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Complete Amendments of Rules registered. Complete amendments of the rules of the following societies and branches were registered during the year viz : — M.U.1.0.0.F. —Good Intent Lodge (Auckland District), Mansion of Peace Lodge (Nelson District), Phillipstown Lodge (North Canterbury District), Ashley District, and Bend ol Friendship Lodge (Otago District), Unity Lodge (Wellington District). A.O.F.—United Otago District, Wellington District, Court Sir George Grey (Wellington District), and Court Southern Cross (South Canterbury District). U.A.O.D. —The Grand Lodge of the North Island of New Zealand, and Tiniaru Lodge of the Grand Lodge of Otago and Southland District. W.M.C. —Wellington, Napier, and Kaiapoi Working-men's Clubs. S.A.S.— Sydenham and Suburban Co-operative Money Club. Partial Amendments of Rules registered. Partial amendments for the following were made : — M.U.l.O.O.F.—Auckland District; Fountain of Friendship Lodge (Auckland District) twice ; and Otago District. B.U.O.O.F.—Aorangi Lodge. 1.0.0.F. —Southern Cross Lodge. U.A.O.D. —Grand Lodge of Canterbury District. I.O.R.—New Zealand Qentral District. I.F.S.—New Zealand Collieries, Railway, and Oil Syndicate Employees' Benefit Society; Auckland Tramways Sick and Accident Friendly Society. W.M.C.—Ashburton Club and Mutual School of Arts. S.A.S. —Hawke's Bay United Friendly Societies' Dispensary. Cancellations by Dissolution, Etc. Registration of the following were cancelled : — I.O.R.—The Excelsior Tent of the New Zealand Central District. I. K.S.—Wellington Wharf Employees' Benefit Society. S.A.S.—Canterbury Band. Amalgamations. The Star of New Zealand Tent of the New Zealand Central District Independent Order of Rechabites amalgamated with the Gisborne branch of the same society. Conversions. A.O.F. —Court Sir George Grey was converted into a branch of the Wellington District of the Ancient Order of Foresters. J U.A.O.D. —The Albion and Brunner Lodges, into branches of the Grand Lodge of the North Island of New Zealand ; and the Bud of Hope Lodge, into a branch of the Grand Lodge of Canterbury District, New Zealand. Annual Returns and Statistics. In distributing the forms for the 1907 returns of receipts and expenditure, I enclosed a circular to each society referring to the success in compiling the 1906 statistics in time for the first Parliamentary report, trusting that secretaries would endeavour not only to repeat their good work, but if possible effect a further improvement. It is found that the more returns received by the Department during the months of January and February each year, the better the results, as the Department has then some time to adjust differences after checking and comparing with the previous year. lam pleased to record that there was a decided improvement in this respect, as during the first quarter of this year I received 444 returns for 1907, as against 355 for 1906 during the same period in 1907. When the tables were closed there were 593 returns to hand, compared with 574 in the previous year. Returns were still outstanding on the 31st May, months after due date, from the following societies : —

Society. bSSSS! b™ 01 "*- Society. Central Bodies. Kranchee 4.U.I.O.O.F.— North Canterbury District Otago District .0.0.F. of New Zealand Auckland District Hawke's B*y District J.A.O.D.— Grand Lodge of North Island Grand Lodge of Otago and Southland 1 1 6 I.O.R.New Zealand Central District H.A.C.B.S.— New Zealand District P.A.F.S.A.— Grand Council of Ne« Zealand Isolated Friendly Societies Working-men's Clubs Specially Authorised Societies 1 7 17 1 ■2 4 6 i 8 13 1 Total 87