74. Qualification of Officers.—The Past Chief Ruler shall have filled the office of Chief Ruler, and shall exercise the duties of Past Chief Ruler until the next change of officers. To qualify a member for Chief Ruler, he must have heard the lectures, and served two inferior offices, or one inferior office for twelve months, or the office of Secretary for six months, or the office of Deputy Ruler, and one inferior office; and for Deputy Ruler one inferior office, and be in other respects properly qualified. Any member properly qualified may be elected Treasurer or Secretary without having served any inferior office. The retiring Chief Ruler, Deputy Ruler, Treasurer, and Secretary shall be eligible for re-election; and should the retiring Chief Ruler be reelected, the retiring Past Chief Ruler shall retain his office until the next change of officers, or some other past officer may be elected in his stead. This law not to apply to now Tents.

75. Mode of Election of Officers.—Propositions for the office of Chief Ruler, Deputy Ruler, and Secretary must be received at previous Tent meeting to election, which shall be by ballot; provided, nevertheless, that in all cases where one candidate only is proposed, the Chief Ruler shall declare such candidate duly elected without proceeding to a ballot, unless it be demanded. The Chief Ruler and Secretary shall take the poll, and in the event of the votes being equal for any of the offices, the Chief Ruler shall decide the election by drawing lots. The election of the other officers (except Guardians, hereinafter provided for) shall be by nomination and open voting, except a ballot be demanded. No member shall be exempt from nomination, members living at a distance of two miles and upwards, or those absent through illness, only excepted. There shall page 27 be a general election of Tent Officers every six months, and those newly appointed shall take their seats on the night of their appointment, with the exception of the Secretary and Treasurer, who shall not take their seats until the following Tout night, the outgoing Secretary and Treasurer retaining office until receipt by the Tent of the Auditors' report. The election of officers shall take place on the general quarter-night nearest 25th June and 25th December in each year.

76. Duties of Past Chief Ruler.—The Past Chief Ruler shall assist at the initiation of candidates, and advise the Chief Ruler whenever requested by him so to do. He shall also take precedence in the Tent immediately after the D.R., and shall fill the office of C.R. in the absence of Chief Ruler and Deputy Ruler.

77. Duties of Chief Ruler.—The Chief Ruler shall preside over all Tent or Committee meetings, enforce the fines according to law, see justice done between the members, and have the power of convening special Tent meetings on being requested by any two officers or any six members of the Tent. Such special Tent meetings to be convened by circular, addressed to each member: such circulars to be prepared and posted by the Tent officer required so to do by the District Officers. he shall sign all orders for payment, except sick pay. He shall ascertain the eligibility of all candidates, and, previous to admission, shall read aloud the name, age, occupation, and residence of the person proposed; and if elected according to General Law No. 40, the C.R. shall direct the Levite to admit him for initiation. He shall ask once on each Tent night the four following questions, viz.:—"Are any of the members sick?" "Has any member broken the pledge?" "Has any member anything to communicate that will tend to promote the good of the Order?" "Has any member any friend to propose as a proper person to become a member of our honourable Order." he shall see that the quarterly return to District is prepared and forwarded to D.S., in accordance with the 97th General Law, and that a duplicate is laid upon the table of the Tent on the first night after each quarterly meeting.

78. Giving the Password.—The Chief Ruler shall not deliver the password to any officer or member except those of his own Tent, and not to them except they are good upon the books, and conduct themselves with propriety. He shall enjoin every officer and member to whom such password is given not to give it to any one except to the Guardian in legal possession of the door, or to the Levite previous to opening the Tent. Any Chief Ruler giving the password to an unqualified member shall be fined five shillings.

79. Deputy Ruler.—The Deputy Ruler shall assist the Chief Ruler in keeping order during Tent hours, shall see that the Guardians perform their duties, and shall discharge the duties of Chief Ruler in cases of necessity. In the absence of the Chief Ruler and Deputy Ruler, the chair shall be taken by the Past Chief Ruler, and in his absence by any past officer.

80. Secretary.—At the opening of the Tent the Secretary page 28 shall call over the names of the officers, duly note the absentees, announce the receipts and disbursements previous to closing each Tent night, and in all respects keep correct accounts and minutes of the proceedings of the Tent. he shall receive the notices from the sick members, and direct the Stewards to visit them. The Secretary shall make the annual returns as required by the "Friendly Societies Act," such returns to be sent to the District Secretary, whose duty it shall be to forward same to the Registrar-General. He shall also forward to the District Secretary, in the last week in December in each year, a correct account, according to a form provided by the District Secretary, of—1st, the number of members; 2nd, amount of sickness; 3rd, duration of each case of sickness; 4th, names of the diseases; 5th, ages of such as may have been sick or may have died; 6th, the receipts of the Sick Fund; 7th, the disbursements of those funds; 8th, the total amount of Sick and Contingent Funds; and shall also prepare and forward such other documents and papers as may from time to time be required by the District Secretary. He shall prepare all summonses and post same (except as provided for in General Law 77), or cause same to be delivered, and attend the Auditors to explain the accounts, and prepare the Quarterly Balance-sheet. he shall be paid such sum for his services as the Tent may, at each General Election of Officers, determine; and he shall give securities for the moneys and property in his possession, in accordance with the requirements of the "Friendly Societies Act." The Secretary shall be the custodian of all movable property of the Tent, and shall deliver up same on demand to the C.R., or to any other person duly authorised by resolution of the Tent to demand and receive the same. He shall lay upon the table of the Tent, upon the next Tent night after each quarterly meeting, a duplicate copy of the return for preceding quarter forwarded to D.S., and he shall read out the names of all members returned in arrears, or run out, upon the books of the Tent.

81. Treasurer.—The Treasurer shall be appointed at the General Election of Officers, and be eligible for re-election. He shall receive the Tent moneys from the Stewards, give receipts for same, pay all accounts, and, when required by the Tent so to do, shall lodge the whole or any part of the moneys in his hands in some Bank, to the credit of the Trustees. He shall produce to the Chief Ruler, Secretary, and Auditors, the bank-book and book of accounts whenever demanded. Provided, nevertheless that he shall not hold at any one time in his hands a greater sum than £10, and that he shall give security to the Tent in the same manner and form as referred to under the head of Secretary.

82. Surgeon—The Tent Surgeon shall examine all candidates, and furnish them with a certificate of health, attend the sick members returned upon his list, their wives and children, and provide them with proper and necessary medicines (accouchements excepted), and also treat with surgical skill all cases of broken or dislocated limb, or other accidental injuries. The Tent shall make arrangements with the Surgeon as to the ages of children to be page 29 kept on his list, the distance to which he may be called to attend cases, the hours of attendance, and whether the patients shall attend at the surgery or be waited upon at their residences. He shall receive for his services such sum for each good member returned upon his list, residing within his visiting district, as may be determined upon by the Tent and himself, which sum shall be charged to, and be paid and be payable by, each member within the distance as aforesaid, in addition to his contribution to the Sick, Funeral, and Contingent Funds. He will be expected to report to the Tent at once any case of imposition, or attempt at imposition, on the part of any member. No member shall bring any charge for neglect or otherwise against the Surgeon, without having first given at least fourteen days' notice of his intention so to do, and no such case shall be gone into without proof being given that seven days' notice at least has been given to the Surgeon to attend and answer the charge. The Tent may investigate the matter in open Tent, or refer the same to the Judicial Committee. No person shall be permitted to act as Medical Officer of any Tent who is not in possession of a Certificate from the Medical Board of New Zealand. Any Tent violating this rule shall be fined £2, which shall be paid into the District Contingent Fund. Provided further, that a member of any Tent, whether residing within the Surgeon's visiting district or not, who shall be desirous of obtaining the services and medicines of the Surgeon of some other Tent, shall be at liberty to do so upon obtaining the sanction of both Tents, and the approval of the Surgeon under whoso care he desires to place himself, having first given notice to the Secretary of his Tent, on the first night of any quarter; and the certificate of such Surgeon (anything to the contrary notwithstanding) shall have the same effect as the certificate of the Surgeon of the Tent to which such member belonged. Any Tent numbering seventy-five members shall have power to appoint two Surgeons.

83. Trustees.—Each Tent shall appoint three Trustees, who shall do and execute all the functions required of them by the "Friendly Societies Act," whenever directed by the Tent by a resolution thereof in writing, signed by the Chief Ruler, Deputy Ruler, and Secretary, and bearing the Tent seal. Every resolution appointing a Trustee or Trustees shall be signed by such Trustee or Trustees and three members of the Tent, and be countersigned by the Secretary. Such resolution, so signed and countersigned, shall be forwarded to the District Secretary, to be by him transmitted to the Registrar, to be deposited with the Laws of the Order. In the event of any Trustee being removed from his office, and refusing or neglecting to assign or transfer any property of the Order, such Trustee shall be expelled the Order, and cease to have any claim on account of any contributions paid by him. Vacancies shall be filled up at a regular or special meeting of the Tent. No Trustee of any Tent shall hold the office of Treasurer of that Tent.

84. Auditors.—There shall be two Auditors duly appointed at each Quarterly Meeting of the Tent, whose duties shall be to examine and check the accounts of the page 30 Tent, see that the books are properly kept and balanced, and that a correct balance-sheet is prepared for each audit. They shall be satisfied that all moneys, deeds, and securities are in safe keeping, and shall report upon the state of the accounts and books. The Chief Ruler, Secretary, Treasurer, and Writing Steward shall attend the Auditors' meeting, and give all necessary information.

85. Stewards.—The Stewards shall be chosen by the Tent at each general change of officers. They shall receive all moneys on Tent nights, which they shall deposit with the Treasurer within twenty-four hours thereafter. They shall visit and pay the sick members, and keep them good upon the books of the Tent, and see that no imposition of any kind be practised upon the Tent.

86. The Levite shall be chosen by the Tent at each election of officers. Previous to opening the Tent, the Levite shall ascertain whether every member present has the password; shall introduce all candidates for initiation, and attend to the orders of the Chief Ruler.

87. The Guardians shall be taken in rotation from the Tent books, provided they are not in office, or confined to their residence by illness, or reside two miles and upwards from place of meeting of Tent. Tents may dispense with the Outside Guardian; in that case the Inside Guardian will perform the duties of both officers. They shall keep the door, and demand the password from each member previous to his entering the Tent. They shall not admit any one while the Tent is being opened or closed, during initiation, or while any member is addressing the Tent. They shall not leave the door, nor admit any strangers.

88. Supporters.—The Chief Ruler and Deputy Ruler shall each choose two Supporters as soon as conveniently may be after taking their seats of office; such Supporters shall, after taking the usual obligation, be ex-officio officers of the Tent; in the absence of the D.R., the right-hand Supporter of the C.R. shall take the chair of such absent officer. Provided, however, Tents may, if they think fit, dispense with the office of Supporters.

89. Officers' Attendance.—Every officer shall attend the Tent at the time and place appointed, or send an apology satisfactory to the members then present, or in default shall be fined for non-attendance. If any absent officer neglect to send his key, he shall be fined. If any officer be absent three successive Tent nights without assigning sufficient reason, he shall vacate his office, and another be appointed. The officer so vacating shall not be eligible for re-election for a period of twelve months, and his fines for neglect of duty shall be levied up to the time of his successor being appointed. Such successor shall be entitled to the whole of the time served by his predecessor, so as to entitle him to compete for the higher honours. If the vacant office be an elective one, the plan for election laid down in the 75th General Law shall be followed. If non-elective, the election to take place immediately upon the vacancy being declared.

90. Improper Conduct of Officers.—Any officer of the Tent who shall leave his chair, or conduct himself in an improper manner, shall vacate his office, forfeit his degree, page 31 and be ineligible for the same or any other office for a period of twelve months.

91. Sick Watch.—A Watching Sick Committee, to consist of two members, shall be appointed, who shall visit and attend each sick member for one night, if requested so to do, provided the disease be not contagious. Each member of the Tent to serve in rotation according to roll. The Secretary shall furnish the Stewards with a complete roll for this purpose, and they shall notify to members as to time and places of duty. Any member, if in good health and resident within two miles of the sick member's residence, neglecting or refusing to perform this duty, shall be fined two shillings and sixpence for every such neglect or refusal.