H.—l

2

5. The registry of the Try Again Division, S.D.T., was cancelled in consequence of its amalgamation with the Progress Division. Conversion op Ebgistry. 6. Three lodges, registered as separate societies, applied for conversion of registry, and were registered as branches—Nelson Lodge as a branch of the Nelson District, M.U.1.0.0.F.; Court Star of Canterbury as a branch of the Canterbury United District, A.O.F. ; and Poneke Lodge as a branch of the District Grand Lodge of the North Island of New Zealand, U.A.O.D. Eegistration of New Eules. 7. Eegistration of a complete amendment of rules— i.e., of a complete set of new rules—was made in respect of the under-mentioned societies and branches :— M.U.l.O.O.F.—Auckland District, flawke's Bay District, City of Norwich and Heart of Friendship Lodges (Lyttelton District), and Shamrock, Eose, and Thistle Lodge (Invercargill District). A.O.F.—Court Star of Dunsandel (Canterbury United District) and Court Star of the South (United Otago District). Eegistration op Partial Amendment op Eules. 8. Eegistration of a partial amendment of rules was made in respect of the under-mentioned societies and branches :— M.U.I.O.O.F.—Unity and Britannia Lodges ("Wellington District), Eenwick Lodge (Marlborough District), Nelson Lodge (Nelson District), North Canterbury District, and Lyttelton District. A.O.F.—Auckland District, Wellington District, Nelson District, and Court Pride of Courtenay (Canterbury United District). I.O.E.—Star cf Hauraki Tent (New Zealand District), and New Zealand Central District. S.D.T.—Grand Division. I.F.S.—Cardiff Accident Belief Fund Society. Statistics por 1896. 9. The number of lodges- whose returns are tabulated is 392, and of central bodies 35, distributed according to orders thus :—

10. In Tables 1., V., and VI., attached to this report, the respective district totals include the funds of the central bodies. 11. In the final column of Table I. is entered the average surplus or deficiency per member, as shown at the last valuation of the society. 12. In the monetary tables, except the first, shillings and pence have been omitted, there being no apparent advantage in publishing the values more accurately than as shown by the nearest pound. 13. The number of members of these lodges at the end of the year was 31,825. 14. The following balance-sheet gives their total funds (including those of the central bodies) as on the 31st December, 1896:— Funds. £ Assets. £ Sick and Funeral Funds .. .. ..562,862 Investments at interest .. .. ..455,748 Medical and Management Funds, goods, &c. .. 48,964 Value of land and buildings .. .. .. 119,180 Cash not bearing interest .. .. .. 24*923 Value of goods .. .. .. .. 10,509 Other assets .. .. .. .. 1,466 £611,826 £611,826 15. The following summary shows the disposition of the various investments at interest, together with the respective average rates per cent. :—

Society. Central Bodies. Lodges. Society. Central Bodies. Lodges. tl.U.I.O.O.F. .O.O.P. .. SM.O.OJ , ... 3.U.O.O.P. LO.F. L.O.S. 16 1 1 1 9 140 23 2 1 105 1 U.A.O.D. .. I.O.R. S.D.T. H.A.G.B.S. P.A.F.S.A. E.E.B.S... 2 2 1 1 1 46 34 11 15 12 2

Mode of Investment. Amount. Rate per Cent. 3n deposit with the Post-Offioe Savings-Bank Dn deposit with other banks Dn mortgage of freehold property [n Government and municipal debentures Dther investments i £ 13,899 40,626 54,376 326,644 10,521 9,682 3-5 3-0 3-5 6-6 5-6 5-8 455,748 5-8 * The word "lodge," when applied to all societies, is to be understood as embracing the synonymous terms ' court," " tent," &c, as used in the various Orders.