Maternal Instinct In Sparrows.

the city and of the Craft . At times it was feared that those well-meant efforts would not be successful , but there is every reason to believe that the early part of 1876 will see tho long desired Hall erected . A limited liability company is to be formed for the purpose . Tho want whioh the company proposes to fill is one which has long been felt in Auckland . Something more than

the mere erection of a hall will be undertaken by the company . The site of the building chosen is that block of ground in Upper Queen Street , near the Army and Navy Hotel , running from Qneen to Grey Streets . Besides the necessary accomodation for Masonic rites and ceremonies , it is intended to provide a large hall for concerts , pnblio meetings , & c . The hall will also be used as a Masonic clnb . Masons from all parts of the colony may lodge there during

their stay in Aucklaud , if they prefer to do so rather than go to an Hot' 4 . The company is to have a capital of £ 10 , 000 , iu 5 , 000 shares of £ 2 each . It is intouded that tho company shall bo started on a sound financial basis , and have no debt either on land or building when the hall is open . The Prince of Wales Lodge , No . 1338 , has been the chief moving agent in the matter , Bro . Seers P . M ., the able socrotary , having been unwearying in his efforts to promote this end .

Reviews.

REVIEWS .

All Books intended for Beview should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , 67 Barbican , E . C . Lives of the Engineers . The Steam Engine . Bonlton and Watt . By Samuel Smiles , author of " Character , " " Self Help , " & c . A new and revised edition . London : John Murray , Albemarle Street ,

1874 . IT would havo been somewhat difficult to find a man better able to fulfil tho task of biographer to our great engineers , than the author of " Self Help . " Biography requires a man of patient study , of deep research , possessing likewise a certain enthusiasm and liveliness

of description , so that he may enlist tho sympathies of the reader , at the samo time that he does justice to the merits of the subject he is writing of . Mr . Smiles possesses these various qualities in an eminent degree . To judge from previous works of his , we should set him down as one who had read deeply , and who well digested what he had

read . As for his style , we know full well that it is what is properly known as popular—not in the sense in which some novels are said to be popular , novels which everybody reads because everybody else has read them , and then forgets , as everybody else has forgotten thembut popular in so far as it will edify and attract tho great mass of

the reading public . In this sense Mr . Smiles may certainly be set down as a popular author , and consequently what comes from his pen may bo set dowu , generally , as edifying aud attractive . This is doubly tho case as regards the volume before us . Wo havo here tho lives of two popular worthies narrated by a popular author . However

consistent with patriotism somo Englishmen may regard it to abuse our institutiuus , whatever doubts may exist as to the merits of this or that public man , thero are very few among us who do not poiut with prido to tho marvellous works and inventions of our great engineers . In respect of this particular class of great men , England may fairly

claim to be far ahead of all other nations , Franco and Germany have had their statesmen and generals as well as we ; in geographical discovery , Spain took the lend of all the nations of tho old world , aud Holland has done more than its share of geographical enterprise , as have we in the days of tho great Queen and since , but no other

country under the sun can boast with honest pride of such a glorious array of engineering genius as can England , and foremost in this array are the subjects of Mr . Smiles ' s present volumo—James Watt , the inventor of the steam engine , and Matthew Boulton . James Watt , born at Greenock , on the Clyde , on 19 th January

1836 , was of good parentage . His grandfather , Thomas Watt , had migrated to the neighbourhood from the county of Aberdeon , where his father had been a small farmer in the time of Charles I . In early years , James was extremely delicate , and required tho greatest care in bringing up . His education therefore , was , at the outset , a home

one . When sent at length to a commercial school , he proved at first a somewhat dull scholar , nor was it till he got into the mathematical class , that ho gave evidenco of possessing any great powers . His weak health frequently interrupted his studies , and obliged him to return home , but his progress in mathematics aud mechanics was very great .

On reaching the ago of eighteen he was apprenticed to an optician in Glasgow , or rather to a worthy man who was so described , but who really sold and mended spectacles , repaired fiddles , aud made and sold fishing-rods and fishing-tackle . Finding , however , that he gained but little additional knowledge hero , ho was

sout to London , and became engaged to a Mr . John Morgan , a respectable mathematical instrument maker in Cornhill . Here ho soon became proficient in all the branches of this delicate manufacture , so that by the end of tho year he Wis able to write homo to his father that ho had made " a brass

sector with a French joint , which is reckoned as nice a piece of framing work as is iu the trade . " In 1856 , Watt returned to Greenock , in bad health , but well set up in knowledge of the business he had devoted himself to . He soou regained strength , however , and was sent to Glasgow to begin business for himself . Here , however , ho experienced some difficulties . Thero were no mathematical instrument

makers in the city , yet "Watt was opposed by the Corporation of Hammermen , on the ground that he wes neither a sou of a burgess nor had served an apprenticeship within the borough . " Ho then sought pei-mioajnn of r . |«> Corporation to open n , small workshop ; bnt , this also was peremptorily refused . At length he found a sale harbour of + t u ° witlnn tne P recinet 3 of Glasgow University , over which neither the hainmennennor the Corporation had the slightest influence or autho-

Reviews.

rity , and m a workshop in the inuer quadrangle of this venerable building , Watt passed the early years of his business career , and here he established that high reputation for mechanical skill and science , which in the end was to raise him to such a pinnacle of greatness . Here he was enabled to pursue his studies under far moro favourable conditions , and here he contracted those early friendships with men

i if eminence , such as Dr . Joseph Black , the great chemist , Professor Dick , Professor Andersou , and John Robison , then a student , but afterwards Professor of Natural Philosophy at Edinburgh . The description by the last quoted in these pages , of his introduction to VVatt will bear reproduction in our columns : — " Itobison ' s introduction to Watt has been described by himself .

After feasting his eyes on the beautifully-finished instruments in his shop , Robison entered into conversation with the owner . Expecting to find only a workman , he was surprised to discover a philosopher . ' I had the vanity , ' says Robison , ' to think myself a pretty good proficient in my favoutito study ( mathematical and mechanical philosophy ) , aud was rather mortified at finding Mr . Watt so much

my superior . Bat his own high relish for these things made him pleased with the chat of any person who had tho same taste 3 with himself ; and his innate complaisance made him indulge my curiosity , and even encourage my endeavours to form a more intimate acquaintance with him . I lounged much about him , and , I doubt not , was frequently teasing him . Thus onr acquaintance began . '"

Nor can we do better than quote the opinion given of Watt at thi 3 period : — " VVatt soon came to be regarded as one of the ablest men about College . ' When to the superiority of knowledge in his own line , ' said Robison , ' which every man confessed , there was joined the ua'ive simplicity and caudour of his character , it is no wonder that the attachment of his acquaintances was so strong . I have seen

something of the world , he continued , ' and I am obliged to say that I never saw such another instance of general and cordial attachment to a person whom all acknowledged to be their superior . But this superiority was concealed under the most amiable candour , aud liberal allowance of merit to every man . Mr . Watt was the first to

ascribe to tho ingenuity of a friend things which were very often nothing but his own surmises followed out and embodied by another . I am well ontitled to say this , and have often experienced it in my own case . '" ( To be Continued . )

Masonic Orphan Boys' School.

MASONIC ORPHAN BOYS' SCHOOL .

THE half-yearly general meeting of the Board of Governors of the Masonic Orphan Boys' School , was hold at Freemasons' Hall , Molesworth Street , on Thursday , the 13 th May . E . W . Robert W . Shekleton , D . G . M ., Vice-Patron , in the chair . The Minutes of tho previous half-yearly meeting having been read , were confirmed and signed .

The following report from the Scrutineers of tho Ballot was theu read : — We , the undersigned Scrutineers of the Ballot for the election of Two Pnpils into tho Masonic Orphan Boys' School , havo to report that , with the assistance of the Secretary , wo have examined the several

voting papers sent iu . The total number of papers received up to the time of the Scrutiny was GG 0 , viz .: —21 from Vice-Patrous and Vice-Vresideuts ; 106 trom Lifo Governors ; 352 from Annual Governors ; and 1 * 78 from Official

Governors . Of these 4 wero not properly signed ; 3 wero duplicates ; and 55 from Governors whoso subscriptions wero unpaid . The total number of votes recorded was 1 , 466 , viz .: — Wills Ballautino .... G 4

Thomas H . Blundell .... 29 George H . Gill .... 87 Francis W . Harvey .... 16 William H . Kuight .... 196 William S . Little .... 232

Charles L . Mathews .... 122 William G . Orr .... 379 Eugene O'Reilly .... 264 Alexander L . Richardson .... 35 Alpvnndnr Robinson . 42

Dated this 11 th day of May 1875 . John A . Hogau , Lodgo No . 6 ) Samuel Dobbin , ,, 4 / „ ,. John Vincent Lerce . ( i C Scrutineers .

Chariot ; Foot , „ 33 ) SAMUEL B . OLDHAM , Assistant Secretary . It was pivp . wed by Brother George Hill Major ; seconded by Brother < J . U . M --reditu ,, LL . D ., and

resolved"' lhat V » i mi Gerald Orr , sou of tho lato John Orr , stock broker , of L . n ^ a . i 36 and 40 , Belfast ; and Eugene O'Reilly , sou of tho late Matthew lie irgo O'Reilly , Sub-Inspector Royal Irish Constabulary , of Lori , ci , -17 , Ballina , aud 13 , Limerick , be declared duly elected as Pupils of the Masonic Orphan Boys' School . The following Resolution of the Committee having been read : — " That tho Committee desire to bring before the Board of Governors ,

at its next meoUug , the desirability ot establishing a separate Institution , aud the benefit likely to accrue to the School by so doing . " It was , af'ersotno discussion , proposed by Brother William Roper ; seconded by Bro . J . C . Meredith , LL . D . ; aud resolved" That in the opinion of tho Board of Governors , it is not expedient at present t- > take any active steps towards the establishing , as a separate Institution , the Masonic Orphan Boys' School . "

[ We m-e t , the above at the request of an esteemed correspondent . At- t ' is « nii ) vinvi \ vt \ should i ' cel obiij'ed to our friends in [ rcliiinl if they would assist us in giving eariiur publicity as to the events occurring in their respective districts . — [ EDITOR , FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . ]