly knew you."

P.G-. Bro. Kichard Williams proposed a vote of thanks to kindred societies.

C.R. M. Hay, of the Court Star of Tuapeka, responded.

Bro. King then gave a song — ' boony hills of Scotland."

Bro. Tranter,, of the Waitahuua Loo^e, sanjx " The slave ship.". Mr. Muirhead sang " A ra^od coat," and again went under the infliction of an encore. •

G.M. Bro. Kendall proposed " The sister Lodsje," whioh was responded to by KG-. Bro. Armstrong, of the Pioneer Lodtre and the N.G-. of the Waitahuna Lodcje.

Bro. Luke Thomas proposed "The ladies," which it is needless to say was received with acclamation.

The usual vote to the chair was proposed by P.G-. Bro. Richard Williams, after which the company joined in the good old sons?, " Auld lang syne," led by Mr. M'Lelland. The room was then cleared for the last part of the programme, the ball. Dancing was kept up with spirit and harmony till early morning. Mrs. Hanson, of Liwrenee, presided at an excellent pianoforte, and diseourded sweet music in her usual excellent style.

RECEIPTS. Total receipts for the year - £155 1G 0 Admissions - - - - 413 0 Interest from Bank - - 4 0 0 Total - -£164 9 0 EXPENDITURE. Sick pay to brethren - - £50 7 0 Paid for medical attendance and drugs supplied - - 62 17 0 | -District levies for interment I of the dead - - - 17 18 0 Sent for Lodge-room - - 7 10 0 Secretary's salary, donations for relief, stationery, goods from the district, &c- - 21 8 3 Total - -£160 0 3 Net gain for the year - - 4 8 9 There are 42 members good on the books. Four new members have joined during the year, and 7 withdrawals have taken place, leaving a decrease of 3 members since last year. #,__.- „ We have in the bank at interest .... £100 00 j Tn Treasurer's hands - - 20 10 4 Lodge property - - - 30 00 j Total - - £150 10 4 The statistics iaken in reference to the district will show yon that the finances are rapidly increasing, and the number of members is considerably augmented. There are 18 Lodges in the district, having a number of 1,113 members, showing the accumulated wealth of these 18 Lodges since the goldfields were opened to the amount of £9,800. During the last half-year the amount received for admissions was - £147 14 0 Contributions received during the same period- - 1750 14 0 Interos on capital and rents- 361 5 7 Total - - £2259 13 7 EXPENDITURE. Sick pay paid during the samo period - - - 333 15 8 For medical attendance and medicine- - - - 615 0 0 Total - - £949 9 3 Leaving" a net gain of - - 1310 4 4 Mr. Morris gave the following items in connection with the Unity :—: — Contributions received through Unity from J B7O to 1871 - -£428,500 12 1 Admissions - 15,420 1 3 lute rest on capital - - 103,142 14 »> Total- - £547,072 7 10 EXPENPITURE. Sick pa3 r paid to the brethren of the Unity - £308,557 0 2 Funeral Donations - - 87,664 10 10 Total- - £396,221 11 6 Leaving a net gain for the year - 150,850 16 10 Total capital of Unity - 3,042,438 19 11