H.—l

Eegisteation op New Botes. 6. 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.I.O.O.F.—Charles Bruce and Waikato Lodges (Auckland District) ; Greymouth Lodge (Hokitika District); City of Christchurch Lodge (North Canterbury District). A.O.F.—Court Feilding (Wellington District) ; Court Aorere (Nelson District) ; Court Ashburton (Canterbury United District). S.D.T.—National Division. W.M.C.—Greytown Working-men's Club. I.S.S.—New Zealand Foresters' Guarantee Association. Eegistration op Partial Amendment op Botes. 7. Eegistration of a partial amendment of rules was made in respect of the under-mentioned societies and branches :— M.U.I.O.O.F. — Marlborough District; Westport Lodge (North Westland District) Nelson District; Dunedin Lodge (Otago District). A.O.F.—Courts Thistle of the Forest and Star of Dunsandel. U.A.O.D. —Grand Lodge of the North Island, Grand Lodge of Otago and Southland. I.O.E.—New Zealand Central District. I.F.S.—Auckland Labourers' Accident Fund Association (three times). W.M.C. —Christchurch Working-men's Club. Statistics for 1898. 8. The number of lodges* whose returns are tabulated is 410, and of central bodies 35, distributed according to orders thus : —

9. In Tables I., V., and VI., attached to this report, the respective district totals include the funds of the central bodies. 10. 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. 11. 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. 12. The number of members of these lodges at the end of the year was 35,501. 13. The following balance-sheet gives their total funds (including those of the central bodies) as on the 31st December, 1898: — Funds. £ Assets. £ Sick and Funeral Funds .. .. .. 625,474 Investments at interest .. .. .. 519,159 Medical and Management Funds, goods, &o. .. 53,272 Value of land and buildings .. .. .. 119,765 Cash not bearing interest .. .. .. 26,643 Value of goods .. .. .. .. 11,366 Other assets .. .. .. .. 1,813 £678,746 £678,746 14. The following summary shows the disposition of the various investments at interest, together with the respective average rates per cent. :—

15. Averages and percentages deduced from the tabulated returns for the years 1881-98 are given in Appendix I. 16. Information as to the forms kept in the Eegistry Office for the convenience of societies, and sent free on application, is to be found in Appendix IV.

* 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.

2

Society. Society. Central Bodies. Lodges. Society. Central Bodies. Lodges. iI.U.I.O.O.F. :.o.o.f. .. sf .I.O.O.F. .. 3-.U.O.O.F. i.O.F. LO.S. 16 1 1 1 8 146 27 2 1 112 1 U.A.O.D. .. I.O.E. S.D.T. H.A.C.B.S. P.A.F.S.A. E.E.B.S. .. 3 2 1 1 1 53 32 10 12 12 2

Mode of Investment. Amount. Rate per Cent. )n deposit with the Post-Office Savings-Bank )n deposit with other banks 3n mortgage of freehold property in Government and municipal debentures Dther investments ( £ 16,329 29,715 50,057 403,777 10,757 8,524 3-0 2-5 3-2 5-9 5-5 5-2 519,159 5-3