HIBERNIAN AUSTRALASIAN CATHOLIC BENEFIT SOCIETY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 46, 14 March 1874, Page 8

HIBERNIAN AUSTRAL ASIAN CATHOLIC BENEFIT SOCIETY.

The Quarterly Meeting of St. Joseph's Branch No. 73, was held last j Monday evening, There was a lar^e attendance. The President in the Chair. The Secretary read letters from Bro. Byrne, Corresponding Secretary ; Bro. Howard, Past Chief President ; and iroin Bro. G-riflin, the , Representative of the Otago Branches of the Annual Movable Meet- ! ing of the Society, which was held last week at Melbourne ; all the ' letters contained information of the utmost importance to the Branch, j The Secretary read a letter from Bro. C. E. Bunny, m which he t stated thit owing to his long absence from the Branch, and the uncer- j tainty of his return, he considered it Ins bounden duty to tender his I resignation as Yice-Presicfent, at rlie same time thanking the members ' f>v the respect that they had shewn to bun and to his office during the time that he held the position. His resignation was accepted, and Bro. Charles Fearon, the late Guardian, being the only officer eligible , for the office, Mas appointed in his stead. I Mr Fiedenck William Hoffman was duly initiated a full Benefit : Member. i The Secretary read the Balance Sheet, v.hich was received subject i <o the Report of the Auditors. i The Lew banner of the Society was unfurled by Bro. J. Moylan, j to whom had been entrusted tiie duty of getting it executed. The banner, which is painted on green silk, by Mr Power, Leiih street, : is so exquisitely done, that it exceeded the members' highest expect - tion, and the unfucling was met with a rapturous and prolonged applause. A hearty vote of thanks was proposed to Bro. J. MoUan for Ins indefatigable zeal in getting the banner finished in time for the Supper on St. Pati ick's Day. Bro. J. Moylan stated that in buying the silk lor the bauner, the seller would not cut the piece, consequently there were six yards over, but that this would not be a loss to the Society, as Mr Power promised him that if the Branch so desired, he would paint the "Haip of Erin" on it, and that he would do so gratuitously ; the announcement was received with cheers. The banner is a very handsome one, being a credit to the Society, and to the .Artist. The Secretary stated that Bro. Brennan had kindly volunteered

to get the Society's dispensation framed prior to the supper at hi 3 own expense, and he thought that the least they could do in order to repay him was to record him a sincere vote of thanks. The proposition was received with warmth, and carried by acclamation. The secretary to the Supper Committee stated that an agreement had been mcde with Mr Gollar, confectioner, Albany street, to supply the supper at 7s per head ; that the services of Mr Charles Sykes, pianist, and MrjO'Connell, violinist, had been procured. Tickets were distributed amongst the members, each of them pledging their word to do their utmost to dispose of as many as possible. A number of the members volunteered to decorate the schoolroom on the morning of St. Patrick's Day with flags, evergreens, and flowers. Friends to the cause having gardens ■will confer a great favor to the Society by giving as many flowers as they can spare to the members of the branch, many of whom will be in the schoolroom all the day. Tickets may be obtained from Mr Macedo, bookseller, Princes street. Persons intending to be present should procure their tickets immediately, in order that the caterer may know how many he is expected to provide for. We trust to see a good sprinkling of the fair sex present.