Australia.

SOUTH YAREA . —South Tarra Lodge ( No . 1230 ) . —This lodge held their monthly meeting at their lodge room , Newbridge Hotel , on Monday evening , the 9 th April . Mr . Wm . Edward Hill was duly initiated into the ancient mysteries of our Order . Bro . Grindall received the sublime degree of Master Mason . The lodge , by a unanimous vote , were pleased to elect Bro . Pallard , P . M ., as an honorary member , in consideration of the valuable services he had rendered the lodge . Bro . Lempriere ,

W . M ., then invested the following officers : —Bros . Birchall , Sec . ; Hipwell , I . G . ; Sayer , Dir . of Cers . It . was announced that the first meeting of the South Yarra Chapter would take place on Thursday evening , the 23 rd April . A few small sums having been voted out of the lodge funds to assist distressed brethren , and the proposal of a joining member having been recorded , the lodge was closed at an early hour , all present being well pleased with the very efficient manner in which Bro . Lempriere discharged his duties as Master , and the manner in which he was supported by his officers .

ROYAL ARCH . MELBOURNE . —Victorian , Chapter ( No . 773 ) . On the 8 th of April the Meeting of this Chapter , for the installation of Principals and investure of officers , was held . Most Excellent P . Z . James , 1 st Principal ; Excellent P . H . Brother-ton , 2 nd Principal ; Most Excellent Past Z . Levick , 3 rd Principal . Minutes of former meeting read and confirmedafter a short discussion .

, Some companions expressed their desire that the minutes should not be confirmed , but the Most Excellent having drawn attention to the injury that might arise from the non-confirmation , they were confirmed without dissent . Two communications from the Provincial Grand Master were read—the first stating his having received his patent appointing him Prov . G . Z ., and requiring the usual returns to be made to the acting Prov . G . Scribe

Companion Lempriere . The second communication announced the suspension of Most Excellent Past Z . Lowry . Companion Martin read a report stating the funds in bank to the credit of the Chapter amounted to £ 62 . The Companions who had not filled the chair of a Chapter then retired , and a Board of Past Principals was opened . Present : Most Excellent Past Principals James Levick , Taaffe , 1 st Principal Elect , White , and Third Principals Cowell and Thompson . Companion Bowen was

introduced to the Acting-Principal Levick , and was installed Third Principal . The Chapter was then re-opened , and the following officers duly installed : —Companions Brotherton , H . ; Bowen , I . ; Withers , S . E . ; Beresford , N . ; Johnston , Principal Sojourner ; Whiteman , 2 nd do . ; Raven , 3 rd do . ; and Clarke , Janitor , Afterwards the members of the Chapter and some visitors who were invited , sat down to supper at Bro . Menzies , who provided every thing in the style that has made his hotel

regarded as one of the best in Melbourne . Most Excellent Z . James , in proposing " The health of Her Majesty , " spoke of her as not only revered as a Queen , but endeared to every Mason on account of her being possessed of every virtue that could elevate the character of a woman . The next toast , " The three Grand Principals of the Order—the Earl of Zetland , Lord de Grey , Companion Hall "—was well received . Nothing could add to the respect and esteem with which the First Grand Principal

was regarded by the Order ; if any proof was required , it would be found in the fact of the brethren having annually selected him as their head for the past 17 years . In proposing the " Health of Provincial Grand Officers of the Irish Constitution , " Most Excellent Z . James expressed a hope that the time was not far distant when all distinction of constitutions would be abolished , and when they should have a Grand Chapter of

Victoria . Companion Levick had obtained permission to propose a toast , but had wished some more competent companion had undertaken it . He had known and respected the Most Excellent Z . James at home , and had always found him a good man and ' a true Mason ; yet he should have been well pleased to see Companion Lowry occupy the first chair that evening . Companion Lowry was in reality their First Principal , and he hoped soon

to see him in his place . Excellent Companion Brotherton was known and esteemed by all , and he was certain the Excellent Companion Bowen , who was placed in the third chair that night , would by his future attention to duty earn the approbation of his companions . Without further preface he would propose . " The health of the three Principals of the Chapter 773 . " First Principal James would onl y return thanks for himself , he held the high office of First

Principal as acting until their Comp . Lowry should be able to come among them . He thanked the companions for their attention to their duties during the past twelve months , and knowing the perfect unanimity that had been shown , he felt the chapter must flourish . If a wrong had been done to any member of their chapter , time would rectify it , and the true position of the companion be truly recognised . He hoped the various offices undertaken that evening would be properl

y attended to , and concluded by thanking the chapter for the manner in which their duties were performed . Second Principal H . Brotherton would like to say a few words about their absent First Principal , Companion Lowry . He lamented that they were deprived of the services of that companion , to whose exertions they might attribute the flourishing condition of the chapter . If anything could compensate for . the

absence of Companion Lowry , it would be the presence of their most excellent Companion James . Third Principal Bowen had not yet been tried , but should endeavour to perforin the duties of his office to the best of his ability . He would not sit down without expressing his opinion of Companion Lowry . No matter in what position that companion was placed in by the act of any member of their body , yet he would say that Most Excellent Past Principal Lowry was regarded as one of the pillars of the Masonic temple , as a Companion who always not only wished to give information , but often put himself out of

his way to give it . The health of the visitors , coupled with the name of Companion Levick , was then given . Tne Most Excellent stated the visitors were more select than numerous , and on behalf of the Chapter held out the hand of fellowship to those who visited them , without reference to constitution . Companion Levick had rendered great services to Masonry , and his amiable disposition adnered him to companion . He came to the Chapter that night to act the part of a good friend when they required

his assistance . Past Most Excellent Z . Levick and Taafe , and third Principal Cowel returned thanks . The health of the officers of the past year , one was conspicuous by his absence , their Companion Lowry , who though absent hi person was present in mind and heart , the thoughts of the companions were with their companion Lowry , who was their guide and instructor . But while dwelling on the . merits of their absent companion ,

they should not overlook the many services of Scribe Russell , and no Chapter could boast of a better working companion than the Past Principal Sojourner M'Gann , who was an example to all in the way he conducted the business of the Chapter . After Companion M'Gann returned thanks , a few more toasts were given , and the Companions separated at eleven o ' clock , delighted with the reunion . Companion Ruck fulfilled his duty as organist in the most effective manner , and Companion Stokes , Watts , and others , sang several appropriate songs during the evening .

Australian Chapter ( No . 697 ) . —A meeting of emergency of this chapter was held on the 15 th of April , at the Masonic Hall ( St . Patrick ' s Hall ) , Bourke-street-west , for the purpose of installing Comp . Samuel Lazarus into the Second Chair , and exalting Bro . Wertheim to the superior degree of a R . A . Mason . The ceremonies of installation and exaltation were performed by Comp . P . Z . Levick , assisted by Comp . Thos . Reed as Z . ; Comp . Taaffe as J . ; Comp . Samuel Lazarus as H . ; and Comp . Henry Harris as 1 . ; and P . Z . Comp . Rintel , of the Collingwood Chapter .

COLLINGWOOD . — Collingwood CJiapter ( No . 1229 ) . —The regular meeting of the Collingwood Chapter was held on the 16 th April , at the Swan Hotel , Present : —Comps . J . J . Moody , Past Principal , as Z . ; the second and third Principal Companions Rose and Crowell , Rintal , Past Principal , J . Edwards , jun ., P . G . Soj ., and several other brethren and visitoas . The following companions were elected to fill the undermentioned offices for the ensuing year : —CompsJ . 0 . RoseZ . ; C . L . CrowellII . ;

, , , A . T . Porter , J . ; S . Deeble , Scribe E . ; W . B . Fox , Scribe N . ; Jno . Edwards , jun ., P . Soj . ; Thomas Flintoff and G . W . Tillett , Assist . Sojs . ; T . Wallworth , Treasurer ; J . T . Smith , Janitor . Bro . Walton , of the Kent Lodge , was elected a candidate , R . A . M . On the motion of Comp . Edwards , a committee of the officers of the chapter was appointed to make the requisite arrangements for the installation banquet in June . The

companions afterwards partook of refreshments , at which fraternal conviviality and harmony prevailed . Comp . Moody , P . Z ., presided , supported by the second and third and Past Principals , The P . Soj ., Edwards , in the vice-chair .