HIBERNIAN SOCIETY

New Zealand Tablet, 11 March 1915, Page 11

HIBERNIAN SOCIETY

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE N.Z. DISTRICT. (From our Auckland correspondent.) February 25. The annual meeting of the N.Z. District of the H.A.C.B. Society was held on Thursday evening of last week in the Hibernian Hall, Auckland. District President Bro. D. Flynn presided. The following officers were present —Bros. Jas. Smith, D.V.P.; J. M. Foy, P.D.P.; W. Kane, D.S., and M.‘ J. Sheahan, D.T. Right Rev. Monsignor Brodie, V.G., Very Rev. Chancellor Holbrook, District Deputy Bro. P. D. Hoskins, of Wellington, and Bros. McWilliam (Wanganui), James O’Brien (Stratford), and D. Dennehy (Westport) were also present from their respective localities. Fifty delegates attended. The officers’ report was read by the D.P., in which it was shown that the society was progressing throughout the Dominion. Several important proposals were made in the report. The D.P., in his opening remarks, alluded to the great pleasure it afforded the Hibernians in New Zealand that Rev. Father Ormond, who was a member of the society, -and who had taken so active a part in its progress, had been appointed to the responsible position of secretary to his Excellency Archbishop Cerretti, the Apostolic Delegate. The D.P. also made feeling reference, to the death of Bro. James Flynn, who had so long and honorably filled the position of district treasurer.

•'*i ' . 7 The funeral ': fund ( showed a balance brought forward of 1,464 ss. V During the period of the last six months £l5O was paid in death claims; and a surplus of <£12,007 Os lid > was shown. , A satisfactory statement was that sufficient in interest had been earned upon the capital invested to meet all claims upon the funeral fund, £11,900 of this fund being invested locally. The supplementary sick fund (a comparatively new fund) shows a balance of £7OO, including an increase during the half-year of £266. The branch investment fund account showed that £I6OO sent by the branches in the district was invested in Auckland on sound freehold security. The guarantee fund indicated a balance of £746, and the general fund £368. - A lengthy discussion took place on the officers’ report. The balance sheet was unanimously adopted,’and the executive officers were highly complimented upon the great success attending • the financial operations. The delegate for the Wanganui branch moved, A member presenting a clearance to a branch be admitted to such branch immediately and without further examination.’ The Wellington delegate seconded. The Dunedin delegate (Bro. J. J. O’Brien) opposed the motion, and when the D.P. pointed out that the motion would materially affect several important rules of the society, the Wanganui delegate withdrew the. motion. Bro. District Deputy Hoskins read a most interesting paper on ‘ The History of the Hibernian Society in New Zealand,’ in which he traced the great work of the society since its formation, nearly fifty years ago. Bros. Sheahan and Beehan thanked and commended Bro. Hoskins. A Past President’s collar was presented to Bro T the Hon. W. Beehan, and a collar (the first of its kind) was presented to District Deputy Bro. Hoskins. Both brothers suitably thanked the meeting and officers. The D.S. introduced the question of insuring the members of the society now at the front with the fighting forces. The executive was already paying the absent thirty-one members. The matter of insuring them vms for the meeting to determine. For a sum of £B4 they could be insured covering a period of three years. Father Holbrook moved, and Bro. Beehan seconded—- ‘ That the question be left to the executive, with power to act.’ This was carried. The following officers were elected for the ensuing term:—President, Bro. James Smith; vice-president, Bro. Very Rev. Chancellor Holbrook; district secretary, Bro. W. Kane; district treasurer, Bro. M. J. Sheahan; auditors, Bros. J. B. Stead and C. Mulholland. The officers were installed by P.D.P. Bro. Flynn. The name of P.D.P. Bro. Foy was directed to be placed on the Merit Board. The delegates from the south were shown round the city and suburbs on Thursday by P.D.P., Bros. D. Flynn and W. Kane, D.S. They visited the Bishop’s Palace and the Catholic institutions, which were greatly admired. Many of them who had not previously visited Auckland were greatly struck with the various features of this progressive city. In the evening they were entertained to dinner at the Albert Hotel by the District Executive. Bro. Jas. Smith, D.P., presided, and Bro. Very Rev. Chancellor Holbrook occupied the vice-chair. All the district officers were present. The D.P. proposed the toast of the ‘ Visitors,’ which was responded to by the Wellington District Deputy (Bro. P. D. Hoskins), Bros. Jones (New Plymouth), McWilliam (Wanganui), and D. Dennehy, the latter also replying on behalf of the N.Z. Tablet. Bros. J. J. O’Brien, who was the first district secretary, when nearly all the society’s branches in New Zealand amalgamated, and J. Patterson briefly addressed the gathering. , j Very Rev. Chancellor Holbrook, D.V.P., proposed the toast of the ‘ N.Z. Catholic Federation,’ which was responded to by Mr. F. G. Temm, secretary of the Auckland Diocesan Council of the Catholic Federation. Subsequently the visitors left for home by the southern night express, and received a hearty send-off (from the district officers and many members at the Auckland Railway Station. ~ ‘ ">