The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Taranaki, Hawke's Bay & Wellington Provincial Districts]
Forestry
Forestry.
The Taranaki District Of The Ancient Order Of Foresters was constituted in the year 1883, with headquarters at New Plymouth. District officers for 1905: Brothers A. J. Tunbridge, District Chief Ranger; F. C. Bennett, District Sub-Chief Ranger; G. Braund, District Beadle; H. R. Cattley, District Treasurer, and C. Tunbridge, District Secretary. The District Court meets half-yearly, page 75 when a full report in connection with the Order is submitted. There are ten courts under the control of the district officers; namely, Taranaki, Waireka, Patea, Inglewood Forest, Raleigh, Egmont, Stratford, Pride of New Plymouth (female court), Fidelity (female court), and Opunake, The total receipts of the district for the year ending December, 1904, were: £2363 (sick and funeral), and £1673 (management); and the total value of the funds was £17,443. There is a membership of 1128.
Collis, photo.
Mr. C. Tunbridge.
Court Waireka, Ancient Order of Foresters, is the largest court in connection with the Taranaki district. In the year 1904, there was a membership of 374, and the accumulated funds amounted to £5725. Officers for 1905: Messrs W. Sadler, Chief Ranger; C. Boulter, Sub-Chief Ranger; A. Goldwater, treasurer; and C. Tunbridge, secretary. The Taranaki Hall, in Gill Street, where periodical meetings are held, has accommodation for about 400 persons, and was built jointly by Courts Taranaki and Waireka, in the year 1883.
Court Taranaki, Ancient Order of Foresters, Number 4356, dates from the year 1852. Officers for 1906: Messrs A. McKeown, Chief Ranger; J. Way, Senior Chief Ranger: H. R. Cattley, treasurer; and E. E. Tribe, secretary. The Court has a hall in Gill Street, a wood and iron building with seats for 250 persons. It was erected in 1893, at a cost of £750. The Court has 107 members, and its accumulated funds amount to £5,100.