Geniality.

adduced it only as evidence of the force of geniality , and we ask , if the semblably genial man exerts so great an influence and becomes popular , why should we not exert ourselves always to be genial ? Why should our worthy friend Cantanker be always busy with his objections and

innendoes ? Why , being a good fellow at bottom , should be not be so outwardly as well ? Why does he not strive to cultivate the suaviter in modo ? The trouble he takes to make himself disagreeable would suffice to make him endurable in every society of men he might find himself in .

Why be so frigid , Mr . Cold Shoulder ? Why so reserved , Mr . Shy Boots ? The average run of men are not ranging about for the purpose of destroying you . They have no evil designs on your property . In whatever circle we move , we endeavour to pass life as agreeably as we can . Even

where the disagreeables predominate , a sensible man tries to make tbe best of it . We will not say it absolutely , but it occurs to us that crying involves more physical exertion than laughing . If it be so , this alone is a sufficient reason why we should court laughter rather than tears . Of the two

ancient philosophers , Democritus , who laughed always , and Heraclitus , who was always weeping , we infinitely prefer the former as a companion , and as we have already hinted , the cultivation of pleasure is no more trouble than the cultivation of pain . But to point the moral of our remarks ,

we find some difficulty in picturing to ourselves an ungenial Mason , or even a semblaby genial one . We meet in Lodge , firstly , for mutual instruction and the cultivation of virtue , and , in the next place , that we may learn to appreciate each other . This geniality , with the true ring in it , is

requisite to make us good Masons . It is our duty , both in Lodge and out of Lodge , to speak well of all men , to treat them well , to be suave in manner , gentle in speech , willing to oblige , and contented with our lot . The man who fulfils

this duty is a genial Mason . We need not go far afield for an unexampled illustration of geniality . The immortal Mr . Pickwick , in reading whose adventures we have spent so many happy hours , was nothing if not genial . He set out on his memorable travels in search of

knowledge , and to do good to his fellow creatures . We do not call to mind a single instance in which he faltered from his purpose , or in which he failed of ultimate- success . We will quote two extracts from the Papers of the Pickwick Club to prove the value of our statement . " ' I shall never

regret , ' said Mr . Pickwick , in a low voice , ' I shall never regret having devoted the greater part of two years to mixing with different varieties and shades of human character , frivolous as my pursuit of novelty may have appeared to many . Nearly the whole of my previous life

having been devoted to business and the pursuit of wealth , numerous scenes , of which I had no previous conception , have dawned upon me—I hope to the development of my mind and the improvement of my understanding . If I have done but little good , I trust I have done less harm ,

and that none of my adventures will be other than a source of amusing and pleasing recollection to me in the decline of life . God bless you all ! ' " And almost tbe closing lines of his history read thus : — " Mr . Pickwick is somewhat infirm now ; but he retains all his juvenility of spirit ,

and may still be frequently seen contemplating the pictures in the Dulwich Gallery , or enjoying a walk about the pleasant neighbourhood on a fine day . He is known by all the poor people about , who never fail to take their hats off , as he pusses , with great respect . The children idolise

him , and so , indeed , does the whole neighbourhood Every year , he repairs to a large family merry-making at I » ir . Wardle ' s ; on this , as on other occasions , he is invariably attended by his faithful Sam , between whom and his

master there exists a steady and reciprocal attachment which nothing but death can terminate . " Surely Mr . Pickwick ' s was a good Masonic life , if not the life of a Mason . At all events , we shall have no cause to repent if we all imitate his chiefest virtue—geniality .

East, West And South.

EAST , WEST AND SOUTH .

BY A WAJTDEIUNCT FREEMASON . IV .

OUR domestic arrangements ended , we proceeded to examine in detail the surroundings of our claim , which gave great promise . We intended to work it in a

East, West And South.

similar way to that of Wai-karu-mumu , by digging a race about 300 feet long . This was preferable to the labour of carrying the soil to the creek and washing or cradling it , so we at once set to work . Maurice was fond of roving about prospecting after our day ' s work was over , and would

sometimes return to the hut quite late . He more than once put me off with some pretence when I spoke of going with him . I thought this odd , and one moonlight evening determined to follow him up . His track was difficult ; it led me to an open space overgrown with fern ,

through which great blocks of quartz cropped up at intervals . Beyond a copse bordering this open space rose a rocky ridge , which ascended and formed part of the rugged mountain range . On this ridge I found a pickaxe , which had been left on our claim , lying amid a pile of

debns . Maurice sprang out of the shadows , and seeming rather confused , parried my enquiries ; shouldering the pick , we marched home .

The next day our work came to a sudden stop , by our striking rock midway between the claim and the creek , with no possibility of evading it in our excavations . The matter became serious when we found the same to extend

for some distance lightly covered with soil . Said Maurice , " We can't finish this without powder . " He seemed to have a good knowledge of the method of " blasting , " and of finishing the race effectually , so that I relied on his experience . It was , therefore , arranged

that I should go down to Takaka to purchase powder . Having done this , I , one morning , started on my return , laden with an 8 lb . tin , fuzes , a piece of fresh beef and some small tools . This trip remains graven in my memory as one of the most annoying chapters of accident it has been my lot to experience .

I tried a short cut home by turning up a small canyon , which would strike " One Speck Gully" halfway , and save about three miles' detour . From the canyon diverged a creek which formed a confluence with that of " One

Speck Gully " lower down . I found in this creek , to my surprise , a decayed dam ( I heard afterwards that it had been constructed by the Germans we had seen at Miller ' s ) , in the inside of which the water was still deep , so that I was compelled to take to the bank . The soil on the

bank was loose , and crumbling down a steep declivity ; as I scrambled through it , ankle deep , I stumbled—and down fell the beef out of my siuag , into six feet of water . I had to strip for a dive , depositing my burden , clothes and goldbelt * carefully in a hollow . I recovered tbe beef , but in

struggling up the bank agaiu , almost " tooth and nail , " had the misfortune to clutch at my boots , which turned over and plunged into the gulf . I had to dive again to recover them , and pursued my way in rather a savage mood . I reached the hut at sundown , to be further

chagrined at finding no fire , no supper and no Maurice . I supposed he was roaming as usual , and lighted the fire for tea and a broil . Tired and sleepy after supper , I turned into my blankets , having carefully suspended my boots over the fire to dry .

Surprised next morning to find that Maurice had not returned , I looked out , and was disgusted to see that the poles over the fire had given way , dropping my only pair of boots to perish . Maurice ' s swag was gone , but nothing else had been removed , and I was forced to the conviction

that he had intentionally deserted . Remembering his nocturnal rambles and furtive manner , I suspected that even if our settlement had not been wholly and simply planned for his advantage , he had , since our arrival , made one of bis specially lucky finds , and been unable to withstand the temptation .

I did not relish working on in solitude ; the chance of getting a partner or a help was very remote , and yesterday ' s mishaps had rather sickened me , so I did not long

ponder upon my position ; I buried the powder , tools and effects inside the hut , and bidding a last adieu to " One Speck Gully " of evil omen , left it—a shoeless—though a wiser youth .

Over the boulders and shingle of the creek , through rough fern and toivie bushes , along ridges covered with painful needle-grass , I reached Takaka , with bleeding feet .

There I found , encamped , a party of Maoris of the broken tribes of the Ngatitamma and Ngnatirarua ; they also were shoeless , but the contrast between their condition and my own made me ashamed of civilised effeminacy , and