India.

p j ,. Watson , P . Piw . 'G . Prelate ; J . B . Roberts , 1 st . P . G . Cap tain ; J . AV . Browne , P . G . Treas ., as 2 nd P . G . Capt . ; A . M . Dowleans , P . G . Chancellor ; C . Palmer , M . D ., as P . G . Almoner ; H . Frasher , as P . G . Expert : H . T . Prmsep , as P . G . Capt . of the Lines ; F . Jennings , 2 nd P . G . Herald ; D . J . Daniel , P . G . Equerry . The Provincial Grand Conclave was opened in due and ancient form . The poor box Avas presented to the Sir Knihts

g by the Provincial Grand Almoner , Avhile the Provincial Grand Prelate read appropriate sentences from the holy Scriptures . The minutes of tlie last meeting Avere duly and regularly confirmed . The Provincial Grand Commander made the following . appointments for tlie ensuing year : —E . Sir Knights F . F . FazucheUi , D . D ., Prov . G . Prelate ; W . E . Ball , 1 st Prov . G . Capt . ; AV . H .

Abbott , 2 nd Prov . G . Capt . ; J . AV . Browne , Prov . G . Chancellor ; F . Jennings , Piw . G . Eegistrar ; J . AV . BroAvne , Prov . G . Treas . ; H . Fraser , Prov . G . Expert ; G . Stone , 1 st Prov . G . Standard Bearer ; H . L . Oertel , 2 nd Prov . G . Standard Bearer ; C . Palmer , M . D ., Prov . G . Almoner ; W . B . Collins , Prov . G . Captain of the Lines ; I-I . T . Prinsep , C . S ., Prov . G . Sword Bearer ; AV . Bourne , C . E ., 1 st Prov . G . Herald ; G . Hutchinson ,

2 nd Prov . G . Herald ; D . J . Daniel , and AV . Claxton , Prov . G . Equerries . The Provincial Grand Commander reported to the Sir Knights present on the present position of Knight Templar Freemasonry in Bengal . The Order Avas progressing steady and favourably . There had been ten candidates installed during the year , viz : — Sepulchre , 6 , and St . Augustine , 1 . One joining member had also been added to the Encampment of St . Augustine .

He regretted to say that he hacl received no returns from the Encampment of St . John at Simla , nor ivas he in a position to say Avhether it ivas oven Avorking . By this delay on the part of the Eminent Commander , the Sir Knights AVIIO may have been installed in St . John's Encampment during the year

ivill bave to Avait a Avhole twelvemonth for their certificates from England , and the Provincial Grand Commander regretted further , that he ivas precluded from asking any of the Sir Knights belonging to that Encampment to participate in Provincial Grand Honours , simply because , owing to no returns haA'ing been received , he ivas not in a position to say ivhat Sir Knights , Avhose names appeared in the returns for 1860 , Avere still subscribing members to the Encampment .

The Provincial Grand Commander observed that afc the last meeting of the Provincial Grand Conclave the Sir Kni ghts ivere apprised of the decease of their Supremo Grand Master , Colonel C . K . Kemeys-Tynte ; it Avas IIOAV his duty to inform them that Sir Knight AVilliam Stuart , of Aldenham Abbey , in the county of Herts , hacl been elected by the unanimous voice of the Knights of the Order assembled in Grand Conclave in Londonto fill the exalted and dignified position which had

, thus fallen vacant , and that he had been enthroned as Most Eminent ancl Supreme Grand Master accordingly in due and ancient form . The Provincial Grand Commander deemed it a matter of congratulation to all Sir Knights that so eminent a brother should have been elected to rule over them , ancl felt no hesitation in expressing his conviction that the Order will prosper and flourish under his presidency , AA'hich had commenced

auspiciously both by a considerable increase in numerical strength , and by other circumstances ivhich had materially added to the stability and Masonic importance of the degree . After some business of purely local interest the Provincial Grand Commander informed the brethren that a sum of £ 7 12 s . AA'as clue to the Grand Conclave in England on account of fees for SubscriptionEegistryand Certificates : the

Prov-, , incial Grand Treasurer ivas instructed to remit that sum accordingly to the Grand Chancellor in England , together Avith a copy of the muster roll : There being no other Avork before the Prov . Grand Conclave , it Avas closed , according to due and ancient form ,

Australia.

AUSTRALIA .

MELBOUENE . On March the 7 th , a Masonic banquet , given on the occasion of a presentation to Bro . John Thomas Smith , R . W . Prov . G . M . of the Irish Constitution in Victoria , took place , at the Protestant Hall , and passed of with considerable success . Bro . M'Clwe , P . Dep . Prov . G . M ., occupied the chair , and Bro . Hyman , Prov . G . S . AV ., ancl Bro . Rose , Prov . G . J . W ., officiated

Australia.

as vice-chairmen . The room ivas handsomely decorated Avith Masonic insignia , and was Avell filled with visitors , about one hundred of whom ivere present . An unusual feature in Masonic proceedings was the attendance of ladies , a large number of Avhom Avere admitted to the gallery . The usual ' oasts Avere proposed by the chairman , ancl ivere ivarinly received . Bro . Standish , R . W . Prov . G . M ., responded to the . toast of the Provincial Grand Loclge of England , ancl Bro . Haines Avas to

have responded to that of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Scotland ; bufc unfortunately he Avas prevented from attending . The chairman in proposing the toast of the evening , "Bro . John T . Smith , Prov . G . M . of the I . C ., " feelingly alluded to the services rendered to the Craft by Bro . Smith , during a period of eighteen or twenty years—from the time of the introduction of Masonry into fche colony . His own experience enabled him fco speak of numerous instances Avhere Bro . Smith ' s kindness of

heart had displayed itself—in fact , Bro . Smith had never spared time nor money in the cause , nor missed an opportunity of relieving a brother Mason , Avhen relief Avas required . A movement set on foot to recognize Bro . Smith ' s services had been Avarmlv

carried out , so that it had become his pleasing duty to , present him , in the presence of many brethren of English , Scotch , Irish , French Lodges , ivith a testimonial subscribed for by nearly every Loclge in the colony . The chairman read an address beautifully engrossed on vellum , and then , amidjwarm cheering , presented and invested Bro . Smith with " the jeAA'el and chain the honourable badges of his office . " The decoration or " jeivel " is a square and compass conjoined with a " star of lory " in

g the centre , the ivhole encircled by a quarter ivith the inscription " Provincial Grand Loclge of Victoria . " The jewel is of solid gold , ancl the star is a garnet . The chain from which the jewel depends consists of the letters G . L . I . C . ( Grand Lodge of tbe Irish Constitutions ) conjoined alternately and connected by a shield , upon ivhich is engraved the square and the compass over a green shamrock leaf . The chain is a fac simile of the

one Avorn by the Duke of Leinsfcer as Grand Master of Ireland . Tho principal passage of the address ivas as folloivs : — "Afc a meeting of the loclge , held at the Ulster Arms Hotel , Springsfcreefc , Melbourne , on Monday , the 23 rd of December , 1861 , it ivas proposed by the Very Worshipful Bro . Julius Hyman ,

Prov . G . S . W ., ancl seconded by the Very Worshipful Bro . John Octavius Eose , Prov . G-. J . W ., and unanimously resolved , " That the best thanks of this lodge be , and hereby are , presented to Bro . John Thomas Smith , E . W . Prov . G . M . for Victoria , for the very valuable services he lias rendered in the formation and support of the Masonic lodges under his jurisdiction , for his great zeal as a Mason , and his kindness ancl courtesy on all occasions ; ancl that this resolution be suitably engrossed and

presented to him by the R . W . Dep . Prov . G . M . Bro . Richard M'Clure , in the name ancl on behalf of the Worshipful Masters , Past Masters , officers , and brothers of the various lodges of ancient , free , ancl accepted Masons under the Irish constitution in Victoria ; signed by the Provincial Grand Officers and bearing the seal of Provincial Grand Loclge . " Bro . Smith , in reply , acknoAvIedged the hih ancl gratifing honours conferredand

g y , obseiwed that the distinction bestowed upon him—Masonic aud otherwise—ivould perhaps have rendered him over-proud , but that they had been Avisely mingled Avith other events nofc so gratifying . Among Masons he had reason to be proud of his position , for he was the first man initiated in Victoria under the English constitution , the first Master of an Irish iodge under tho Irish constitution , the first Provincial Grand Officer

under the Scotch constitution , , and the first Principal Officer under the Irish constitution . If anything could add to those honours , and he felt it did , it Avas the the mark of approbation bestowed upon him that evening . He deprecated the Avarmfch of the eulogy passed upon him by the chairman , ancl said that whatever he had done , he ivished it had been more . Connected as lie had been , for twenty years wifch one of the public bodies of the cityhe had often been placed in difficult positions .

, HoAvever , lie hoped his brother Masons would recognise the peculiarity of his case , and hold him jnstified in the course he had adopted , of not replying to the attacks made upon him , bufc bearing all Avith patience . As chief magistrate of . the city , he had deemed it but right to take this course , in order that he might discharge his duties Avith an unprejudiced mind . Doubtless a little gossiping slander in the newspaper was very effective

ivith the masses , and had often told against him ; but , on the other hand , the marks of respeet ancl esteem he had received from the Masonic body and the citizens generally ivere numerous and gratifying . In concluding his remarks he