ODD-FELLOWS' ANNIVERSARY DINNERS.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 449, 8 January 1869, Page 2

ODD-FELLOWS' ANNIVERSARY DINNERS.

The anniversary dinner of the two Nelson lodges of Odd-Fellows took place, according to custom, in the hall, in "Waimea-streetjOnthe first day of the year. His Honor the Superintendent presided. On the removal of the cloth, and after thanks had been returned by His Lordship the Bishop, who also had said grace, the Chairman gave the customary loyal and patriotic The Vice-chairman (P.P.G.M. Percy), gave the toast of " Grand Master and Board of Directors of the Order," and furnished a brief outline of ths duties of this governm™ bod v and the admirable manner in which they presided over the whole organization of Odd-Fellows, extending throughout the world wherever Englishmen resided. At the present time there were 430,000 members belonging to the Manchester Unity, and its revenue now amounted to £499,661. Last year the Unity had disbursed in sick benefits the sum of £251,385, and for funeral benefits £75,412, making an aggregate payment of £326,799, which left a capital in hand of £2,626,874. The Vice-Chairman also spoke of the noble present of a lifeboat which had cost £7OO, made in August last to the Royal National Life-boat Institution, by subscriptions i received among the Odd-Fellows in i England, and which had been launched at Grimsby. P.G. Sinclair proposed the toast ! " Past and Present District Officers."

Mr. H. Edwards, tbe Provincial Corresponding Secretary, in returning thanks, gave a few interesting statistics of tbe Order in Nelson. There was at present seven lodges in the Province, numbering, together, 524 members. The > contributions to these lodges, during the past four years, amounted altogether to the sum of £2,732 • and there had been disbursed for sick relief and medical allowance £1,407, for funerals £3OO, and to widows and orphans £460, which left a capital in hand of £4,481, besides the property in buildings and land possessed by the various lodges. His Lordship the Bishop, in proposing " Success to the Widow and Orphans' Fund," highly extolled tbia excellent institution, and expressed a strong desire to see its principles carried out more generally among all classes of society. Several other toasts were given, and the company was enlivened by some excellent singing, so that the evening was passed very pleasantly. The company broke up shortly after eleven o'clock. The members of the General Cameron Lodge and a numerous body of friends dined together at the Bridge Hotel, Waimea-easr, on Thursday evening. Dr. Irvine, M.P.C., occupied the chair, and Mr Oxley, the vice-chair, and among the guests were his Honor the Superintendanr, J. W. Barnicoat, Esq., Speaker of the Provincial Council, Mr. Baigent. M.H.R., Hon. Major Morse. M.L.C., Mr. Beitt, M.P.C., Mr. Thompson, M.P.C., and other gentlemen.