New Zealand.

veiled under the mysteries of our Craft . Ifc is a knowledge whicli finds expression in the practice of every social virtueloyalty to our sovereign , love to our brethren , peace , hospitality , ancl charity . It is a knowledge which fits us to be good parents and good neighbours , rejoicing in truth , justice , and fidelity . May the Great Architect of the Universe grant that these virtues may indeed be practised by the brethren who shall hereafter assemble within the walls of this lodge , of which

we now lay the foundation . " At the conclusion of this excellent address the band played a selection , after which the assemblage dispersed , and the brethren marched back to their lodge . At 6 . 30 the brethren sat clown to dinner at the Masonic Hotel . The brethren to the number of forty-two sat down , and while partaking of a repast served up in Mr . George's usual liberal stle ( the tables literally groaning under tbe good

y things of the season ) , were treated with some selections admirably played by the band . The following toasts were given during the evening : —The Queen and the Craft ; Prince of Wales , Princess of Wales , and the Royal Family ; The R . W . the Grand Masters of England , Ireland , and Scotland ; The Provincial Grand Master of New Zealand ; Retiring Master and Officers of tbe Mount Egmont Lodge ; The Master and Officers of the Lodge ; The Past Masters ; Visiting

Brothers ; Wives , Sisters , and Sweethearts ; Army and Navy ; Militia ancl Volunteers ; General Cameron , K . C . B . ; Colonel Warre , 0 . 2 ? . ; and several other toasts were drunk and responded to , ancl appropriate airs played by the band after each . We must not omit to mention one toast , Col . Muloek . and the officers of the 70 tl : Regiment , to which was added a vote of thanks for their kindness in lending the brethren their fine band , which had contributed so much to the enjoyment of

the day and evening . Several songs were sung by the brethren , and the "Entered Apprentice's Song" was not forgotten . The brethren separated at a late hour , terminating an evening which had been heartily enjoyed by all present .

Public Amusements. Drury Lane Theatre,

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS . DRURY LANE THEATRE ,

The representation of the tragedy of " Borneo and Juliet , " with Miss Helen Faucit as Juliet , on Monday night extended the list of those Shakesperian revivals which have so creditabl y distinguished the present management . It would be too much to affirm that Miss Helen Faucit remains in full possession of all the

qualifications for the character which gave such a charm to her performance on the old stage of Covent Garden when Mr . James Anderson was a juvenile Borneo , and Mr . Macready did not disdain to become the adviser of the youthful couple , in the garb of their sententious monitor , Friar Laurence ; but time has dealt gently

with the actress , and her fair face and slim figure would afford but an indifferent clue to past dates in the theatrical calendar . As an apologetic circular was issued claiming the indulgence of the audience for the lady , who , though suffering from a severe cold , had preferred a personal disadvantage to a public disappointment , it

would be ungracious to refer to physical deficiencies which were plainly attributable to the effects of indisposition . Notwithstanding a drawback of this kind , the actress exerted herself to an extent which could hardl y have been expected under the circumstances , and the chamber scene in the fourth act was rendered with considerable

energy , the fullest expression being given to the horrors suggested in the soliloquy which precedes the swallowing of the potion . The love passages in tho play receive from Miss Helen Faucit a thoroughly poetical treatment , and the impression left upon the spectator

Public Amusements. Drury Lane Theatre,

at the end is too agreeable to be disturbed by any consideration how much is due to art rather than nature . On the termination of the overture , Miss Helen Faucit gracefully delivered the few lines which form the original prologue , and in which , as the programme truthfully states , " the argument of the play is happily

epitomised . " Mr . "Walter Montgomery was the Borneo of the evening , thus resuming a character which had elsewhere obtained for him some popularity ; and on Mr . Walter Lacy as Mercurio , Mr . Henry Marston as Friar Laurence , and Mr . Gr . Belmore as the Apothecary , the audience bestowed the remainder of their commendations .

Literary Extracts.

LITERARY EXTRACTS .

OrsTEE , FARJinre— ' ( TREES OI ' STGKS . —One of the most lucrative branches of this foreign oyster farming may be now described , i . e ., the production of tho celebrated green oysters . The greening of oysters—many of which are brought from the Isle of Ro parks—is extensively carried on at Marennos on both sides of the i-iver Soudre ,

and this particular branch of oyster industry has some features that are quite distinct from those we have been considering , as the green oyster is of considerably more value than the common white oyster . The peculiar colour and taste of the green oyster are imparted to it by the vegetable substances which grow in the beds where ifc is cultivated . This statement however , is scarcely an

answer to the question " why , " or rather " how do oysters become green ? " Somo people maintain that the oyster green is a disease of the liver-complaint kind , while there are others who attribute the green colour to the presence of a parasite which overgrows the mollusc . But we think the peculiar culture is in itself a very sufficient answer to the question . The industry carried on

at Mareunes consists chiefly of tho fattening in claires , and the oysters are at one period of their lives as white as those of any other plane ; indeed it is only after being kept for a year or two in the muddy ponds of the river Seudro , that they attain the much-prized green hue . The enclosed ponds for the growth of these oysters , which , according to all epicurean authority , is " the oyster pai excellence , " require to be water-tight , for they are noi submerged by the sea , except during very high tides The walls for retaining the water require , therefore , tr

be very strong ; they are composed of low but broad banks of earth , five or six yards thick at their base , ana about three feet in height . The flood-gates for the admission of the tide require also to be thoroughly watertight , and to lit with great precision , as the stock of oysters must always be kept covered with water . A trench or ditch is cut in the inside of each pond for the

better collection of the green slime left at each flow of the tide , and many tidal inundations aro necessary before the claire is ready for the reception of the stock . When all these matters of construction and slime collecting have been attended to , the oysters are then scattered over it and left to fatten . When placed in these claires , they are usually from twelve to- sixteen months oldand

, they must remain in them for a period of two years at least before they can be properly greened , and if left a year longer they are all the better ; for we maintain that an oyster should be at least four years old before sent to table . Great attention must be devoted to the oysters while thoy are in the greening pond , and thej' must be occasionally shifted from one pond to another to ensure

perfect success . Many of the oyster farmers of Mareunes have two or three claires suitable for this purpose of transfer . The trade in these green oysters is very large . Cornhill Magazine .