Australia.

Keen , Henry Fay , and Anderson , were then initiated into Freemasonry by the AA . M . The following letter was then read : — '' Committee for the Proposed Formation of a Grand Lodge of A ictoria . " Duke of Rothsay Hotel , Elizabeth-street , " Melbourne , 3 rd August , 1863 . " W OESHIPFUL SIE AND BBOTHEK , —By direction of this committee I have the honour to inform thatat a meeting of

you , the Craft , held at the above place , on \ A ednesday , 15 th ultimo , the report of the action taken by the committee was adopted , and a resolution was carried authorising them to prepare and transmit to the three Grand Lodges , a memorial soliciting permission to create a Grand Lodge for Victoria , and praying their countenance and sanction to such Grand Lodge , a draft of the memorial was submitted to the meeting and agreed to with

some additions then suggested ; a further resolution was carried to the effect that a copy of the memorial should be forwarded to those lodges who have replied favourably , prior to being transmitted to the Grand Lodges . "In the prosecution of their duties for the past three months , the committee have necessarily incurred some expenses , and in order to carry out the above resolutions , a still farther

expenditure will bo unavoidable , ancl as they believe that those lodges who have expressed themselves favourably to the formation of a United Grand Lodgo for Victoria are willing to afford more than a mere passive support , the committee are induced to seek pecuniary assistance to enable them to complete their labours . " A sum of two guineas from each of the twenty assenting lodges will enable the committee to meet all necessary expenses ,

and several influential metropolitan members have agreed to support a vote in their own lodges . I have , therefore , to request that you will bring this subject before your lodge , with a view of proving that an active sympathy exists to assist in carrying out the objects which the committee have undertaken on behalf of the assenting lodges . "A copy of this circular will he forwarded to each of the lodges who have replied favourablyand hoping this will receive

, your prompt attention , I have the honour to be , AVorshipful Brother , yours fraternally , "A . ELLIS , Hon . Sec . " To tho AV . M . of Lodge 368 , Melbourne . " Two guineas were ordered to be remitted to the Secretary of the committee . Lodge closed at ton o ' clock .

COLLINQWOOD . —Xent Lodge ( No . 1147 ) . —The regular meeting of this lodge was held at tbe lodge-rooms , Grace Darling Hotel , Smith-street , Bros . Mueller , W . M . ; Homes , S . W . ; Pattrick , J . W . Lodge was opened at half-past seven o ' clock in the first degree . Mr . Thomas Rowe , who had been balloted for and accepted , was initiated into Freemasonry in accordance with our ancient ceremonies . Bro . Southey , who had served his required time as an entered appi-entice , and having proved himself worthy of advancement , was passed to the degree of F . C . The names of two candidates were placed on the ballot-list to be brought before the lodge at next the meeting .

RICHMOND . — Richmond Lodge ( No . 1093 ) . — The regular meeting of the Richmond Lodge was held at the lodge-room , ¦ Sir Charles Napier Hotel , on Tuesday evening , August 4 th . Lodge was opened at half-past seven , Bros . Raven , W . M . ; Flanagan , S . W . ; Heape , J . AA' " . Minutes of the preceding lodge were read and confirmed . Mr . Ashton Warner , who had been duly balloted for and accepted at the lodge held in June last , was initiated into the mysteries belonging to tho entered

ap prentice degree . Bro . Theodore Adams Lavater having proved his proficiency in the entered apprentice degree was duly received as a F . C . Mason . The lodge was then called off for five minutes , and Bro . AVisbart was raised to the high and sublime degree of M . M . The election of A A \ . M . for the ensuing twelve months was next proceeded with . The following names were put forward as all eligible to fill that important position . Bros . '

Levick , P . M . ; Raven , AV . M . ; Nicholls , P . M . ; Wardlaw , P . M . ; Flanagan , S . W . ; Heape , J . W . ; Jenens , P . S . W . Bro . Raven was duly elected AV . M . ; Bro . Nicholls , P . M ., was unanimousl y chosen Treas . ; and Bro . J . T . Smith appointed Tyler . AVILLIAMSTOWN — Lodge of Industry ( No . 1048 ) . —The regular meeting of the above lodge took place on Tuesday , August 4 th . In tlie absence of the AV . M ., Bro . La Roche , P . M ., took the chair . Mr . C . E . Reay and Mr . Charles Brown , were balloted for and initiated according to ancient custom .

Australia.

INSTRUCTION . CAELTON LODGE . —The annual supper was held on Tuesday , August 11 , at Old Lincoln Inn , Cardigan-street , and about -10 brethren sat down to a very excellent entertainment . The chair was filled by Bro . Ellis , P . M ., and Prov . G . See ., supported by Bros . Rintel , Davidson , and Baker , AA . M . 's ; Bro . Ruck , P . M ., sat iu the west , supported by Bros . Monfort , P . M ., aud Caro ,

AV . M . After the cloth was removed , the usual Masonic toasts were given— " Tlie Queen and the Craft , " " The Three Grand Masters , " " The Provincial Grand Master and other Officers . " The toast was responded to hy Bro . Rintel in a very appropriate speech , who then proposed " Success to the Carlton Instruction Lodge , " and coupled with the toast "The Treasurer , Bro . Baker , AV . M . " He spoke much of tbe advantages of such lodges , and urged all who wished to be good Masons to be regular in their

attendance , and mentioned how many first-rate officers had received their knowledge in that room . Bro . Baker replied in suitable terms , and pleased the brethren by assuring them that , notwithstanding l . e had purchased so many books , & c , yet there was a very good balance in hand . Bro . Ruck proposed the health of their chairman , and explained that , in appointing him to that office , they had placed in the chair the oldest member present of the Carlton Instruction Lodge . The Chairman

proposed " The Lecture Master , " paying a graceful tribute to that brother ' s capabilities as an instructor , ancl one who was always ready to impart that which he knew . Bro . Monfort , in his reply , acknowledged the wish the brethren of the Carlton Instruction Lodge evinced to become good Masons , and recommended them to advance in Masonry . The Vice-chairman , AV . M . ' s present , visitors , and host , were severally proposed , drank , and responded to , and the usual last toast closed this very pleasant reunion .

ROYAL ARCH . VICTOEIAN CHAPTER ( No . 773 ) . —The regular convocation of this chapter was held at the chapter-room , St . Patrick ' s Hall , on Friday , the 7 th August . The chapter was summoned to exalt a brother , but tbis interesting ceremony did not take place in consequence of the unavoidable absence of . the elected brother . M . E . Comp . James as Z . ; E . Comps . Brotherton as H . ; Bowen

as I . After chapter , all present adjourned to Bignell's Hotel , at tho invitation of two companions , who wished to celebrate their birthday with their companions in Arch Masonry . MASK MASONRY . DUKE OP LEINSTEE LODGE ( NO . 421 ) . —An

meetemergency ing of this lodge was held on Wednesday , August 19 th , Bro . T . K . Lempriere in the chair . Bros . Cassidy aud Sayer , of the South Yarra Lodge ( No . 1232 ) , and Bro . Hart , of the Meridian Lodge ( No . 1031 ) , were balloted for as candidates for advancement , and duly elected . Bro . Cassidy , being in attendance , was introduced , and duly advanced as a M . M . M .

Public Amusements.

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS .

HAYMARKET THEATRE . Anew comic piece in two acts , entitled "A Bull in a China Shop , " has been produced at this house , ancl accepted with more than the ordinary tokens of approbation . It is one of those dramatic compositions which involve no tale and possess no plot , but depend entirely upon the maintenance of a never-ending

equivoque , and upon the rapid succession of a flood of unexpected and amusing incidents . Mr . Tipthorpe , Mr . Compton , a middle-aged gentleman of easy circumstances , living in the west-end of London , has married a second wife ( Miss H . Lindley ) , little , if at all , older than his daughter by the first marriage ( Miss Fanny AVrighfc ) . Susan , his servant , Mrs . E . Fitzwilliarn ,

has been recently united in matrimony with Mr . Piper , Mr . Clark , a piano tuner , by whom she is clandestinely visited every night , as soon as the family have retired to bed . Lucy , the daughter , is engaged to be married to Mr . Filler , Mr . AV . Gordon , a clerk in the War Office . Such are the circumstances of the family when the curtain rises , ancl discovers Mr . Tipthorpe in a