Western Australia.

satisfaction of the brethren , withdrew for preparation . The lodge having been passed to the second degree , Bro . Hillman was admitted and passed to the degree of a Fellow Craft by S . P . M . Lochce . The lodge was closed in duo form . A lodge was held on the 23 rd March , when Bro . James w-as passed to the second degree in the usual manner .

The Week.

THE WEEK .

THE COURT . —Her Majesty and the junior members of the Royal Family continue at Balmoral . The Prince and Princess of Wales on Thursday , the 2 Gth , attended Divine service at AVestminstor Abbey , where there was a choral festival with sermon by the Archbishop of Canterbury . Offerings were received in aid of the funds of the Clergy Orphan Corporation , to which the Prince has since added jE 50 . A grand review of volunteers

was held in Hyde Park on Saturday , in honour of the Queen ' s birthday . The Prince and Princess of Wales , the Duke of Cambridge , Prince and Princess Louis of Hesse , tho Princess Mary of Cambridge , the Duke of Aumale and his sons , and a large number of persons of high rank were among the 50 , 000 or 60 , 000 people who crowded the Park to witness this

remarkable military display . The number of volunteers on the ground is estimated at between 21 , 000 and 22 , 000—tho largest force of volunteers , so far as we remember , that has ever been brought together . The Prince of AVales held a levao at St . James's Palace , on Wednesday , by command of her Majesty . The presentations were numerous . On Thursday , the Prince and

Princess of Wales , with a numerous retinue , proceeded to Cambridge . Prince Alfred is at present with his ship , the Racoon , at Lisbon . IOTEBJAL PARLIAMENT . —In the HOUSE or LORDS on Thursday , the 26 th ult ., Lord EUenboi-ough denounced the conduct of the Prussians in Jutland , and observed that if the influence of this country had been what it once was the Great German Powers would have acted differently . He believed that the exercise of moral opinion was powerless in producing anv

satisfactory result , and that if we wished to do good , we must be prepared to vindicate our views by force . Lord Russell warmly defended the policy of the Government , and , in the course of his reply , took the opportunity of contradicting the rumours which have been current to the effect that that policy has been dictated by her Majesty . " In all stops , " he said ,

" which had been taken , both iu reference to Poland and Denmark , her Majesty had readily acaodod to the advice which had been tendered to her by her responsible Ministers . " After some further discussion , in which Lord Grey and other peers took part , the subject dropped . The Bill for the removal of the disabilities of tbe Episcopalian clergy of Scotland—who , as the

law at present stands , cannot hold a benefice in England—was referred to a Select Committee . Several bills were then advanced a stage . On Friday , Lord Brougham inquired if her Majesty ' s Government intended to appoint inspectors of middleclass schools . Earl Granville replied that the subject had been Tinder the consideration of the Committee of Council on

Education , but thej' did not soe their way clear to appoint inspectors of schools that did not receive support from the Government , but wero simply ' private speculations . Earl Stanhope called attention to the report of the Public School Commission , especially to that part of it which refers to' the course of instruction in the public schools , and ho advocated a change

being introduced with regard to their management . The Earl of Clarendon said the course of education was so loose in public schools that when the young men came to college there was not more than one-third of them who were able to

pass the matriculation examination , although it was a very simple one . On Monday , Lord Clarendon brought in a short Bill , which was read a first time , providing that persons acquiring rights as members of the governing bodies of the public schools shall hold those rights subject to any decision which may hereafter be a-rived at by Parliament on the question of public school education . —A short discussion took place

on the state of New Zealand , and several peers denounced the Confiscation Act passed by the colonial Legislature and sanctioned by the Home Government . On Tuesday , the Penal Servitude Bill , which has already passed through the various stages in the House of Commons , was read a second time . In the HOUSE OF COSMOS ' S on Thursday , the 26 th ult ., Lord

Ilartington stated , in reply to a question from Sir F . Smith , that the Guards and a battalion of the Military Train had been ordered home from Canada on account of the heavy expenditure incurred in providing barrack accommodation there . —In reply to Mr . Smollett , Mr . Cardwell said the 2 nd of June was the date fixed for handing over the Ionian Islands to Greece . The right

honourable gentleman contradicted the statement that Sir Hem-y Storks had drawn up a constitution for the future government of the Islands . —Air . Hennessy moved the resolutions , which he has so often postponed , affirming that England is no longer bound to recognise the sovereignty of Russia in Poland . The lion , gentleman censured the course which

had been adopted by the Government in rejecting the uroposals which had been made on this question by France and Austria , and urged that an independent Poland was necessary to the tranquillity of Europe . Lord Palmerston agreed with Mr . Hennessy in condemning tho oppressive treatment of Poland by the Russian Government , and admitted that the recent negotiations had not terminated satisfactorily . But he

reminded the lion , gentleman that he himself had declared that he did not desire a war on behalf of Poland , and that all lie proposed was that the European Powers should combine in a diplomatic effort to obtain justice for the Poles . Diplomacy had boon set in operation and had failed , but he trusted the House would pause before it gave its assent to resolutions which

it would be undignified ou its part to adopt , unless it was prepared to proceed to extreme measures . It would , moreover , he unfortunate for the Poles themselves to have it formally declared that Russia had forfeited her right to Poland , as that right—based as it was on the treaty of \ 1 enna—involved a distinct claim upon the protection of the Great Powers . On Friday

Mr . Scully moved , " That a humble address be presented to her Majesty , praying that she will be graciously pleased to issue a Commission to inquire and report as to tho best system for registering titles to land in Ireland , and to frame a measure for that purpose ; and also to consider and report as to the creation of transferable debentures upon laud in Ireland . " The

Attorney-General for Ireland said there was no controversy as to the advantage of carrying out Mr . Scully's views for freedom of trade iu land by means of a free and cheap system of transfer in Ireland . He thought it was possible to frame a measure on the subject , but as it would involve such great consequence to the community it ought to be brought in upon the responsibility

of the Government . The matter was now under consideration , and a measure was in preparation . After a short conversation the motion was withdrawn . —Mr . AAlialley brought under notice the instructions issued by the Police Commissioners as to the suppression of public meetings in the parks , and to the power assumed hy subordinate officers of the police force , pursuant to

those instructions , in suppressing a recent meeting at Primrosehill . Sir G . Grey observed that the parks were the property of Crown , and were subject to certain conditions and restrictions