New Zealand.

Wairoa , among whom were Bros . M . S . Leers P . M . 942 E . G ., 380 I . C , I . C . Victoria , P . P . J . G . D ., W . J . Rees P . M . 348 I . C , P . M . 421 I . C , P . G . S ., J . II . Burns P . M . 421 I . C , P . M . 151 E . G ., M . W . P . G . D . C . I . C , and a number of other less illustrious brethren of the fraternity . Arriving at Riverhead , we proceeded by rail to Helonsville . Arrived

at Knmea at 3 . 15 . Left a letter bag , apparently without any letters , and arrived at Heleusville at 4 . 30 p . m . We were met by Mr . Clarke , of the Railway Terminus Hotel ( lato of the City Club ) . The accommodation of this house would do credit to any hotel in the city . Left

Helensville by tho steamer Minnie Casey , at 12 midnight , arriving at Dargaville on Tuesday afternoon at 2 . 30 . During the passage of the steamer up the splendid Wairoa River , marks of progress were visible on both sides , showing what an industrious population can do . This part of the Province has been neglected in the past by the Provincial Government . The General Government have made great promises ,

and if faithfully kept a great future is in store for the residents of this District . It being my first visit to Dargaville , the future city of tho North , I was surprised at tho progress made . We found a large town properly laid ont , and tho buildings which are erected would do credit to many of the villa residences in the suburbs . On Sunday last , a very handsome church was opened , built at a cost of

about £ 1 , 000 . Tho fittings are very tastefully executed , aud tho architect and builder must feel proud of the result . The town is situated in a commanding position . Tho roads and drainage can bo completed without any engineering difficulty . As my object in visiting Dargaville was to aid in the Consecration of tho Lodge , and the installation of Bro . Dargaville as tho first W . M ., wo proceeded to

inspect the building , and finding everything correct , at noon on Wednesday the Lodge was Consecrated by Bros . Leers P . M . acting D . D . G . M ., Burns P . M . acting D . G . D . C , Rees P . M . acting D . G . Org ., George Powley D . G . S . W ., Rev . F . Gould D . G . Chaplain , W . Maokinn D . G . J . W ., Wells D . G . S . D ., Austin D . G . J . D ., Spiers D . G . P ., and Dr . Morton D . G . Tyler . After the consecration , Bro . Dargaville was

installed W . M . by Bro . P . M . Leers , in a very impressive manner . Bros . George Powley S . W ., Morton J . W ., and Robert Dargaville Treas . The investiture of the rest of the Officers waa postponed until the next monthly meeting . In the evening , the brethren eat down to a rdcherche banquet , provided by Mr . Raynes , at the Kaihu Hotel . This hotel was the surprise of all who had not visited the

district before . Tho house is well furnished , and tho comforts provided do credit to Mr . and Mrs . Raynes , whose attention and courtesy during our stay were very gratifying . One of our most pleasant anticipations was the promised excursion to the head of the river in the steamer Tangihna , at the invitation of Bro . J . M . Dargaville . The morning was ushered in with rain , bnt

about 9 o ' clock the weather cleared , and a beautiful day appeared in prospect . We left the wharf with a large party of ladies and gentlemen . The scenery on both sides of the river was enchanting . The dark and lofty kahikateas were interspersed with the graceful pnngas and weeping willows . On arriving at Mr . Watson ' s onr party landed and dispersed in various directions—some proceeding to inspect the remains of a primitive flour mill , while others went to the house to

see the family . Amongst tho Visitors was the Rev . F . Gould , who was rather unexpectedly required to perform the rite of baptism , Mr . Dargaville standing godfather . Having partaken of refreshments , wo re-embarked , and , after a splendid passage , reached Dargaville at 8 p . m ., exceedingly gratified with our pleasant excursion . After supper , wo bid good . by to Mr . and Mrs . Raynes , of the Kaihu Hotel , and took up our quarters on . board the steamer en route for Helensville , arriving there next morning at 11 , 30 .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Cor . respondents . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications . All Letters must hear the name and address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith .

— : u : — A PUZZLE SOLVED . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SrR AND BROTHER , —Ifc strikes me that Bro . Jacob Norton belongs to that class of critics which is known as the hypercritical . I have no doubt that Rev . Bro . Woodford is quite capable of defending his own work , but Bro . Norton should have some consideration for the faults which are inevitable in a large Cyclopaedia . That what

the latter is pleased to denominate " the Aberdour Puzzle , " might nevr have arisen had a littlo moro care been taken in reading the proofs is most likely ; that tbo information as at present arranged in the Cycloptcdia might lead ignorant people to imagine there were two Aberdours , one G . M . Scotland and the other G . M . England , is [ not to be denied ; bufc with all due deference to Bro . Norton , some

allowance should be made for faulty arrangements in a work of nearl y 1 , 000 pages . As for the confnsion between Morton and Heaton , it seems to me this is a mere printer ' s error which has escaped correction . Had the copy been in my handwriting , at least I should have offered this explanation . As I have been frequently told , those who compose my copy are not favourably impressed with mv

handwriting , nnd , mirabile dictu , do not consider it by any means a brilliant exhibition of caligraphy . But to return to the Aberdour difficulty , or rather the difficulty which Bro . Norton has apparently raised , and by which he is , or was , so perplexed . The editor of the Cyclopedia might have been more careful , but I do not think he has jaislead any one conversant with Masonio history—I beg nia pardon ,

Correspondence.

except Bro . Norton , who has brought up a tremendous array of matter in order to correot a clerical error ; in short , a Nasmy th hammer to crack a nut ! Cui bono ? Truly yours , G . UIMA .

Our French Brethren.

OUR FRENCH BRETHREN .

Wo have been favoured with copy of a letter addressed by the Council of the Grand Orient of France to foreign and French Lodges , and beg to place before our readers the following translation . A .-. L . \ G . \ D . \ G . \ A . ' . D .. \ L'UNIV . -. Grand Orient of France , Supreme Council for France and the French Possessions , O . - . of Paris , 1 st August 1878 ( E . \ V . - . ) To Foreign Masonic Powersaud the Lodges in their several jurisdictions , as well as to the Lodges in that of the Grand Orient of France . Thrice Greeting : —

VERY DEAR BRETHREN , —Tho General Assembly of the Grand Orient of France , at which the Presidents and Delegates of all the Lodges in its jurisdiction will be present , will be held during tho second week of September , aud , as is usually the case , the Session will terminate with a banquet , to be given at the hotel of the Grand Orient , 16 Kue Cadet ,

on Saturday , tho 11 th of tho month . The Universal Exhibition will still be open to tho public afc the time of this gathering , and doubtless will havo attracted to Paris , from all parts of the world , a considerable number of Freemasons . Under these circumstances , the Council of the Order , inspired with a

happy recollection of the fete held under similar conditions during the Exhibition of 1867 , havo arrived at the conclusion that the meeting of the General Assembly would offer an excellent opportunity for

strengthening the ties which unite the members of the great Masonic family . They therefore invite the Freemasons of other Orients and Lodges to join with their French brethren in giving a character for universality to the approaching Fete .

The Grand Orient of France entertains the hope thafc this appeal will be favourably received 3 and for its part , ifc rejoices in being able , afc a Convention of Masons of different Rites , to offer the brethren , who may convene together , the testimony of its deep and

fraternal sympathy . Accept , Very Dear Brethren , the assurance of onr sentiments of esteem and brotherly affection . In the name of the Council of the Order ,

( Signed ) DE SAINT JEAN , President . CH . COUSIN ) T ,. D ... CAUBET j Vice-Presidents . POULLI I ,, , . DEHEKEDIA . r 8 i ; , 'etam 3-

GENERAL ARRANGEMENTS . The labours of the Grand Orient will commence afc 4 p . m . The banquet will take place at 6 p . m . Tickets , the subscription or price of which is fixed at 15 franos , to be obtained at the Secretariat of the Grand Orient , 16 Rue Cadet .

N . B . —Tha subscription is , and will remain open till the 5 th Sep . tember , and not later . This arrangement being necessary in order that the Stewards may know beforehand the number of those who intend being present afc the banquet .

A MASONIC GRIP . —And speaking of signs reminds me of an old * time Masonio incident . When the anti-Masonic hostility was at its height , one of the hostiles met a sturdy old Boston caulker and framer , with a hand as hard as iron aud as big as a ham , and , taking him by the hand , he began making grips of a significant character , that the old caulker did not answer . " I thought you were

a Mason , ' said the gripper . " Well , suppose I am ; what then ? " " Why , you seem to know nothing of your own signs that I have been making you . " " Oh , was that what you were doing ? Well , you did not make the sign right , bee here now ; " and taking the gripper ' s hand in his , he crushed his tarry , caulking-iron grip npon it , till the bones cracked , and the fellow danced with a howl of pain . " There "

said old Oakum , " that is the grip of the iirst degree , and when you want the second come to me . " He never came for further li ght . The signs should be judiciously used , aud never played with . They are serious things , aud the one to whom they have been confided should regard them as a sacred trust , kept ready for use when the proper time comes , and then not too lavishly . —Masonic Jewel .

HOLLOWAV ' S PILLS — This cooling medicine has tbe happiest effect when the blood 15 overheated , anu a tendency to inflammatory au . 1011 is set up in tho system . One 1 'ill taken shortly before ttiunev Hoes away with indigestion , lullneas ami tlatule icy indicative of a weak stomach or disordered liver . A lew fills taken at bedtime act as alteratives suit aperients ; taey non only relievo tho bowels , but regulate every organ connected with them ; overcome all acrid Humours and eucoirage a Tree supply of i . ll the secretions eosentiai to our well ueing . Hollovvay ' t t-uis tliorouguly clean ., c and jperfeuiy regulate tue circulation ; and beget a i ' teling of comioit in hot jlimatea and , high temperature which , is most desirable , for the preservation of health ,