New Zealand.

find the people there were supposed to be in very poor circumstance these hard times ; bnt when tho ordinary receipts of tho Lodgo in its first year amounted to £ 250 , it was evident times were not so very bail . He urged them to be pnnetnal in their attendance at tho Lodge , and give the W . M . every assistance in bringing it to a high state of efficiency . After a most enjoyable evening , the Tyler ' s toast brought

tho proceedings to a close , and tho brethren departed east , west , north and south to thoir respective homes , some of whioh are forty miles from the Lodge-room . It would be improper to end a report of tho first Installation Meeting of this Lodge without making reference to Bro . M . S . Leers , P . M . Prince of Wales Lodgo 1338 , who may truly be said to havo been the pivot of this Lodge , ho having consecrated it , twelve months ago , and having been the mentor and instructor of the

brethren by whom it has been carried on . Bro . Leers is well-known in Auckland as one of the brightest of Masons , and the leading Preceptor nnder the English Constitution . The excellent working of the Princo oi Wales Lodge 1338 , of -which he is Secretary , and the position of that Lodge , which is [ the leading Lodgo in tho colony nnder the English Constitution , is proof of his great ability and successful labours .

Grand Masonic Ceremony At Invercargill.

GRAND MASONIC CEREMONY AT INVERCARGILL .

THURSDAY , the 23 rd October , is a day that will long be remembered in Invercargill as marking an era , so to speak , in the advancement of the place . It saw the foundation-stone of the handsome structure that is to do duty ns a Hall of Justice laid , with all the Masonic ceremonies customary npon snch occasions . The stone was laid by the R . W . D . G . M ., His Honour Judge Harvey , and

the District Grand Lodgo Scottish Constitution . The relegation of this important duty to the District Judge , whose connection with the bar and public has admittedly been a pleasant one , was singularly appropriate , and ho deserves the thanks not only of the Craftsmen bnt of the community at large , for remaining in Invercargill in order to carry out the wishes not only of the Masons but of the members of

his own profession , and , we may add , of tho public generally -who have the slightest acquaintance with his Honour . In this duty he was assisted by several members of high standing in the Order , numbers of whom came from Duncdin and intermediate places , while not a few -were from Queenstown and the Arrow . The members of the Aparima Lodge also mustered extremely well—in fact , so many

Masons never before assembled in Invercargill , and it was the general remark with the Craft that they had no idea so many conld have been 'brought together in so short a time . If we estimate the number at ¦ over two hundred we shall be within the mark . There were many notable visitors—brethren of high standing and skilful as Freemasons . Amongst them we noticed Bros . C . de L . Graham I . P . M . Port

Chalmers Marine Lodge and P . M . of thePalmerston Lodge , Bro . G-. F . Rowlatt P . M . and W . M . of Mount Ida Lodge , and the Worshipfnl Masters , Past Masters , Wardens and brethren of the Lake Lodge of Ophir . These were all E . C . Masons . Of S . C . 's there wero—Worship , ful Bros . Louis Court P . M . 116 , Caldwell P . M . St . Andrews Lodge , Forest R . W . Mark Master 116 , Golder P . M . St . Andrews Lodge

Dunedin , McGavin P . M ., J . 0 . Eva P . M . ( formerly Grand Secretary ) , and Marsden P . M . Dunedin Lodge and Grand Organist E . C . We estimate the number of visitors from the north at close upon seventy . Need we say that the presence of so much outside talent , combined ¦ with local ability , ensured almost perfection in the voluminous details of the impressive ceremony , in which Freemasonry was pre-eminent .

Below we give a detailed account of the proceedings , from the time the procession started from Sloan ' s Theatre , shortly after three o ' clock , until the vast crowd , who had witnessed the whole proceedings , dispersed . Itis , therefore , unnecessary to refertothese matters indetail here . As to the building , at the time of tenders being called for , we published a description that would convey a fair idea of its dimensions ,

and suitability for the purpose for which it was designed . The proceedings commenced at the Kelvin-street Lodge-room at high noon , ¦ with the installation of Bro . F . W . Burwell as Right Worshipful Master of Lodge St . John S . C , by a Board of Installed Masters , numbering twenty-five . This number was remarkable , and it may be questioned whether so many had ever before assembled in a

Lodge in Otago . This in reality was bnt a minor part of the whole ceremonial . Extraordinary preparation had been made to lend tho latter tho utmost possible eclat . As it was pretty well understood that the assemblage of Masons would be exceptionally large , arrangements were made by Bro . Sloan for the nso of the Dee-street Theatre . The interior of this large building was arranged as a

temporary Lodge-room , and we can assure our readers that when the Lodge was in full sitting the scene presented was one that will not readily bo forgotten by those whose privilege it was to gather within the walls . There were the members of four Lodges besides those of the District Grand Lodge , the latter conspicuous by their distinctive and gorgeons regalia . After tho installation ceremony

at the Kelvin-street Lodge tho members of tho Southern Cross Lodge assembled there , and after performing tho usual rites , marched in procession to the Dee-street Theatre . Meanwhile tho members of St . John's Lodge and numerous visiting brethren had assembled in the lower part of the building , and at a given signal the door was opened , and the members of the Southern Cross Lodge

entered in procession and took their places . Then , nnder tho direction of the District Grand Directors of Ceremonies ( Bros . C . de L . Graham and G . F . RowlaU ) , the imposing formula that heralded the entering of the District Grand Lodge was performed . The District Grand Master , Bro . Harvey , having taken his seat , the final

net of the installation of the Worshipfnl Master of St . John ' s Lodge was gone through . This was followed by the investiture of the various Officers of the St . John's Lodge . The Grand Director of Ceremonies ( Bro . Graham ) then commanded the brethren to form procession . The procession marched along Dee-street and Tay-

Grand Masonic Ceremony At Invercargill.

street to the site of tho new building , where a large amount of bunting was displayed . When at a proper distance from tho stone the brethren opened out right and left , and allowed the D . G . M . and Office Bearers to pass np the centre , in the following order : —The Architect , Chaplain , Deacons , Secretary , Treasurer , Wardens , Substitute Master , Depnty Master , Grand Steward , and D . G . Master .

Marshalled by tho Grand Director of Ceremonies ( Bro . Graham ) , all gave way to the D . G . M ., who was conducted to his seat on the platform by Bro . Graham , the D . G . Substitute on his right hand . On the table at which the D . G . M . was seated were placed the D . G . jewels . The ceremony immediately connected with the laying of the stone was initiated by an extempore prayor by the D . G .

Chaplain , Bro . Craig . Tho band then played the National Anthem . The scroll to be deposited in the cavity of the stone , and which had been artistically engrossed by Mr . G . C . Baker , was then read by the District Grand Secretary , as follows : —'' In the forty-third year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria , this first stone of the Invercargill Law Courts was laid in dne Masonio form on the 23 rd day of

October , A . D . 1879 , and in the year of light 5883 , by George William Harvey , District Grand Master of the Freemasons of tho Scottish Constitution of the Middle Island of New Zealand , Bro . Sir Hercules Robinson , K . C . M . G ., being Governor of the said colony ; Bro . Frederick Wentworth Wade being R . W . M . of Lodge St . John , 610 S . C . ; Bros . Henry Feldwick , Horatio Wragge , and E . R . C . Bowen being

P . M . ' s thereof ; Bro . L . E . Reade being the W . M . of the Southern Cross Lodge , Invercargill , B . C ., George Goodwillio being Mayor of Invercargill , Cuthbert Cowan being Chairman of the County Conncil of Southland , Bro . Henry Hirst being Chairman of the Connty Conncil of Wallace , James Prendergast being Chief Justice of New Zealand , James Alexander Johnston , senior Puisno Judge ; Christopher Wil

liam Richmond , Thomas Bannatyne Gillies , and Joshua Strange Wil . Hams being Puisne Judges ; Bros . Charles Robert Dudley Ward , Georgo William Harvey , and John Bathgate being District Court Judges for the Middle Island ; Henry McCulloch and John Nugent Wood being Resident Magistrates for the district of Southland . Bro . Frederick William Burwell P . M . Lodge St . John No . 610 S . C .

Architect ; Colin McKay , Builder ; Bro . Peter Walker , Inspector of Works . May the undertaking prosper , by tho blessing of Almighty God . " The document was handed to the D . G . M ., who folded it np , and placed it in a bottle handed to him by tho Director of Ceremonies . It was then securely corked . In another bottle were placed copies

of tho local papers . The architect then presented his plans to the D . G . M ., who , together with the members of the D . G . Lodge , duly approved of them , tho D . G . M . remarking that ho trusted the erection of the building would be a credit to the town , and enhance tho reputation of the architect . The following hymn was then admirably rendered by the choir : —

Ronnd the spot—Moriah's hill—Masons met with cheerful will . Him who stood as King that day , We as cheerfully obey . Lord , we love Thy glorious Name , Give the grace Thou gavest him .

Round this spot—thus chosen well—Brothers with fraternal hail . Gather in your mystic ring , Mystic words , and joyfal sing . Lord , our hearts , onr sonls are Thine , On onr labours deign to shine .

Round this land may plenty reign—Peace with spirit all benign ; Unity , the golden three , Here their influence ever be . Lord , these jewels of Thy store Send them bounteous , flowing o ' er .

The architect ( Bro . Burwell ) then presented tho D . G . M . with a silver trowel suitably inscribed . The presentation was accompanied by a few appropriate remarks . The D . G . M . said he had great pleasure in receiving the trowel , which he should retain as a memento of a most auspicious occasion . It was most gratifying to see such a large assemblage of brethren of the Craft . Preceded by the Director

of Ceremonies and Architect bearing the bottles and tho coins to bo deposited , and the D . G . Wardens with the level and plumb , the D . G . M * proceeded from tho platform to the east of tbe stone , the D . G . S . M . on his right hand . The bottles and coins wero then placed in the cavity of tho stone by tho D . G . Secretary . The mortar was then spread , and the stono lowered slowly into its place , the choir singing the following hymn , to the tune of the Old Hundred : —

Great Architect of heaven and earth , To whom all nature owes its birth ; Thou spake ! and vast creation stood ; Surveyed the work , pronounced it good . 0 , God of Justice , own and bless This hall we build , this sacred place ; And let Thy mercy ever shine "Within these walls—this house of thine .

The D . G . Wardens then applied their plumb and level to the stone at command of the R . W . Sub . D . G . M ., and he thereupon reported to the D . G . M . that the stone was well and truly laid . The latter acknowledged the report as coming from workmen of skill and ability , and tapping the stone three times with the gavel , declared the laying of it to bo completed . Corn was then strewed npon tho stone by tho

Substitute Master , and wine and oil wero poured upon it respectively by the S . W . and J . W . Tho W . D . C . then handed ronnd tho cups to make a collection for the workmen who were to be employed at tho building . The foreman of works , Bro . Walker , was then presented to the D . G . M ., who wished him success in tho nndcrtnking he bad in hand . Tho D . G . M . and members of tho D . G . Lodgo then returned to the platform , and the choir sang the following hymn : —