Australia .

postponed , and although following so closely on those two brilliant entertainments , it was a complete success . The old building , which , undecorated , has almost an air of antiquity , and which must give way , like the aboriginals , to the purposes of civilisation , never looked better . Tbe ball was elegantly ornamented with all -the emblems peculiar to the mysteries of and

Masonry . A handsome dais was placed beneath the organ , was decorated wich emblems of RoseCroi . v . KiiightTemplar , Royal Arch , ancl Craft Masons . Three large wax tapers on Corinthian pedestals were kept burning in the front ofthe dais . Tracing boards of emblematic Masonic paintings were attached to the pillars supporting the building ; Masonic banners were fixed to form the springing of the various archesancl Chinese lanterns were

, pendant by evergreens from the roof . Iu front of tbe organ , over the dais , was suspended the Royal Standard , which formed a background for a large square and compass , in the centre of Avhich was the letter " G , " magnificently executed in flowers and shrubs . About a quarter past nine o ' clock his Excellency the Governor and familarrivedand the band layed the National Anthem .

y , p The Rose Croix ( Prince Masons ) . Tlie Knights Templar formed the ' - ' Arch of Steel , " and paid the highest compliment to the vice-regal party that Masons can accord . His excellency was escorted to the east end of the building , and passed beneath tbe arch to the west . Lady Manners Sutton was escorted by Captain Standish , D . G . M ., ( E . C . ); Miss Manners Sutton by P . G . M . ( I . C . ) J . T . Smith . M . L . A . ; Miss Mabel Manners Sutton ,

by D . P . G . M . Dr . St . John Clark . Mr . Manners Sutton and Lieut . Rothwell , aide-de-camps , were also present . Lady Manners Sutton wore a blue silk dress , overAvhieh there was a skirt of tulle and Maltese lace trimming . The Misses Manners Sutton were attired in white silk skirts of tulle , looped up with rhododendrons . In the first quadrille Miss Manners Sutton danced with P . G . M . Standish , Dr . Crooke and Miss M . Manners being vis-a-vis . The " sides" were Miss A . K . Smith ,

who danced with P . G . M . J . T . Smith , ancl P . G . M . of the S . C ., T . Read . The company had not all arrived till midnight , and there were nearly 400 ladies and gentlemen present . The ladies lvere attired in the latest Parisian fashions , and they added considerable lustre to the ball . The gorgeous regalia of the Rose Croixor Prince Masonsand the Knihts Templars had

, , g also a very beautiful appearance . About midnight supper was announced . Lady Manners Sutton accompanied P . G . M . Standish , Miss Manners Sutton with P . G . M . J . T . Smith , Miss Mabel Manners Sutton with P . G . M . Gell ; and his AVorship tbe Mayor of Melbourne took Mrs . J . T . Smith . After the supper , which was provided by Mr . A . King , had been done justice toP . G . M . Standish proposed " The Queen "

, , P . G . M . J . f . Smith "The Governor—a toast which was drunk Avith cheers—and P . G . M . Read "The Ladies . " The vice-regal party retired from tlie ball-room about halfpast twelve o ' clock . Dancing then re-commenced , and was kept up without intermission till an early hour . Mr . Hill decorated the interior of the building .

Notes On Literature, Science, Music, Drama, And The Fine Arts.

NOTES ON LITERATURE , SCIENCE , MUSIC , DRAMA , AND THE FINE ARTS .

The commencement of the new year brings before ns amongst the almanac literature a new issue of the interesting annual of the Eoyal Insurance Company , in tbe usual form of a very useful and elegantly appointed almanac . The information so carefully compiled on the subject of insurance generally will prove of much value to all interested in this

important topic -, "but what is most l-emarkable in tbe contents of the little book in question , is the record it contains of the unexampled prosperity of the concern it represents . "When a company can pay in a single 3 ear , as the Eoyal has done , fire claims to the amount of about £ 310 , 000 , and yet show a balance in its favour , it becomes a self-evident fact that the transactions of the association are on such a scale of magnitude as to indicate the entire confidence of

Notes On Literature, Science, Music, Drama, And The Fine Arts.

the public in tbe manner in which its affairs are conducted . The new life business for 1865 reached the enormous sum of £ 886 , 000 , and the net fire premiums for the year were £ 414 , 700 .

Masonic Festivities.

MASONIC FESTIVITIES .

DURHAM . GHAKD MASONIC BAM ,. AA e are indebted to the Lurham County Advertiser , of Friday , January 11 th , for the following report : — Tbe grand Masonic ball which has excited for some time past the greatest interest throughout the whole county , took placein the Town Hallin this cityon Tuesday eveningthe Sth inst ..

, , , It proved , in every way , a great and decided success . Before , however , we proceed to describe the ball itself , we may refer to the object the promoters had in view . The Marquis of Granby Lodge was constituted upwards of a hundred years ago . Before the erection of the building in Meeting House-lane , Old Elvet , the members of the Craft used to meet together at some innr and it was not until they became possessed of a building of

theirown that the Freemasons in the city of Durham began to attract attention by their numbers and respectability . The late George IA " ., when Prince of AVales , joined the Masonic brotherhood , and at that time great interest became manifested in Freemasonry , and there was a great accession of new members . The Dukeof Sussex , following the example of his royal brother , also became a member of the mystic body ; and when his Grace

visited the north ancl took the chair at a Freemasons' dinner , a number of influential gentlemen Avere induced to become Freemasons . Many members of the Granby Lodge had the honour of dining with tbe royal Duke , and at that time several gentlemen of high standing and social position in this city became members of the lodge . From this time , down to the year 1862 , the lodge underwent various changes and vicissitudes—on the

whole maintaining its position—but it was until the year we have mentioned that the present building became inadequate to accommodate the brethren of tbe lodge . A determination was then come to to provide a larger and more commodious building and the subscribing members each agreed to put down a certain sum to form the nucleus of a building fund . Although a secret and to some extent an exclusive hodv , the Freemasons

contribute very generously to various charitable institutions , and the members of the Granby Lodge felt that on this ground they might with propriety appeal to the public at large for assistance and support in carrying out the object they had in view . An amateur dramatic entertainment on behalf of the lodge constituted the first appeal which the Freemasons of this city made to the public The entertainment , in a dramatic point of view , was quite a successbut financiallit proved a failureand

, y , very little pecuniary benefit was derived . The ball to which we are about to refer originated , we believe , with Mr . T . Jones , and has proved , we are glad to say , a splendid success . The Marquis of Granby Loclge has always maintained a high reputation ' amongst the Craft , and many distinguished men have belonged to it . -Members of Parliament , lauded proprietors , eminent ; divines , and professional gentlemen , have from time to time been members of the

lodge . Some of the older Masons can still remember when Stephen Kemble and Count Borouwlaski sat side by side in the-Granby Lodge- Both were famous for mental endowments , but while intellectuall y there were strong points of resemblance between them , they were , in their physical structure , the very antithesis of each other . The Count Avas remarkably diminutive in stature , whilst Kemble possessed such Falstaffian

proportions , that he used to play that character on the stage without the " padding- " to which other players have to resort . Dr . Townsend , one of the luminaries of the church , was also a member of the Gianby Lodge , and the late Lord Durham , who was Prov . G . M . at tbe time of bis death , took a warm interest in its welfare . A member of the Granby Lodge , John Fawcett , Esq ., at present holds the distinguished office of Prov . GM .

., which was conferred upon him after the resignation ofthe late Sir Hedworth AVilliamson , Bart ., who succeeded the late Earl of Durham . In times past the heads of many count y families have been members of the Granby Loclge . Amongst those Avho have recently joined , we may mention the Ri ght Hon . J . R . Mowbray , J . Henderson , Esq ., M-P . ; H . J . B . Baker , Esq ..