New Zealand.

St . Andrew , and St . Clair Lodges , S . C , which was suitably responded to by Bros . Barron , AV . JI ., and Caldwell , P . JI . and W . M ., and AV . AV . AVilson , AV . M . Bro . J . Loudon , W . JI ., gave the Past JIasters of the various Lodges , which was very feelingly responded to by Bro . G . Smith , P . M ., who brieflyreviewed the progress of Freemasonry in Otago , and congratulated the P . C . M . L . on its success . The R . AV . D . Prov . G . M . Bro . Lazar proposed the Officers of the P . C . M . L ., for whom

Bro . Rolfe S . AV ., suitably responded . The Visiting Brethren was then given by Bro . Alexander M'Kinnon , and responded to by Bros . Mills and Hyman , P . JI . 's . Bro . J . Joyce , P . JI ., gave All Poor and Distressed Brethren , a toast which was appropriately responded to by a general collection among the brethren present . A very interesting and pleasant evening was brought to a close by a vote of thanks to Bro . G . Dodson , for the very liberal and elegant banquet provided for the brethren . During

tbe evening Bro . Jlyers presided at the harmonium and piano ; and Bros . Lazar , Strelitz , and Dodson sang some excellent songs . The visiting Brethren from Duncdin returned to town by the Peninsula , a Masonic salute being fired as a mark of respect on the departure of the steamer .

British Burmah.

BRITISH BURMAH .

( From our own Correspondent . ) ROYAL ARCH . RANGOON . CONSECEATION 01 ? THE ROYAL BUEMAH CHAPTEE , ATTACHED TO LODGE VICTOEIA IN BUEMAH , ( NO . 832 . ) UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OE ENGLAND , MEETING AT RANGOON , IN BRITISH BUEMAH .

Tbe ceremony of consecrating this new chapter" took place at the JIasonie Temple in the Cantonment of Rangoon , on the 13 th of January , I 860 , in the presence of a goodly assemblage of Royal Arch JIasons , and was performed by M . E . Z . Colonel A . J . Greenlaw , P . Z . of the Royal Naval Chapter , attached to Phoenix Lodge , 257 , Portsmouth . The Companions met at the Masonic Temple at 7 p . m . Ex-Comp . Colonel Greenlaw , P . Z . of the Royal Naval Chapter

attached to 2-57 , at Portsmouth , read out the letter received from the G . Scribe E ., transmitting the warrant , and then addressed the Companions as follows : — "Companions , —We are here this evening to constitute , consecrate , and dedicate a Royal Arch Chapter to be attached to Lodge Victoria in Burmah . It is with very great pleasure that I am enabled to inform you , after the great delay we have experiencedthat the warrant has at last arrived from the

, Supreme Grand Chapter of England and AA ales , empowering those who signed the petition , to congregate as a Royal Arch Chapter in Rangoon , East India , the chapter to be styled as the petition solicited , "The Royal Burmah" Chapter . I feel certain that it is a matter of very great satisfaction and joy to each and all of us , that our earnest and long-felt wish is at last gratified . I may say this delay has been caused by

ourselves , and not by those at home , for our G . Scribe E . has done his best for us , and he has lost no time about it . We have now their power to establish this sublime degree in British Burmah , attached to our happy and prosperous Lodge Victoria in Burmah . To myself it is a great source of rejoicing , having , I may say , founded the lodge just five years and a haltago-The lodgeyou are well awareis iu a prosperous stateboth

, , , as to members and to finances , and has now attached to it the Mark Degree , this Holy Royal Arch Chapter , and a Knight Templar's Encampment , all these , too , within one year . This spreading of our Order in these far-off , and I may add , isolated provinces , is , I sincerely trust , a step further towards the spread of those sublime precepts taught to us within these sacred walls , leading us to glorify our Heavenly Father and

Creator , and to magnify and Mess His Jlost Holy and Sacred Name , and calling on us for greater exertions in affording consolation and assistance , and to impart happiness to our brother man , especially to the distressed , the widow , the aged , and the orphan thus to obey that divine command of our all merciful and loving God , " to do good unto all men , " for , bear in mind , that in every degree in Jlasonry we are taught to love our God with all our heart , and our neighbour as ourselves . In this degree you are most earnestly implored to honor and

adore His sacred name , and never to mention His name lightly nor irreverently . —Let us not forget these solemn truths . Companions , —AVe have much to do this evening , so I will not longer detain you but proceed at once to constitute this new chapter , and then to consecrate and dedicate it . I must , therefore , request all those who are not installed Principals to withdraw during the opening of the chapter . " The chapter was then opened by M . E . Z . 's Colonel Greenlaw ,

as Z . ; Colonel Pollard , Acting H . ; G . Sutherland , J . The Companions were then severally proved and admitted to the chapter , Comps . J . J . C Hardinge , Acting E . ; A . Saunders , N . ; J . AAliite , P . S . ; T . Cotton , 1 st A . S . ; AV . Halkesworth , 2 nd A . S . : J . AV . Simpson , Org . The chapter having being declared duly open , Ex-Comp . Z . read out the Charter of Constitution , empowering the Companions to meet as a chapter to be called the Royal Burmah Chapter , under the Supreme Grand Chapter of England and AVales .

All not installed Principals were requested to withdraw , when M . E . Z . installed Comp . JDuncan into the third chair , and afterwards into the second chair as H . M . E . Z . then installed Comp . G . O'Donnell in the third chair as J . Companions were then admitted and saluted the newly installed Principals . A ballot having been taken for the following brethren , and

the same having been favourable , they were duly admitted and exalted to the high and sublime degree of JRoyal Arch Masons , Richard Clarke Babington , T . B . Hardinge , 6 . Simpson , J . Dawson , R . S . Dawson , J . JReid , and E . M . Ryan , all of Lodge 832 , Victoria in Burmah . The chapter was then constituted as follows : Ex-Comps . Colonel A . J . Greenlaw , Z . ; Captain Duncan , as H . ; George O'DonnellJ . Ex-Comp . then invested Comp . T . B . Hardinge ,

, , __ asE . ; J . Dawson , N . ; R . C . Babington , P . S . ; R . S . Dawson , 1 st A . S . ; J . Reid , 2 nd A . S . ; G . Simpson , Janitor . After a short - address from Ex-Principal Z . in ivhieh ho explained tbe duty and necessity of consecrating the chapter , he called upon the Companions to assist him in the performance of that ceremony .

M . E . Z . first offered up the following prayer : — "Almighty , eternal , and omnipotent God , who hast promised to hear those that call upon Thee in Thy Holy Name , and to bein the midst of two or three assembled in Thy Name , we each and all now implore Thee to look down upon us at this time ; to be with us now , blessing us abundantly in our present undertaking ; sanctify and bless us all , and permit us to establish this building to Thy glory .

" Inspire each of us with love to Thee and to all our fellowcreatures . Let us endeavour to relieve the distressed , and to communicate happiness to our fellow man , doing all for the honor and glory of Thy Holy Name . " Grant that this building that we are now consecrating to Thy Sacred Name , may be holiness to the Lord , and whenever we are assembled here for the purposes of Masonry we be

, may guided in all our ways by Thy divine and perfect law . Thus will our Order he made subservient to the practice of our religious duties , and help each of us forward to that Grand Chapter above , where we all hope to meet in perfect happiness ivhen the scenes of this world shall have passed away , and we shall _ appear in the presence of the Great "I am , " thereto remain and dwell for over . So mote it be . "

Principal J . then read I Kings , viii , 1—16 . Principal Z . then proceeded slowly round the chapter sprinkling corn and saying , " when ye be eome into the land which I give unto you , ye shall bring a sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest , and he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord to be accepted for you . " This corn I sprinkle as an emblem of plenty . All saluted , singing " Hallelujah . " Principal H . then proceeded slowly round the chapter ,

sprinkling wine and saying , " And thou shalt bring for a drink offering , half an bin of wine for an offering of a sweet savour unto the Lord , and if a stranger sojourn with you , as you do so shall he do ; one law and one manner shall be for you and the stranger that sojourneth with you . " This wine I pour as an emblem of Prosperity . All saluted singing "Hallelujah . " Principal J . then proceeded slowly round the chapter , sprinkling oil and saying , "And thou shalt make ifc in oil of an holy ointment , aud thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the congregation therewith . " This oil I pour as an emblem of unanimity