Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

you longer . I thank you for having listened attentively to the few and imperfect remarks I have made to you . When you read through the Report , you will find everything more in detail ; but let me call upon you now most heartily to drink " Success to this Institution , " and to offer , before you leave , a

material guarantee of the interest you take in it . Bro . SAMUEL TOMKINS ( Treasurer ) : Your Royal Highness and Brethren , I beg , as the Treasurer of this Institution , on behalf of myself and the officers , to thank you most cordially tor the way in which this toast has been proposed and received .

The Officers of this Institution feel the deepest interest in the welfare of this great and noble charity . They anticipate that this evening will produce a grand result for that charity . They feel grateful to you , brethren , for your attendance to-day ; they feel it a high honour that H . R . H . has presided to-day .

This charity fills a very important place in the Craft . Anything which should throw it into an inferior place would be a damage to the Craft at large ; but there is no danger of such a calamity happening . The charity always occupied an important place in the wishes of the Craft , and when

the lists are read you will see that the ancient prestige of this charity is well maintained , and that we may look forward to many years of great and glorious prosperity . On behalf of all the officers , I thank you heartily for the honour conferred on us . ( Cheers . )

Bro . E . H . PATTEN ( Secretary ) then rapidly ran through 124 lists of subscriptions , which amounted to £ 5200 , leaving 26 lists to come in , the total of which is expected to realize ^ 250 . The announcement was received with loud applause , and Bro . Patten was heartily congratulated on the success

which his exertions had achieved . His energy in the cause of the Girls' School , however , has accomplished great things before this ; and it is probably mostly due to his excellent management of the Institution , which visitors have so frequently had an opportunity of witnessing , that such a liberal result

was obtained . The Prince of Wales subscribed 100 guineas ; the Princess oi Wales 25 guineas ; Baron F . de Rothschild 10 guineas ; Prince John of Gliicksberg 5 guineas ; and the Marquis of Hamilton 3 guineas . The . PRINCE of WALES : Brethren , I have the

pleasure of bringing to your notice the following toast : " The health of the Visitors . " I am sure you will receive that kindly , as it is a pleasure to us to see so many distinguished visitors around us supporting this charity . I have great pleasure in coupling with the toast the name of Prince John of

Gliicksberg , a distinguished relative of my own . I have much pleasure in proposing his name , as this is the first time he has been present at any gathering of English Freemasons . I am glad that he is present and that you so cordially receive him , for when I look back to the time when I first became

a Freemason , three years ago in Sweden , I remember I was most kindly received in a Danish Lodge in Copenhagen . You will also , I am sure , appreciate the kindness which was then shown to mc , and will be glad that I couple the name of Prince John of Gliicksbersr with the toast of "TI 16 Visitors . "

( Cheers . ) PRINCE J of GLUCKSBURG : Brethren , in my name , and in that of the other visitors , I thank my illustrious relative most sincerely for proposing my health , and you , brethren , for so kindly receiving it . With the greatest pleasure , I shall carry back to

my country the remembrance of this day , which I have celebrated here amongst you ; and it will always remain an agreeable thought for mc to have been here among English Freemasons . I thank you , brethren . ( Great applause . ) The Rev . C . J . MARTVN , Past Grand

Chaplain , rose to propose the toast of " The Vice-Presidents , Trustees , various Committees , and Medical Officers , " but when he had got half through his speech , finding that liro . S . Tomkins had erroneously returned thanks for that body , proposed " The Health of the other Masonic Charities . " In

doing so , he said : I hope and trust you will carry back with you to your own provinces an account of what you have heard and seen , the same as our illustrious visitor , Prince John of Glucksburg , will carry back to his own country what he has heard and seen , and thus stir up feelings of benevolence among your brethren . You will thus do your

Masonic duty , and do honour to the Craft at large . Any words I can use giving you the merits of our Institution would be useless . I would only remind you that it is a most admirable one ; that the two festivals already held have produced large sums of money ; and I trust that the meeting of to-night will be equally beneficial .

Bro . J HERVEV , Grand Secretary : At once I beg to return thanks for the toast which has just been so kindly proposed by the Past Grand Chaplain . I donotknowthat I can add anything to what he has said in reference to the Masonic Charities ; and I think , if I were to makcthe best speech of the evening , it would be to return you the heartfelt

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

thanks of the brethren whom he has mentioned , and say no more than how much those who have been associated in the toast feel in reference to the charities , and how much they are interested in them . I am sure that the Trustees , the Vice-Presidents , and all who are connected with the Charities , do their

best to support them , that they will continue to do their best , and so long as they obtain your confidence and esteem , and command your support , they will feel they are amply rewarded . Rev . J . EDMUND COX , D . D ., Past Grand Chaplain : His Royal Hiehness has entrusted the next

toast to my care . It is one which I am sure you will receive with peculiar satisfaction , because it is one which refers to the labours and good services of those who have catered so well for our entertainment to-day , and who have so nobly come forward to support His Royal Highness , our illustrious

brother , on an occasion of deep and intense interest to every one of us . I have to propose " The Stewards of the day , " thanking them for their services , and I am sure you will all unite with me heartily in acknowledging the great services they have rendered so well-to day . With that toast I

shall give the name of the President of the Board of Stewards , Bro . Joshua Nunn , who will return thanks for that body , and do his duty in that respect as he does in all others . ( Cheers . ) Bro . J OSHUA NUNN : May it please your Royal Highness , my lords , and brethren , as Stewards on

this occasion we can but thank you for the support we have received , more particularly from His Royal Highness and from the distinguished visitors he has around him ; and I feel convinced that the charity will'flourish from to-day , knowing that we have for our patroness Her Royal Highness the

Princess of Wales . ( Hear , hear . ) I am quite ' surc that there is no one connected with this charity but must feel that we have gained to-day the highest and brightest honour we can get in connection with our charity —( hear , hear )—and I am also sure that every brother who has joined me as a Steward will

feel that His Royal Highness has , in naming the illustrious lady as our patroness , given us all the patronage we can desire . I feel certain we shall at least endeavour to deserve it . ( Cheers . ) The PRINCE of WALES : Brethren , the rule in this life is that all good things come to an end .

This dinner is now approaching its termination , and the time has arrived for me to offer you the next toast . I feel sure you will do honour to it , and drink it in bumpers , when I tell you the toast is " The Ladies , " with thanks for their attendance . ( Cheers . ) All Freemasons know the value of

ladies' society—the rich and the poor—and we on this occasion , 1 think , may thank them for having attended and listened so patiently to our speeches . Unfortunately , when I look up in the gallery , I sec that their ranks have very much diminished . I think there are barely any left . I trust our speeches

did not weary them and cause their departure ; but we will cordially drink the health of those who are present and of those who are absent . His Royal Highness and the visitors then left the hall , and adjourned to the Temple , where a superb concert was performed , under the direction of Mr . Lawlcr , by Mdmc . Florence Lancia , Misses Maria

Johnstone , Beale , Severn , Edmonds , Montague , Mason , and Julia Elton ; and Bros . Baxter , Mortem Smith , Carter , and Lawler ; Messrs . Linlcy and Lewis Thomas . Mr . Churchill Arlidgc gave some wonderful performances on the flute , and Mdmc . Arabella Goddard presided at the pianoforte . Bro . Thomas Spencer performed the duties of toastmaster to the satisfaction of every one .

Theatrical.

THEATRICAL .

HAYMARKET . —Bro . J . B . Buckstone , with regret , announces that in consequence of Mr . Sothcrn not having sufficiently recovered from his severe illness , he would not be able to rc-appcar in the new comedy drama , " An English Gentleman , " until May 13 th . The "Rivals" and "School for Scandal " have been performed during the week to large houses .

PRINCESS ' S . —During the week "The Wrong Man in the Right Place , " " The Fool's Revenge , " and " The Man in the Moon , " have been acted to large and fashionable audiences at this ever-popular theatre .

OLYMPIC . — ' •Daisy Farm " has proved a genuine success , and is performed nightly to large and crowded houses . " The Dumb Belle " and " A Chapter of Accidents " are also performed . STRAND . —At this fashionable theatre has been performed " Up in the World , " and a new

burlesque , by H . J . Byron , entitled " Eurydicc or Little Orpheus and his Lute . " As usual , the theatre has been filled in every part . On Saturday , 13 th , will be produced the celebrated Strand comedy , by John Oxcnford , called " Neighbours ; " also an original farce , by F . Hay , entitled " Lodgers and Dodgers . "

Obituary.

Obituary .

•?—BRO . JOHN KISSLING .

Death has again visited us , and removed from our midst one whom we could ill spare , and whose loss will be keenly felt , not only in his public capacity , but in several more intimate and private relationships . It is with profound regret that we record that Bro . J ohn Kissling ,

manager of the branches at Blenheim and Picton of the Bank of New Zealand , breathed his last , after two days' illness , on Tuesday morning , the 10 th January , at the early age of 31 years , leaving a widow and four young children to lament his untimely death . Sit tibi

terra levis . He was the eldest son of the late Ven . G . A . Kissling , Archdeacon of Waimate , and was bom at Sierra Leone in 18 39 , where his father was at that time a church missionary . While the subject of our notice was yet ven * young his father

removed to Auckland , and there his children were educated under the eye of Bishop Selwynthen Primate—and each have made themselves prominent in recent years * one being accountant in the Auckland branch of the Bank of New Zealand ; a second is Registrar of the Supreme

Court , Auckland * and a third is a solicitor in extensive practice in the same city . The eldest son , John , received an appointment in the Dunedin branch of the Bank of New Zealand when it started , and has filled the office of manager for several years . He came to this

province about three years ago , having been removed from the West Coast , where he performed his duties with such satisfaction that he was presented with a very handsome testimonial by the various employes under his care . Immediately on his arrival here he joined several

of the local societies and clubs , in which he ever took a prominent and active part , which he continued until his death . He was one of the lay readers as well as a church officer at the Church of the Nativity •was one of the founders of the Marlborough Lodge of Unanimity , No . 1236

E . C ., of which he was the W . M ., having been twice successively installed ; was a member of Court Blenheim , Ancient Order of Foresters ; was Lieutenant of the Blenheim Volunteers ; and a long time Captain of the Cricket Clnb . He was , in brief , a member of almost every

organisation in the neighbourhood , and with his family took a very active interest in the Philharmonic Society and the Wairau Club , both of which will suffer an irreparable loss . Always zealous in good works and charitable actions , he was universally esteemed , as was shown by the

respect paid to his remains . Rcquiescat in pace ! The interment took place on Thursday afternoon , and it remains for us to describe the event , which was unequalled in interest by any former instance of the kind in this locality . Being the chief officer of the Masonic fraternity ,

a special meeting of the members was convened , and the result was the organisatio / i of a procession , in which the Foresters coalesced . The Masons met at their lodge-room , and proceeded to the house of deceased in Maxwell-road passing between the Foresters , who drew up

near the house , they entered and took up their positions . The Tyler at ' . the door , the E . A . ' s and F . C . ' s lining the pathway ( the M . M . ' s alone entering the house , where the first portion of a deeply interesting ceremony took place ); while the Foresters completed the lines . Tlie procession left the house in the following order : —

Tyler , with drawn sword . The Junior Deacon and Senior Deacon acting as Stewards , with wands . Apprentices of other lodges . Apprentices , bearing young accacia trees . Craftsmen . Master Masons of other lodges .

faster Masons of Marlborough Lodge . Organist . Secretary , with roll . Tien surer . Junior Warden and Senior Warden . Past Master of Southern Star Lodge , Nelson . Past Masters of Marlborough Lodge . The Holy Writings , borne by the oldest Master

Mason . The Acting Worshipful Master . Sword-bean r . THE Corrix . Swoitl-beaici ' i The Chief Mourners .