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known as the Waterman's Arms, in Little Collins Street. He was the first N.G., and the success of the Order had grown into almost a passion with him. Amongst the early convivial privileges recognized amongst the Oddfellows was that of the use of tobacco, and so much did the cloud-blowing grow into vogue, that it found its way into the more solemn and mysterious rites of the periodical meetings. It was an insinuating influence against which the authority of the Tyler was powerless, and to such an extent did the annoyance grow, as to render it necessary in June, 1847, to promulgate an order in N o . 2 Lodge of the Manchester Unity, "prohibiting smoking in Lodge time." At the end of the same year, the rate of mortality was so exceedingly favourable amongst Oddfellows as to have it recorded as a significant fact that during the seven years of its existence in Melbourne, not a single death occurred in the Manchester Unity. In 1847 there w a s q uite a sensation caused by the Mayor (Mr. Moor) refusing permission to the members of the Manchester Unity to indulge in their customary anniversary procession through the streets. Consequent on an Orange riot which occurred in July, 1846, the N e w South Wales Legislature passed an Act for the prevention of Party Processions. In the first draft of the Bill as submitted to the Council, Freemasons and Oddfellows were excepted, but on some objection being offered the exemption clause was struck out, so that it was left a question of doubt whether or not the Act applied to such demonstrations. In all probability it did not, but as the Oddfellows m a d e application for the permission, the Mayor (a Solicitor) adopted the safer course, and refused compliance. T h e consequence was that his impartiality was impugned, and for a short time he was unsparingly censured. T h e equanimity of the Manchestrians was in no way restored, when a few days after they were mortified by seeing the D u k e of York Lodge commemorating their first anniversary in an open pedestrian display with banners, music, etcetera, the pains and penalties of the Party Processions Act notwithstanding. T h e D u k e of York people evaded the difficulty in this w a y : — T h e y did not ask the Mayor's permission, and the Mayor did not bother his head about any violation of the law, for easy-going, good-natured man, he did not care a d u m p what they did so long as he was neither magisterially nor officially brought into it. T h e result was a cause of great crowing and growling amongst the two Brotherhoods, T h e first Oddfellow's funeral was witnessed in Melbourne on 20th February, 1848. Deceased was Mr. John Shanks, the keeper of a well-known hotel, called the Royal Highlander. O n e hundred brethren, wearing white aprons trimmed with black crape, accompanied in procession the corpse to its final earthly resting place. His was thefirstdeath for seven and a half years in the Manchester Unity. According to official returns issued by the Registrar of Friendly Societies, Victorian Oddfellowship at the end of 1882 comprised three main Orders, viz, T h e Manchester Unity: 156 branches, 14,828 members, and a credit in investments and otherwise of ,£201,224. T h e Grand United: 52 branches, 3302 members, and a credit total of ,£23,263. T h e Independent: 47 branches, 4753 members, and a credit of ,£29,244. In March, 1884, the following authorized statements were promulgated with respect to the two first Orders mentioned :— M A N C H E S T E R U N I T Y . — N u m b e r of members on the books, 15,361, of w h o m 14,561 are financial, showing an increase on last year of 706 and 636 respectively. O f this number 2746 received 22,209 weeks' sick pay to the amount of ,£17,410 4s., being an average of one week three days two hours, and ,£1 3s. n d . respectively for every m e m b e r in the Order. T h e figures for the preceding year were 14,501, of which 13,688 represented financial members. O f this number 2602 were sick for a period of 20,339 weeks, receiving as sick pay ,£16,145 u s . 6d., being an average of one week two days eleven hours, and ^£i 3 s. 7 ^ d . respectively. Acquired during the year i 4 43 by Initiation (16 less than last year); by Clearance, 312 (54 more); total 1755. Lost by death, 159; by arrears, 496; by Clearance, 285 (being 94 more than last year). T h e wives of 92 members died during the year, being same as last. Gross receipts for 1883, ,£65,184 7 s. 9 d.; gross expenditure, ,£55,472 3s, 8 d-; balance, ,£9712 4s. id.