Northern China.

•mportant District . I cau assure you that I do so most heartily , for to nio it has been a real pleasure to seo you this ovening receive that honour which yon have so amply merited by your long and conscientious services to Freemasonry ; and if you can recall , aa I do , the

kind manner in which , nearly a quarter of a century ago , you ex . tended to me on my arrival the right hand of fellowship , you will balieve me that my congratulations are no mere matter of form . 1 can offer you np better wish than that your tenure of office may prove as brillantly successful as was that of your predecessor in that

chair . That the office of a District Grand Master m a difficult one , none know bettor than those who have filled it ; bat yon have groat advan tages over those who , like Brother Thorne and myself , have been appointed to new Districts : inasmuch as here the work of organisation is finished , tho routine is established , and yon succeed

to the rule of a perfectly equipped District in fall working order . Moreover , you bring to the post the advantages of the experience you have gained in the long years during which you have held the office of Deputy District Grand Master , and you will be assisted by experienced officers , and especially by a Deputy thoroughly imbued with

the principles of Freemasonry and practically conversant with the working of the District . To see this large concourse of Masons , assembled to testify by their presence the satisfaction they feel at your appointment , cannot fail to afford yon tho greatest gratification , for it indicates that you will have to back you , not only the loyal

affection of thoso immediately under your rule , but also the cordial support of our brethren of the sister Constitutions . I trust , Rt . Wor . District Grand Master , that this happy condition of harmony and brotherly love may ever be perpetuated , and that under your able rule , thus auspiciously inaugurated , our ancient Institution may

enjoy many years of uninterrupted usefulness aud prosperity in the District of Northern China . After other of the sereral representatives present had tendered their

congratulations , the District Lodge was closed in due form , after solemn prayer , in peace , harmony and brotherly love , and the Officers of the District Grand Lodge retired , whilst the brethren sang " God bless the Prince of Wales . "

Kimberley Diamond Fields.

KIMBERLEY DIAMOND FIELDS .

THE hot weather we have experienced during the last few weeks has affected various people in various ways ; and not a few have found that tho increase of our temperature to almost tropioal intensity has had a most distressing effect on their appetites . Not a few of us have wandered about , looking for something with which

to tempt our palate , but without meeting with anything like a satisfactory solution of our trouble , and if the heat is to last much longer it is impossible to realise the effect it must have . We in England have experienced all this difficulty after a few days' hot . weather , bnt how must it be with those who have to endure such a climate

month after month throughout the year . For answer we can only refer to what goes on in those parts of tho world where excessive heat is the rule , and there we find that the same difficulty does not appear to be experienced . In confirmation of this we append a cutting from a paper issued at the Kimberley Diamond

Fields , referring to the Transvaal Hotel of that place , and of which , as many of onr readers are aware , that " Energetic Brother , " John Constable , is the manager . We havo previously had occasion to refer to the " variety" of the viands ho prepares for those who trust themselves to his care , and the present extract gives a very fair idea

of their " quantity . " We can well imagine " the young person of the " Transvaal" quoting figures—as is his wont—to prove his and the hotel ' s capabilities , and while wishing him a strong advance in future years , wo may assure him that we shall give him a call " whenever we are his way . "

A gentleman recently arrived here from the Colony , on a brief visit , and was invited by a friend to have some refreshments , when the question arose as to where they should go . The resident suggested the " Transvaal , " when the visitor expressed bis surprise at the choice ; " he was under the impression that the ' Transvaal '

Was only a small canteen . Anxious to correct this impression , his friend induced him to visit the hotel in question , when they were shown round the long linos of bedrooms , each with its electric hell , the bathrooms , lavatory , reading-rooms , stabling , & c , by the resident ' s courteous " young friend . " The visitor expressed his pleasure and

surprise at the cleanliness , comfort , and convenience of all ho saw , when the " young friend , " in order to finally remove any lingering uonbfc that might rest in the stranger ' s mind as to tho fact of the " Transvaal" being an important hotel , placed before his astonished oyes the following interesting statistics collected from the books of the establishment : —

MEALS . 1884 .-131 , 247 ( average for 3 G 5 days ) . —120 persons , three nieals each . 1885 . —129 , 021 ( average for 335 days ) . —118 persons , three meals each .

HORSES STAISLED . 1881 . —6069 . Daily average about 1 G- ? . 1885 . —7730 . Daily average about 21 £ .

BUTCHER S ACCOUNT . Exclnsivo of other animal food not supplied by butcher . ) 1884 . — £ 2038 : 1885 , £ 2013 .

FOWLS . 18 , 84 . —1680 . Average about 32 per week . 1885 . —1546 . Average about 30 per week .

GENERAL Coxsuuniox—lSSa : Flour , 51 bags ; potatoes , 241 bags ; paraffin , 96 cases ; cheese ,

Kimberley Diamond Fields.

2 , 064 lbs . ; ham , 1 , 861 lbs . ; sugar , 3 , 408 lbs ., 5 , 852 lbs ., in all 9 , 260 1 lbs . ; butter , 1 , 972 lbs ., 234 lbs ., in all 2 , 206 lbs . j tea , 53 boxes ; coffee , 1 , 383 lbs . ; milk , 73 cases of 4 doz . each ; fresh milk , 7 , 286 bottles ; eggs , 19 , 728 . Let ns hope that in every case good digestion waited ou appetite .

There was evidently plenty of the latter . We invito statistics from other hotels , but the above are worthy of publication . When the aggregate of some of the items of liquors was shown to him , our visitor took the first train to the Western Province resolving to disabuse the minda of his friends as to the " Transvaal" Hotel .

The R . W . Prov . Grand Master of Essex , the Rfc . Hon .

the Lord Brooke , will hold an especial Provincial Grand Lodge , at the Public Hall , Southend-on-Sea , on Saturday , the 31 st instant , at 12 * 30 o ' clock p . m ., for the purpose

of laying , with Masonic ceremonial , the foundation stone of All Saints' Church , Southend , when the attendance is required of the Present and Past Provincial Grand Officers , with the Worshipful Masters , Past Masters , and Wardens of the Lodges in the Province . Prov . Grand Lodgo will be opened punctually at 1 * 15 o ' clock .

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FUNERALS properly carried out and personally attended in London or Country by Bro . G . A . SUTTON , 17 ^ Newcastle Street , Strand , W . C . Monuments erected . Valuations made .