Australia.

Bro . 11 . AV . Lowry fill the chair , a proposition which was seconded by Bro . Read , and carried unanimously . Bro . AVhite then proposed that Bro . Read be Secretary pro lem . Seconded by Bro . Lcwellen , and carried . The chairman opened the business of the evening by calling upon the Secretary to read the circular convening the present meetiug ; after which he made a brief statement setting forth the general views of tho promoters of the present scheme in reference to tho paramount

importance of a building devoted wholly to Alasonic usages and rites . He dwelt in a brief but forcible manner on the evils attendant on the present necessity for holding Mason ' s Lodges in rooms connected with "public houses , " and the consequent stigma attaching to the Masonic name amongst the uninitiated . Ho said that feeling strongly the evils consequent upon the want of Jlasouic halls devoted to Alasonic uses only , ( ni'iro especially in a metropolitan centre such as Melbourne ) , ho had , iu conjunction with a few other brethren , taken the initiative by forming

a provisional committee to consider the best means of providing a remedy for the existing state of things , and ho would now lay before them the result of their deliberations . Aftor a careful consideration the committee were , of opinion that a Masonic hall , in connection with a Alasonic club and proper dormitories , will not only bo tho greatest desideratum , but will also command the best prospects of success ; for not only is the want of a hall felt , but country brethren , on their arrival in town , require some establishment of the kind where pecuniary consideration ,-,- would not be the only

qualification ; and the committee were assured that such a project would meet with the warmest support from country Lodges , ivho without such consideration could scarcely be expected to feel so extensive au interest iu a metropolitan hall , only the influence of which , for good on the Craft generally , is of a more iutangoable character . After careful inquiry the committee found their choice of eligible sites but a limited one , but they have been fortunate enough to receive an offer of a piece of land on reasonable terms , which they consider combines the

greatest advantages in respect to situation , size , and price . The laud has a frontage G' 5 feet to Cillin ' s-street East , by a depth south of 149 J feet , aud situate nearly opposite to the New Alelbourne Club . The tonus offered are as follows : — £ 1000 for the land , the payments to be made at the rate of £ 100 per mouth . The first instalment being made upon the completion of the hall ; no interest to be charged except for non-payments of the monthly instalments as they fall due , when interest will be charged at the rate of ten per cent . The committee has

also obtained from a competent authority au estimate of cost for the erection of a suitable building , the amount of which if £ 10 , 000 , this being exclusive of the laud . The revenue has been estimated as follows , namely : — Rental for the use of the Hall by the several Alasonic bodies in Melbourne £ 4 f . O 0 0 Subscriptions of Club Members estimated at £ -200 , at £ 2 2 s . per annum 525 0 0 The Rental from the Club 1000 0 0

Gross Total £ 13 S 5 0 0 From this amount a deduction of ten per cent , is made for rates , taxes , and repairs , leaving a balance of £ 1 , 700 , ivhich amount , after paying ten per cent , interest on the capital of £ 10 , 000 , would leave a balance of £ 700 per annum towards the land . From this estimate the brethren will perceive that if viewed as a commercial speculation only , the outlay is a prudent one , independent of its

merits in a moral point of view . The committee believe the estimates as submitted are exceedingly moderate and trustworthy . AVith these few prefatory remarks he would leave the question for the serious consideration of brethren , but he would strongly impress npon them that nothing had been done conclusively , and that the whole question was an open one in every point , the committee having abstained even from the usual course of preparing resolutions beforehand to enable the brethren to speak without prejudice to the several questions before

them , and wishing that any movement emanating from this meeting should bo a spontaneous one . Bro . Rawliiison called attention to the circumstance that no allusion had been made to entrance fees for admission to the club , which he thought an important item , as , for two hundred and fifty members , it could scarcely be less than £ 2500 , being a large instalment of the purchase money for the proposed site . The chairman admitted the omission , and stated that the committee

had considered the question and had left the same as an offset against furniture aud other contingent expenses . After a brief eulogy on the earnest maimer in which the question had been placed before them , and a concurrence in the wish to dissociate Jlasonry from tavern associations , Bro . Rawliiison moved " That in the opinion of this meeting it is highly desirable to erect a Alasonic hall iu connection with a Alasonic club in Jlelbounie . " This was seconded by Bro . Leivcllen , and carried unanimously after marks of approval by the brethren .

After a desultory conversation as to the best means of carrying out the above resolution , Bro . Prof . Wilson intimated that to save time he had just sketched out one or two resolutions bearing on tho question , and ivith permission of the chairman would propose the same , seriatim . Bro . Professor AVilson then proposed " That the money for a Jfasonie hall in connection with a Alasonic club bo raised by £ 1 shares in a

Australia.

'Alasonic Hill Company . '" This was seconded by Bro . AValsh , ancl carried unanimously . It was then moved by Bro . Professor AVilson , and seconded by Bro . Hale "That the land be vested in trustees , and the company be managed by a Board of Directors , and that no one be eligible as a trustee or director who is :. iot a subscribing member of somo regular Masonic Lodgo iu tho Colony of Victoria . " Before this resolution ivas put the question was asked hy a brother if

it was intended to provide for the three constitutions or only the English . The chairman replied that the movement was on behalf of the whole Afasonic body , as iu a question of this kind he did not think any distinction could be drawn between the different constitutions any more than could bo made between different Lodges under the same constitution . The resolution was then put and carried unanimously . Bro . Professor AVilson then moved , and Bro . Barnes seconded , " That when the profits shall exceed ten per cent ., the surplus shall be applied to

buying up the shares for the use of the Alasonic body , in such manner as may be found most expedient . '' Carried unanimously . Bro . Professor AVilson then moved , and Bro . Purchase seconded , "That a committee be formed for obtaining subscriptions to the share list , and making all other preliminary arrangements ; the committee to report to an adjourned meeting of the present delegates ou the earliest day possible . " Carried unanimously . Bro . Professor Wilson moved , and Bro . Halo seconded , " That the

committee do consist of Prov . G . Af . I , and his two Wardens ; D . Prov . G . AI . E , and his AVardens ; and D . Prov . G . AI . S , and his AVardens ; and the Alasters of all Lodges within five miles of the Post-office of Melbourne ; live to form a quorum . " Carried . A vote of thanks to the chairman was passed , and the meeting then adjourned . The ready response by a large meeting of brethren to the call for action on this question argues well for the healthy tone of Afasonic feeling i . i Victoria , and that the objects for which the brethren are now banding themselves together may bo carried out in their integrity , must be the wish of every ardent Alason .

The Week.

THE WEEK .

THE COURT . —The Queen and her family , wc arc happy to say , continue in good health , notwithstanding the busy week of gaiety which has just passed . The King of the Belgians and his son , the Count of Flanders , have continued at Buckingham Palace as her Majesty ' s guests , and on Saturday evening the Queen and the Count of Flanders visited the Olympic theatre ; Princess Alice going to the Princess ' s theatre the same night . The Queen , the Prince Consort , and the Princess Alice dined with the Duke of Cambridge , on Alonday , at Gloucester House .

The King of the Belgians and the Count of Flanders were also present to meet the Queen , as well as the Duchess of Cambridge , the Grand Duchess of Alecklenburg Strelitz , and the Princess Alary , Prince Edward of Saxe AVciinar , the Duke of Newcastle , tho Earl of Derby , the Earl of Clarendon , Viscount Palmerston , and some of the foreign ministers . The Queen held a levee on AVednesday , in St . James ' s Palace . Last night her Alajesty gave a state ball , in Buckingham Palace ; invitations wore issued to a very numerous party of the nobility and gentry . AVe

learn , from pretty reliable authority , that her Alajesty may be expected at Balmoral Castle during the first week of August . IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT . —On Jlond . iy , in the HOUSE of LORDS , Lord Brougham asked whether the government had any information with regard to tho truth of a rumour which had prevailed both here and in Paris , and which had caused great alarm , that a large military force was about to be sent from Franco to Naples . Earl Granville was iu a position to deny that there was any foundation for such a rumour , ancl to express his belief that no intention of despatching any such force to

Naples existed on the part of the French government . On Tuesday Lord Lyveden moved the second reading of the Church Rates Abolition Bill , and after a short debate the house divided ; majority against the second reading , 97 . In the HOUSE of COMMONS on Alonday , Jlr . E . James directed attention to the enlistment now and for some time past carried on iu Ireland for the service of the Pope , notwithstanding the proclamation issued by the government to forbid it . He alluded to the exultant tone in which certain Irish newspapers referred to the

movement , pointed to the part taken in it by the priests , and urged the necessity of steps being taken by the government to show that they had power to cheek such an infringement of the Foreign Enlistment Act . Afr . Cardwell said the government were first made aware on the 26 th of Alay that persons were being engaged in Ireland under pretence of making a railway at Ancona , but with reason to suppose that they were really for the military service of the Pope . A proclamation was then issued , informing the people of the real state ofthe law on the- subject ;

and , at the same time , the police ivere directed to watch , and to report weekly , which they had done , and those reports had been regularly submitted to tho law officers of the crown , who had not , however , been able to find a single case in ivhich the evidence at their command ivould justify a prosecution . Air . A " . Scully said it was very unfortunate , if the newspaper statements were true , that so many men should be leaving home , where they were very much wanted . The house soon after went into committee of supply , and agreed to a number of votes iu the army estimates . On one of the votes— -connected with small arms—a