Provincial.

he would again say success to the Masonic Charities . This concluded the toasts " of the evening , with some excellent harmony from Bros . Stapleford and Parkes . The brethren separated at an early hour , and thus passed one of the most happy gatherings of the Craft that lias been held in this locality for some vears .

Australia.

AUSTRALIA .

VICTORIA . LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OE THE NEW POST OIEICE AND TELEGEAPH STATION AT KILMOEE . ( Prom our oivn Correspondent ^) The ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the building intended to be used as the Post-office and Telegraph Station at

Kilmore took place on Monday Dec . 2 . The ceremony was performed under the auspices of the Freemasons . The members of the Kilmore Lodge , meeting at Vinge ' s hotel , together with a number of the brethren from Heathcote and Melbourne were in attendance . The Hon . John O'Shanassy was also jn-esent , in accordance with an invitiation sent him ; as were also the chairman and members of the Municipal Council . Exactly at two o ' clockthe Freemasonsin the regalia used on such occasions

, , emerged from the lodge-room , and formed in order of procession in front of Vinge ' s hotel . The band struck up when the order to inarch was given , and the procession moved down Sydney-street to the old Post-office , and then wheeled round , and returned to the site of the new building at the corner of Powlett and Sydney-streets , accompanied by a large concourse of people . As soon as the preliminary arrangements had been made , and the leading officers of

the Order and principal visitors had taken their places round the stone , Bro . ROBEBT LEVICK , P . Prov . G . Sec ., recited the following antient charge : — " Know all of you that we be lawful Masons , true to our country , and established of old , with peace and hononv in most countries , to do good to our brethren , to erect great buildings , and to fear God , who is the Great Architect of all things . Today we are assembled to lay the foundation stone of the Post

Office of Kilmore , and trust that it may prove of advantage to this flourishing township . " The architect then handed to Bro . Ferrell , the W . M . of the Kilmore Lodge ( No . 114 S ) , the plan of the building , which the W . M . returned , signifying his approval of the design . The Treasurer of the lodge , Bro . Baugh , then presented the glass bottle to Bro . Levick , containing a sovereign , half sovereign , five shilling piece , half-a-crown , florin , shilling ,

sixpence , fourpence , threepence , penny , halfpenny , and farthing , also a copy of the Melbourne Argus and Serald , and the Kilmore JSxaminer , a copy of the dispensation , a list of the members of the Lodge , and the following scroll : —¦

This Foundation Stone was laid by Brother J . M . Ferrell , W . M ., assisted by the brethren of the Kilmore Lodge , 1148 , and the brethren of the Heathcote Lodge , 1145 ,

on the 2 nd day of December , 1 S 61 , A . L . 5 S 61 , and in the twenty-fifth year of the reign of Her Majesty , Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland , Queen F . D ., His Excellency Sir Henry Barkly , K . C . B ., Governor of the Colony of Victoria , The Hon . John O'Shanassy , Chief Secretary .

A copy of the inscriptionjhaving been read , the bottle was deposited in the cavity in the lower stone by Pro . Levick , the cement was then spread by Bro . Ferrell , after which the upper stone was lowered to its proper resting place , during which time the band struck up the National Anthem , in which the whole of the mystic brotherhood , and the encircling crowd of spectators assisted with their voices . The Rev . , WM . SINGLETON , as previously requested , offered up a short but most impressive and appropriate prayer .

Bro . LEVICK then said , Bro . Junior Warden ( Wilson ) , what is the jewel of your office ? J . WAEDEN—The plumb rule . Bro . LEVICK—Have you applied it to the external ed ge of the stone ? J . WAEDEN—1 have Worshipful Master , and the Craftsmen have done their duty . Bro . LEVICK—Bro . Senior Warden ( Nicholson ) , what is the

jewel of your office ? S . WAEDEN—The level . Bro . LEVICK—Have you applied the level to the stone ? S . WAEDEN—I have W . M ., and the Craftsmen have done their duty . Bro . LEVICK—Bro . P . M . ( Woods ) as Deputy , what is the jewel of your office ? Bro . P . M . WOODS—The square ?

Bro . LEVICK—Have you applied the square to those parts of the stone which should be square ? Bro . P . M . AVOOD—I have W . M ., and find the stone perfect . Bro . FEEBELL then took the mallet , and said : — "having full confidence in your skill in the Royal Art , it remains with me to finish the work ( giving three knocks on the stone ); may this work be connfleted in and

peace harmony . " ' " ¦ ¦ Bro . ADAMSON then handed the urn containing the coin to Bro . Levick , who scattered some of the wheat on the stone , saying , " I strew this corn as an emblem of plenty . " Bro . WOODWAED handed the vase containing the wine to Bro . Levick , who sprinkled some upon the stone , saying , " I sprinkle this wine as a symbol of joy and gladness . " Bro . TWIGG then handed the vase containing the oil to Bro .

Levick , who poured oil on the stone , saying , " I pour this oil as an emblem of peace , and may the Great Architect of the Universe bless this town and country at large with an abundance of corn , wine , and oil , and all the necessaries of life , and may the Most High preseve the inhabitants in brotherly love . " The ceremony having been completed , the Hon . J . O'Shanassy , the Chief Secretary , was called upon to address the assemblage . The Hon . J . O'SHANASSY then ascended the corner-stone , and stated that it afforded him great pleasure to bo present on so auspicious an occasion as the present , and to be surrounded by so many of the members of the mystic brotherhood , and of his

constitutents . He always took a great interest in all movements having for their object the promotion of the prosperity of Kilmore . He had been so long connected with the people here , and was always so well received by them , that he had , as it were , began to look upon himself as one of them , and to imagine that his interests and theirs were identical . He then gave some statistical information to show much the building just commenced was required in the town ; by statistics he had

obtained from the Registrar-General's office , he showed that there was a greater number of people within the municipality of Kilmore , than there was on the same area of ground on any of the inland towns , of a similar class , in Victoria , in other words , the population here was more compact , more crowded together than that of other towns . The commerce of the town had very much extended during the past few years . He had been furnished by the post-master at Kilmore with certain returns ,

which would , to some extent , show how much the new building was needed to keep pace with advancement of commerce , and the general requirements of the district . From these returns it appeared that from the first to the 30 th November the total of letters and newspapers received and sent away amounted to nearly 10 , 000 ; of this number the letters were nearly 4 , 000 . He concluded by expressing a hope that the building so much needed would be proceeded with as rapidly as possible , and that

no accident would occur during its erection , and that afterwards it would prove to be such as would meet the requirements of the place . The speech , although brief , gave very great satisfaction to everyone . Bro . M . K . BEVEBIDGE , having been called upon , ascended the stone and recited some appropriate verses which he had composed for the occasion .

Bro . ROBEBT LEVICK , P . Prov . G . Sec , then addressed the assemblage as follows : —Ladies and gentlemen of Kilmore , and brethren . I have been called upon at a short notice to come from Melbourne to assist in this interesting ceremony , and feel proud and happy to think of the succees that has attended this meeting . I appear here as the representative of the R . W . Prov . G . M ., Captain Standish , who , I regret to say , is unable to attend or I feel assured he would have done so . I recollect some nine years since when passing through this town that the streets were