H.-l.

2

Registbation of New Rules. 5. Registration 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.—Ashley District; North Canterbury District; Pleasant Point Lodge (Lyttelton District); Hand and Heart, Roxburgh, Waitahuna, Lake Wakatipu, Cromwell, Blue Spur, Caversham, Dunback, Mount Wendon, Prince Alfred, Oamaru, Alexandra, Tapanui, Albion, Prince of Wales, and Valley Lodges (Otago District). N.l.O.O.F.—Auckland Provincial District. A.O.F.—Court Sir George Bowen (Wellington District). W.M.C. — Petone Working-men's Club; Blenheim Working-men's Club; Wellington Working-men's Club ; Ashburton Club and Mutual School of Arts ; Oxford Workingmen's Club. I.S.S.—Wellington United Friendly Societies' Dispensary. Registbation of Paetial Amendment of Rules. 6. Registration of a partial amendment of rules was made in respect of the under-mentioned societies and branches :— M.U.I.O.O.F.—John Leyden and Good Intent Lodges (Auckland District); Hawke's Bay District ; New Plymouth District; Wellington District; Marlborough District; Benevolent Lodge (North Canterbury District) ; Ashburton District; Otago District. N.l.O.O.F.—Auckland Provincial District. A.O.F.—Canterbury United District. U.A.O.D.—Grand Lodge of Canterbury District. I.O.R.—New Zealand Central District. S.D.T. —National Division. P.A.F.S.A.—Grand Council. I.F.S.—Auckland Labourers' Accident Fund Association. W.M.C.—Wellington Working-men's Club ; Christchurch Working-men's Club. Statistics fob 1899. 7. The number of lodges* whose returns are tabulated is 433, and of central bodies 35, distributed according to Orders thus :—

8. In Tables 1., V., and VI., attached to this report, the respective district totals include the funds of the central bodies. 9. 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. 10. 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. 11. The number of members of these lodges at the end of the year was 38,202. 12. The following balance-sheet gives their total funds (including those of the central bodies) as on the 31st December, 1899: — Funds. £ Assets. £ Sick and Funeral Funds .. .. .. 673,590 Investments at interest .. .. .. 564,930 Medical and Management Funds, goods, &c. .. 54,659 Value of land and buildings .. .. .. 121,902 Cash nob bearing interest .. .. .. 28,472 Value of goods .. .. .. .. 11,180 Other assets .. .. .. .. 1,765 £728,249 j £728,249 13. 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. M.U.I.O.O.F. I.O.O.F. .. N.I.O.O.F... B.U.O.O.F. A.O.F. A.O.S. 16 1 1 1 8 156 27 2 1 116 1 U.A.O.D. .. I.O.R. S.D.T. H.A.C.B.S. P.A.F.S.A. R.E.B.S. .. 3 2 1 1 1 60 35 10 11 12 2

Mode of Investment. Amount. I I Bate per Cent. On deposit with the Post-Office Savings-Bank On deposit with other banks On mortgage of freehold property In Government and municipal debentures Other investments .. .. .. ;;i £ 16,516 28,260 50,648 447,857 14,426 7,223 564,930 2-5 30 3-2 5-7 5-4 5-1 564,930 5-2 * The word " lodge," when applied to all societies, is to be understood as embracing the synonymous terms " gourt," " tent," &o., as used in the various Orders,