Lost Votes.

dates affected ? I ask the question because I am frequently in the habit of purposely withholding my votes . If you can show me that I am wrong in so doiug , I shall be very willing to amend my ways , aud behave better for the future . I have . seldom , or I might say never , any personal knowledge of any of the candidates or their circumstances—I refer to the

list for particulars , and generally find that every case is well worthy of attention , but then comes the consideration that if I give my votes to Jemima Spriggens , I in so far , or pro tanto , give her an advantage over Betty Wiggens or any other candidate who might be running a neek-and-neck race with the former , and

so my votes might tend to the exclusion altogether of the said Betty , whose claims may probably be as good as those of her more successful competitormade successful probably through my votes thrown into the scale in her favour ; knowing nothing whatever of the merits of either ease beyond what I glean

from the lists , why should I help in pushing forward one in particular , and possibly in so doing injure the prospects of another ? It strikes me very forcibly that the present system of canvassing for candidates is altogether bad . There are many very excellent and perhaps I may say , without offence , very busybrethren

, who always seem to have some particular candidate under their wing at every election . They seem to make it their special business to always have some choice favourite to carry triumphantly through every contest . They send out circulars to their friends , acquaintances , and even strangers (" with Brother Busybody's compliments" iu the flap of the

envelope ) requesting votes on behalf of their pet candidate , and then when he or she has proved successful they will remark and tell complacently at their next lodge meeting how they had got poor Ebenezer Snooks or Betty Popkins into the Benevolent Asylum , or two childreu , perhaps , into the Boys' and Girls ' Schools this is what

. Now , I have witnessed frequently—nay , more , long before the elections even I have heard the same Brother Busybody , on beinoasked to help a particular candidate , reply blandly and confidently , " Oh , yes , I'll bring him in for you , never fear , " and he will , no doubt , fulfil his promise . under this

Now , system admission to our schools and asylum is made greatly to depend ou the assistance of these most excellent Busybodies ; their protegees may generally be certain of success , whilst others equally meritorious , and equally distressed , may stand " out iu the cold" for years , and never get housed at all ! What

say , you , Mr . Editor , do I tell a true tale or do I not ? Can you not , at once , put your finger on a dozen or more of the brethren to wkoin I have alluded ? I do not blame them for anything but want of judgment , and for not considering that our schools and asylum are not kept up for the benefit of those

whom they may choose or chance to support , but for those who are most deserving and most in need . Lastly , why cannot every voter refer to the lists of candidates , to the full particulars of each case which accompany them , and then judfor himself who is the most and

ge deserving the most in need , and vote accordingly ; or , if iu any doubt or uncertainty , let him not vote at all , as is the practice , and I maintain the right practice of Yours fraternally , FORTY-ONE TEARS A MASON .

ECONOMY IN PRODUCTIVE MACHINERY . MESSRS . EAT , MEAD & Co ., Engineers , 38 , Upper Thamesstreet , and of the Trolway Works , Old Eord , have for some time given their attention to the production of Horizontal Steam Engines , which range in power from 21- to 12 horse . The growing demand of late years for cheap productive machinery , and more especially the daily increasing demand for smaller engines for the thousands of purposes in the

production of the requisites of daily life , such as printing , wood turning , 'tobacco manufacturing , weaving , iron founding , as also for many other purposes , have induced this firm to devote nearly the whole of the resources of their establishment to their production , and the great demand which the public have made for their engines , consequent upon the great reduction in price and the superior quality and simplicity of them demonstrate the fact that they acted wiselin adopting

y the idea which enables them actually to defy competition in price and quality . Take the 2 | horse-power engines as an example of the rest , which may be had for £ 15 15 s . complete , it has a diameter of cylinder of o ^ in ., a 9 t stroke , a crank shaft , supported on either side , so as to need no wall-blocks , with a 3 ft . 3 in . diameter of fly-wheel , the whole weighing but 7 cwt . They are placed on an iron foundation ( or plate ) and are so simple in construction that any man of ordinary capacity may

fix them up , no brick-work or masonry is required to be laiil either with the engine or the boiler and we may add that they are constructed on the most scientific principles in order to obtain the greatest amount of friction on the wearing parts . The pistons are on the plan known as the metallic , i . e ., it is composed of plates of cast-iron , spring ring 3 being inserted between , and thus made perfectly circular by machinery . The piston-rods , cross head-rods , and keys , which are all of the best

steel , the whole of the connecting rods , together with crankshaft are made of the best wrought Staffordshire iron . Engines and boilers may be seen in active operation in the Machinery Court at the Agricultural Hall . Another speciality of this house is the manufacture of improved continuous seats , 300 of which are now in use in the Agricultural Hall ; they are 6 ft . long , and capable of seating five persons . They are composed of wood seats and backs , with

iron supports , and admirably adapted for public halls , chapels , concert rooms , and buildings where a good and cheap seat is required . They have , also , a miscellaneous assortment of cheap iron manufactures , in the shape of galvanised iron tanks , wheelbarrows , vermin and damp proof iron corn-bins , chaff machines , turnip cutters , oat bruisers , and a variety of articles very important and useful to the keepers of cattle , and to all agriculturalists . Descriptive lists and catalogues are sent free on application .

THE LATE BRO . G . V . BJIOOKE . —The launch of the " G . V . Brooke" lifeboat took place on the 20 th inst ., at the Korthwall , Dublin , from the yard of Messrs . Walpole , Webb , and Bewley , the eminent Irish shipbuilders . The attendance was large and fashionable . The boat , which is a beautiful specimen of shipbuilding art , measures 32 feet in length and 7 feet 6 inches in breadth , and , when afloat with her crew of ten oarsmencoxswain superintendentand assistantshows full

, , , y 3 feet over the water . Previous to the ceremony of " christening , " Mr . Maguirc , M . P ., addressed those present in eloquent terms , in reference to the selecting of the lifeboat as a fitting means of perpetuating the memory of the great Irish actor , G . V . Brooke , and passed a high eulogium on his character . Capt . Robertson , Mr . IS " . W . Hodges , Mr . Clarence Holt , and other gentlemen subsequently spoke . Mrs . Harris , of the

Theatre Royal , Dublin , then said : " I' now name this lifeboat tho 'Gustavus Brooke , ' and may God prosper it in its benevolent mission . " ( Applause . ) At a signal the boat was loosened from her fastenings , and glided ciovn on her carriage into the water , into which she plunged with her crew , amid the cheers of the crowds present . Capt . Robertson subsequently had the boat capsized in deep water , while one of the crew remained in her

for tho purpose of showing- her self-righting qualities . The experiment was most successful . This lifeboat is to be placed at tho Poolbeg Lighthouse , and is to be manned by the coastguardmen of the station . It is worthy of remembrance that this memorial was first suggested at a Masonic dinner-party given by Bro . Hodges , when his guests resolved themselves into a committee , and personally guaranteed the sum of £ 100 . Already the committee have paid over i £ 300 , and no doubt they will he able to fulfil their engagement to defray the entire cost and outfit of the boat .