Western India.

Master of Bombay sincerely hopes that these matters will now be permitted to be buried in oblivion . I have the honour to be , Sir and Brother , Yours most respectfully and fraternally , ( Signed ) C . E . MITCHELL , Prov . G . Sec . of Bombay .

New Zealand.

NEW ZEALAND .

QUEENSTOWN . LAKE LODGE OF OPHIR . —Our ( Otago Daily Times ) Masonic readers will learn with interest that the installation of the AV . M . and officers of the Lake of Ophir Lodge took place on Monday evening , 18 th July , in the Masonic Hall , Queenstown . Upwards of forty brethren were present , Bro . AVilliamson , P . M ., acted as installing officer ; and Bro . Paul presided at the

organ . A number of joining members and candidates for initiation were ballotted for and elected , amongst whom were his Honour the Superintendent , and Mr . St . John Branigan . The following is a list of the officers installed : —Bros . R . Harris , AV . M . ; AV . H . Bletcher , S . AV . ; L . Broad , J . \ A . ; T . II . Brown , Treas . ; T . Audley , Sec ; J . Arndt , S . D . ; AV . AVeaon , J . D . ; D . Don , Tyler . At the conclusion of tho proceedings , the brethren were hospitably entertained by the AA . M . ; and success to the edge drank in bumpers of the sparkling vintage of the South .

OTAGO . INSTALLATION OP THE PROVINCIAL GRAN : O MASTER . Thursday , October 11 th , will long be remembered as a redletter day in the Masonic calendar of Otago , owing to its having been selected for the installation of his Honour the Superintendent—Bro . the Hon . John Hyde Harris—as the first Provincial Grand Master of the Province of Otagounder the English

Con-, stitution . As may well be supposed , this event caused no little stir amongst tho Craftsmen , who assembled in great force on the occnv . cn . Neither pains nor expense were spared in order to render the ceremony complete . The Masonic Hall , Duncdhi , was tasteiully decorated under the skilful superintendence of the Prov . G . Supt . of AVorks , Bro . John Millar , F . S . A ., and it is , therefore , almost superfluous to say that the arrangements

were perfect . A handsome new canopy—around the margin of which was incribed the legend , " Holiness to the Lord "—was erected over the Oriental chair ; and the two beautiful pillars in the west were connected by an appropriate arch bearing an inscription on either side ;—on tho outer face , " Ne vile fano , " and on the inner— " Wisdom , Strength , and Beauty . " Other Masonic mottoesas " TruthLoveand Honour" " FaithHope

, , , , , , and Charity , " were displayed on the walls , which were profusely decorated with evergreens displayed in wreaths , and a variety of other devices , interspersed with draped flags—banners of as universal significance as Masonry itself . Upwards of two hundred brethren were present at five o'clock , the hour appointed

for the commencement of the ceremony , amongst whom were a large number of the most prominent mouibers of society . The Irish Constitution was represented by Bro . O'Rafferty , Prov . G . M . for New Zealand , and Bro . M'Combo , late D . Prov . G . M . for Victoria ; and the Scottish Constitution by the R . W . M . and officers of the Kilwinning Lodge . A number of visiting brethren from other lodges were also in attendance . The Commission from the Earl of ZetlandM . AA . G . M . of tho

, Grand Lodge of England , constituting the Masonic Province of Otago , and appointing Bro . Harris as first Prov . G . M ., bavin * been read by Bro . » Forman , Prov . G . Sec , the Kegistrai Designate , the solemn ceremony of convocation was then proceeded with . Of course we are not at liberty to withdraw the veil which conceals the Masonic mysteries from the eyes of the uninitiated , but we may mention that the corn , wine , and oil

were poured forth with suitable invocations by the AA ' orshipful Masters of the respective lodges hailing under the English Constitution . This portion of the ceremony , as also the installation of the Prov . G . M ., and the investiture of the other officers , was conducted by Bro . John Lazar , P . Prov . D . G . M . for the Province of South Australia—a name as well and honourably known in the Masonic world as we may truthfully assert it is to society at large . To say that it was well performed is but feebly to express the very excellent and faultless manner—perfect beyond all praise—in which Bro . Lazar discharged the important duties entrusted to him .

Bro . Harris having been dulv obligated and installed as R . AV . Prov . G . M .. invested Bro . Lazar as D . Prov . G . M . The brethren having been called upon to elect a Treasurer , their unanimous choice fell on Bro . AA . Mills , S . AV . of the Lodge of Otago . Bro . Lazar then completed the ceremony of investiture as follows : —

Bro . Sydney James Prov . S . G . AV . „ E . Nathan „ J . G / W . „ Oswin „ G . Chap . „ Carrick „ G . Sec . „ AV . Mills „ G . Treas . „ It . H . Forman „ G . Reg . „ G . Smith „ S . G . D . „ C . AA ebb „ J . G . D .

„ Hyman „ G . Dir . of Cers . „ J . Millar „ G . Supt . of AA orks „ AA est „ G . Org . „ Joyce „ G . Purst . „ Daniels " A , „ Moss 1 „ Hodgkins | - ,, G . Stewards . „ M'Lcod | „ Sholl J „ W . Low „ G .-Tyler .

Bro . Hyman officiated throughout as Director of Ceremonies , displaying great skill and tact in the administration of hi 3 onerous duties . Bro . West presided at the harmonium , assisted by a most efficient choir , whose united services greatly enhanced the beauty of the ceremonies . The following is a copy of the Masonic anthem adapted for the occasion : — Thou ! who art God alone ,

Accept before thy throne Our fervent prayer ; To fill with light and grace This house thy dwelling-place , And bless thy chosen race , 0 God draw near ; As through the Universe

All Nature ' s works diverse Thy praise accord ; Let Faith upon us shine , And Charity combine AAlth Hope to make us thine , Jehovah ! Lord ! Spirit of Trutli and Love !

Descending from above , Our hearts inflame ; Till Masonry ' s control Shall build in one the whole

A Temple of the Soul To thy great name ! At the conclusion of the ceremony , several notices of motion were given , and a vote of thanks to tho Provincial Grand Lodge of Canterbury for the assistance rendered by the loan of clothing , & c , was recorded , the fraternity adjourned to the Music Hallin Princes-streetwhen 151 brethren sat down to a

sump-, , tuous banquet provided by Bro . John Grey , and a more jovial but withal orderly aud harmonious company never assembled in Otago . Ample justice having been done to the viands , the waiters were summarily consigned to the outer regions , and the business of the evening commenced . Our limits forbid us to do more than give a brief resume of tho speeches , but we may say , once for all , that they were excellent in their way , beyond the

oi-ilinarv run of post-prandial orations . At the first knock of the gavel , the R . W . Prov . G . M ., who ably presided , gave the toast always placed at the head of every Masonic programme— - "The Queen and Craft . " This was followed by that of " His Grace tho Earl of Zetland , M . AV . G . M ., Earl de Grey and Ripon , D . G . M ., and the officers of the Grand Lodge of England . " In giving this toast , the Prov . G . M . remarked that the various sections of Freemasonry in England ,

Scotland , and Ireland , had always been particularly fortunate in being presided over hy men of character , reputation , and elevated position , to which circumstance , no less than to the inherent excellencies of Masonry itself , he attributed the proud position occupied by British Masons , and their avoidance of dangerous and destructive innovations . The PROV . G . MASTER again rose to propose the next toast , which was that of "The Duke of Leinster , Grand Master of