New Zealand.

NEW ZEALAND .

OUR New Zeiland correspondent sends ns the following items of Masonic intelligence : — The interesting Masonic ceremony of erecting and opening a new Lodgo ( the S'm hern Cross , nndor the Grind L > dgo of Scotland ) took place at Donaldson ' s Post-ofRco Hotel , Chapel-street , Prahran . on Tuesday evening , 3 rd S » ptemher . It was attendpd b a largo

number of the Craft . i » clnding tho members for the district , Bros . G , D . Carter and E . J . Dixon . After the Provincial Grand Lodgo had been opened in duo form , tho Prov . D . G . M ., Bro . D Gniehv , presiding , nwin'r to tho unavoidable absence of the Prov . Grand Master , Bro . A . K . Smith , who was detained at the House bv his Parlia .

mentary duties , tho impressive ceremony of erecting and opening was performed by thp Provincial Grand Lodge Officers , the musical portions being efficiently rendered by Bros . J . Coverlid and Alfred Wheeler . Bro . A . Frifcsch officiating afc tho organ . The members of tho new Lodge wero introduced and presented , nnd the following

brothers inducted into their respective offices by tho Installing Master , Bro . H . W . Lovvrev : —Bros . Alfred Wheeler R . W . M .. Alfred Ny borg S . W ., John G . Miles J . W ., E . J . Dix „ n Treasurer . W . C .

Hawkins Secretary , Samuel Willis S . D .. W . Lansly J . D , Thomas Donaldson I . G ., J . Bitten Tvler . After tho Lodge closed tho Prov , Grand Lodge Officers and Visitors wero entertained by tho members of tho new Lodge at a banquet provided by Bro . Donaldson .

Tho installation of the Worshipful Master and Officers of tho Lodge of Dunedin took p lace on the 21 st Augnsfc . at the Masonic Hall , Morayp ' ace . There was a large attendance of tho Craft . Tho Grand Lodge of Otago and Southland , E . G ., was represented by Bros . John Hvdo Ham ' s D . G . M , H . S . Fish D . D . G . M ., nnd Officers ; tho Provincial

Grand Lodge , S . C ., by Bro . Gore D . D . P . G . M . and Officers ; whilst tho Otago Kilwinning Lodge , S . O ., the Lodge Celtic , S . C ., the Lodge St . Androw , S . C , tho Lodge St . George ( Fnapeka ) , E . G ., Lodge of Otago , E . G ., ancl Port Chalmers Marino Lodge , E . G ., were represented by their respective Worshipful Masters and Officers . Tho Lodgo having

been duly opened , a Lodge of Provincial Masters was formed , Bro . S . Do Leon being installed as Worshipful Master for the ensuing year . Tho installation ceremony was performed by Bro . E . Nathan P . M ., who , assisted by Bro . Myrs P . M ., also installed tho following Officers : —Bros . Cameron S . W ., Braid J . W ., Blackbnrno S . D ., Beattie J . D .,

Young I . G ., Asher Treasurer , Naphtali Secretary . The balance-sheet , which was of a very favourable character , was then read and adopted , after which tho Lodgo was closed in duo form . Tho brethren , to the number of fifty or more , then repaired to the Criterion Hotel , where a sumptuous banquet was served in Bro . Thompson ' s best style , in honour of the occasion .

Prince of "Wales Lodge , No . 1338 , Auckland—The Installation Meeting took placo at the Freemasons' Hall , Princesstreet , on Thursday , 12 th September . A very large number of brethren attended the meeting , so large , indeed , as to make tho want of a suitable hall with fitting accommodation for Masonic purposes severely felt ; a want whicn received

unfavourable comment from tho brethren present , hut ono which , wo aro glad to learn , is about to bo supplied . Many District Grand Lodge Officers and other Visitors of distinction arrived before the opening of the Lodge and during tho evening , amongst these may bo mentioned : — R . W . P . G . M . I . C . Bro . G . P . Pierce P . M . ; V . W . D . D . G . M . E . C . E . T . Wildman P . M . ; V . W . D . S . G . W . E C W . LodderP . M ., V . W . D . G . Treas .

E . C . C . T . Goldsbro' P . M ., V . W . D . G . Sec . E . G . H . G . Wade P . M ., V . W . P . G . Secretary I . C . W . J . Rees P . M . ; W . P . G . S . D . I . C . A . Brock P . M ., W . M . Lodgo Ara 348 I . C . M . Levy W . M . Lodgo Eden 1530 E . C . J . Warren , W . M . Lodgo Remnera 1710 E . C . H . Rees George , Wor . H . N Montagu P . M . Robert Brims Lodge 817 E . G ., and P . M . Sydney Tarbolton 277 S . C . P . B . G . Sec , M . M .

Irving 33 , H . Brett Director of Music P . G . Lodge S C , and following P . M . ' s—W . II . Skinner 1338 E . C , M . S . Leers 942 E . G ., 133 , 8 E . G ., and 380 I . C , G . M . Mitford 3 ) 8 T . C . and 1338 E . C . The W . M . Bro . the Rev . C . M . Nelson opened the Lodge in form , at half-past seven , and after the usual ceremonial and preliminary routine business , Bro . Dr . Dawson S . W . of the Lodge , W . M . elect , was presented for

installation to the W . M ., who on this occasion acted for the first time as Installing Officer , a duty hitherto performed in the most faithful , zealous , nnd efficient manner by W . Bro . Leers P . M . Bro . Nelson snowed himself , however , iu nowiso wanting in tho high qualifications requisite for this important duty ; tho elegant , and indeed eloquent and impressive delivery of the ancient charges and important portions

of the ritual of this ceremony , conld not fail to enhance the beauties of Masonry in tho heart of tho listener , and thoso who had not previously visited Lodge Princo of Wales , must have indeed felt gratified at tho highly efficient mode in which the working and business of tho Lodgo was conducted . During the evening some very excellent anthems were chanted by a choir , consisting of Bros .

Brett , Skinner , Harker , Wilcox , Irving . Rogers nnd Montagu , Bro . Rees P . M . acting as Organist . After the conclusion of the installation and ceremonial tho Board of Installed Masters was closed , the brethren of lower grade ? were re-admitted , and the newly-installed W . M . then formed his Lodge as follows : —Bros . F . W . E . Dawson W . M ., Rev . 0 . M . Nelson P . M . and Chap ., R . 0 .

Dyer S . W .. W . Rattray J . W ., W . H . Skinner P . M . Treas ., M . S . Leers P . M . Sec , E . S . Wilcocks Director of Ceremonies , S . Rogers Organist , Major General J . W . Gossett S . D ., W . S . Collins J . D ., J . VV . Gossett I . G ., C . Porter Tyler . The brethren having duly solnted tho W . M ., W . Bro . Nelson then impressively addressed tho newly-appointed

Officers and the brethren generally on their respective duties , and the installation ceremony being thus concluded , tho Lodge was closed iu peace , love , and harmony , and tho brethren adjourned to tho banquet table , well supplied by Bro . Hood . The manner in which all the wants of the inner man had been anticipated and provided for

New Zealand.

by mine host , was the themo of general commendation . After the weight on tho board had been considerably diminished , the good things had disappeared , and grace was said , the exhilarating glass was circulated in strictest moderation , and the toastsof tho even ing received due attention , interspersed by mellifluous strains from the vocalists previously mentioned , in solos , glees , and other concerted music .

Tho W . M . proposed tho following toasts in rapid succession , prefacing them with appropriate remarks : —Tho Queen and the Craft ; H . R . H . the Prince of Wnles . M . W . G . M . of England ; tho M . W . Grand Masters of Scotland and Ireland , Sir M . Shaw Stewart and the Duke of Abereorn . Bro . J . Adams proposed The District . Grand Master , E . G ., Bro . G . S . Graham , the P G . Master , S . C , Bio . F . Whitaker , and tho P . G .

Master , I . C , Bro . G . P . Pierce . W . Bro . Nelson then proposed , iu a most onlogisf io address , the toast , of tho evening , tho W . M . of tho Princo of Wales Lodge . Bro . Dawson . Ho alluded in feeling terms to the Masonic career of Rro . Dawson , side by side with himself in the Lodge , and bnt ono step removed from him , and felt convinced thafc tho welfare of tho Lodge conld bo in no bettor hands , and concluding

by exhorting the newly-appo'nt . od officers to support the Master by the due and earnest fulfilment of their duties . Tho W . M . replied very appropriately and feelingly , expressing grate f ul thanks for the kindness extended to him . Bro . W . H . Skinner , P . M . gave Tho installing Master , nnd rook occasion to allude to tho excellent way in which the ceremonies of tho evening had been conducted . Bro .

Nelson exnressed his sincere acknowledgments . Tho Past Masters of tho Princo of Wales Lodge was then given by Bro . R . 0 . Dyer S . W ., and suitably acknowledged in a few mosfc pertinent remarks by Bro . Leers P . M . This worthy brother then eloquently proposed Tho Visiting Brethren , coupling with tho toast the name of Bro . Past Master Montagu , of Sydney , a brother of high distinction in the

Craft , by whoso presence tho Lodgo wns honoured that evening . Bro . Montagu , in reply , stated that ho conld wish ono of two things , either that the hour was much later , so that ho might be spared tho necessity of unworthily representing the number of distinguished brethren who were standing up in response to tho toast , or thafc ifc wero much earlier , so thafc he might havo timo to express the feelings

he experienced afc the hon onr so distinctly conferred on him . Ho realized on this occasion the full benefit of the Masonic tie . For the first time in tho many years since he had been admitted to tho Craft , ho found himself in a peculiar position . On other occasions , when travelling through tho neighbouring colonies , accompanied by his treasured certificate , he had been so well known—through his

position as a journalist , and by brethren who had safe with him in Lodge and could vouch for him—that ho did nofc require to uso them . On this occasion , coming a stranger , in a strange land ( except by letters of introduction ) , in tho hnrry of departure , he left his certificates behind , and hence had to work his way into Lodge . Ho had satisfied the closest , bnfc very necessary scrutiny ; but . once within

tho sacred circle of tho mystic tie , the bonds of fellowship and brotherhood were cast around him in close embrace , and friends wero secured where before everything seemed drear and cold . Next to benevolence and charity , hospitality was tho great Masonic principle ; and it becamo a brother who had tasted of its benefits to repay tho debt I by standing forward as tho champion of Masonry whenever tho

I bro ith of envy or malice attacked the purity of its principles . Bro . i Montagu concluded by congratulating tho brethren of this Lodgo npon the excellence of its working , judging by the conduct of tho Officers on this occasion . The Officers of the Lodgo Prince of Wales 1 was then given by Bro . E . T . Wildman D . D . G . M ., in one of the best , ¦ speechesof the evening , who supported his well-merited praise of these i brethren by tho recapitulation of his own personal experience of their

I efficient conduct and general merits . Bro . R . 0 . Dyer S . W . responded . The following toasts also received able proposal and duo recognition , Tho D . G . L . Officers ( Bro . Wildman D . D . G . M . in response ) . The Brethren who rendered tho Music , The newly ( lately ) initiated Brethren , by Bro . Rattray , and Tho Poor and Distressed Brethren . Our Next Happy Meeting concluded the proceedings , | and the brethren separated after a most agreeable evening .

The question of erecting a Masonic hall is afc present occupying tho earnest attention of the Officers of Lodges , and members of the Crafb generally , in Auckland , and ifc is probable that in a short timo some satisfactory scheme for that purpose will bo devised . We arc informed that an offer was made to tho Committee , and which is certainly a liberal one , by a well-known Hotel-keeper , to erect on the sito in

Princos-strecfc a first-class Hotel , on the American principle , with suites of rooms . Ac , afc a cost of from £ 10 , 000 to £ 12 , 000 , and a Hall , entirely separate form tho Hotel , at a cost , of £ 3000 , provided ho got a lease for a term to be agreed upon , at tho expiration of which tho whole property would revert to the fraternity , or to trustees whom they may appoint .

Miss Florence Smart's Second Evening Concert will take place on Tuesday next , the 5 th inst . This talented lady will be assisted on this occasion by the following . vocalists : —Madame Antoinette Sterling Miss Mary

Davies , Miss Kate Hardy ancl Mr . Field . M . Claude Jacquinot ( violin ) and Mr . Walter Pettit ( violoncello ) will appear , and a most agreeable evening ' s entertainment is anticipated .

Tho Lord Mayor Elect ( Alderman Sir Chai'Ies Whotham ) has honoured Messrs . Lock ancl Whitfield , of Regent-street , with a sitting for his photograph , which will be reproduced by the Woodbury permanent process , and published with the November number of the British Mercantile Gazette ,.