FORESTERS' BANQUET.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1215, 27 October 1882, Page 2

FORESTERS' BANQUET.

brethren ,of ponrt Loyal Enterprise, entertained the district delegates now staying in Masterton with a.banquet. The tables were laid in the large room of the Club Hotel, and every available scat was ocoupied, the assemblage:: numbering a total of seventy ur eiuhty persons. Host Bikini deserved and received great praise for the admirable manner in which the banquet was-arranged and nerved, Nothing was omitted on his part which tended to promote the comfort'and enjoyment of one and all. Bro. Heron, 0.R., occupied the chair, and was supported by the leading district officers. The following iwas the programme of the evening:—' Toast-" The Queen," from the ohair. i " The Governor and Legislature," The Chairman in moving the toast, read a letter of apology for non-attendance from Mr G. Beetham, M.H.R... and expressed the obligation they were under to their member in obtaining facilities for delegates' to-.-travel to Masterton (Applause). Song, Mr Peacock-" Where Ib my Rosanna gono 1" Bro. G. Dixon proposed the health of the ■'■ Wellington. District Court, coupled with the name of Bro. Adams. He congratulated the district on its large extension by the opening up of new Courts, and its great increase of members. He was glad to see the district meeting held in different part? of the province, and next year, when they met in Palmerston, he trusted they would be equally well received (Applause). Bro. Adams, in responding, stated that the last statistics from the Old Country gave an accumulated capital of £3,050,000 and a roll of 577,183 members. In the Wellington district their sick and funeral fund had risen from £375 in 1879 to £1350 in the present year. Forestry was going on well in their district (Applause), Bro. Jessop proposed the Past District Officers. He congratulated W. R. E. Brown for the amount of work he had put upon their shoulders He thoueht that with the aid of the Government the new officers, like the old ones, would have a lively time of it. (A laugh.) The toast was drank with musical honors, and was followed by a song from Bro. Adams, " Beer, beer.". P.C.D.R, Bro. Webb6r, in responding, said that if one thing more than another gave them an impetus to do their duty, it was proceedings like these they had Been that day at their district meeting. He thouehfc the delegates would compare favorably in intellectual capacity and l business ability with many legislature". (A laugh,) There had, too, been manifested an amount of forbearance and kindly feeling that made it a pleasure to be present He was very glad to have been able to pass the chair on that day. (Applause,) » Bro, Smith proposed " The Present District Officers." He referred to the formation of the Robin Hood Court in Wellin«tnn twenty-one years ago, and the difficulty experienced in giving the Order a footing in the District. Bro, Gillespie was ono of the original dozen Foresters who were in those days called the twelve apostles. Ho then very Utile thought to gee in a place like Maßterton such an extension of the Order. The toast having been drank wi'h musical honors, Bro, Bovis returned thanks, They had had extra work last yVMi' with the quinquennial valuation and with the national insurance scheme, They felt that the latter might be a means of crushing Friendly Sooieties out of existence, and they also thought that suoh Societies were quite as capable as Major Atkinson in dealing with sickness and pauperism, Their united efforts assisted, no doubt, to securo the withdrawal of the measure, (Applause.) Bro, Roberts, song, "The Englishman,"

The chief district officer then at the request of the chair presented two handsome gold medals framed with silver, which were given by Court Loyal Enterprise to Bro, Gray in recognition of his services as founder of the Court, and of the interest he had ever displayed in its welfare, and to Bro. Redman for his diligence in preparing the quicquonnial return of the Court.

The presentation was made by the D.CR. in suitable terms, and was followed by loud applause and rounds of Forests "fire." The Chairman received the medal on behalf of Bro. Gray who was too' ill to attend, and wlp 1)9 was sure would fully appreciate the honor conferred upon him, Bfo. Redman expressed his grateful acknowledgement of the testimonial, and tho gratification it gave him, , Bro. Hogg, song, I! Robbje Tamsqn's Smithy." Bro. Bovia proposed the health of the They were men who had stuck to their business well, and had looked after the interests of the Courts they represented.

This toast wa' received with musical honors/and responded to by Bros, Hoberti and Keeling, The former allying to the Government Registration said they objeoted less to the than tq tha.way it was administered, and that they were constantly at loggerheads with tho administrator of it, He believed the Kick, and even tho funeral fund had been increased by this cause (a laugh). He He was glad they had met in Masterton. Coming out of Wellington tended to rub off that feeling of centralisation which they wereapt to form, Thelatterßrn, complimented the Chairman of that day's district meeting saying that lie had never seen a better conducted gathering, He hoped the meeting at his own tows (Palmerston) next year would be equally successful. Bro. Webber, Bong . " MoSorleys Twins."

Bro. Fleming proposed " The' visiting brothers," and expressed the pleasure he experienced in seeing so many of them present. Reoitation, Captain Muir, M.P.B, Bro. Robertson then gave "Oourl Loyal Enterprise," and mid he would sooner propose this than any other of the fifteen courts of the district, He complimented its members on the zeal they had displayed in forwarding its interests, more particularly in enlisting the aid of their member, Mr Beetham, in the furtherance of their present gathering by obtaining railway passes for the delegates. It had been a treat that day to hear Bro. R. Brown's speech on the Government valuation, as one member remarked "there was nothing rough about it, but it cut ltke a lance." He congragnlated the Court on the possession of so able a member The tnast having been drunk with musical honors, Bro, Bovis sang "Three Jews went to Jerusalem." Bro. R. Brown returned thanks on be half of the. Court. He thought that the visit of the district Court would result in benefits to the'order at Masterton, and that the same'good would be obtained in any other 'joVnship in wbich it might hold.! rneelings. Bro.; McGregor, proposed "Kindred Societies/' Coupled with the names of Messrs MoKenzie and Quick, the former, responded on behalf ol the Oddfellows •and the latter on the part of the Druids. ' The to'a£)t being received with mueioal 'honors; V ' V:;: ' ; "''"''■' ™ :;: '' , '. : - Bro.' Walker. Bong '-'Where there's a Will there's a Way." . . , Bro, E. B/izon proposed the health of » Fire Brigade," coupled wifo the names

of Supetintendaut Whiteford and Captain . Mair, ■'■■■'•■ • Captain Whitefordbnefly acknowledged, the compliment paid to him, Captain Muir took the opportunity ol urging the necessity of a Bteata Fira Engine for Masterton. Any building m which a fire broke outat night waa praotio* ally; doomed With their present lbferior, appliances, and in a town with blocks of wooden buildings this was a very Berioui \. matter. . [ Bro. Mmson proposed the toast of the Juvenile Foresters. He had taken great __ f ,,, interest in establishing a junior Court at Carterton, which had been very,BUCcei-ful. . It had been formed ten months, 1 aud bow had £il 12s to ita credit,' only 22s hWng . been paid away for sick expen6eß, \ '•' . Bro. Blinkhorne responded, as President of the Masterton Juveniles, who Were twenty in number. They had £l4 to their credit and attended the meetings of the • Court regularly, and took an working i'. up, (Applause), .'^jWj, .The D.C.R, having said a few wosds pf encouragement to the Juvenile movemeu t Bro. La Roche sang " Poor Joe the Marine." The ladies were then proposed by Bro, Redman, and responded to by Bro. Boberts singing " The Pope he leads a happy life." The Press followed proposed by' Bro, Koberwou, and responded to by Bros, Pay ton and Hogg. Song "The Bold Soldier Boy." ' An enthusiastic bumper to the Host for his excellent catering broke up, at a some* what late hour, a very enjoyable and harmonious meeting.