SCOTT MEMORIAL CAIRN.

CEREMONY AT PORT CHALMERS.

FOUNDATION STONE LAID.

The ceremony of laying the foundation stone of tho cairn to be erected to tko memory of tho late Captain Scott and his party took placo on Saturday afternoon at Port Chalmers. Rain fell steadily throughout the afternoon, and was no doubt responsible for tho 'email attendance of. residents at the ceremony. Subscriptions towards the cost of tho erection of tho. memorial have been received chiefly from residents in Port Chalmers and Dunedin, but assistance has also been forthcoming from the surrounding districts, and from towns as far north as Timaru. Tho cairn is estimated to 006t about £150, practically tho -whole of which sum is already in hand. Tho monument will occupy a commanding site high up on the hill overlooking the Upper Port Chalmers railway station, and will bo a very conspicuous object viewed from ships entering tho harbour. It will also be visible from nearly all parts of Port Chalmers, and also ot certain points on tho main lino of railway north of tho township. Its exact position is on a huge rock in tho corporation reserve, between Lane's and Salter's'rocks, its height above sea level being estimated at between 500 ft and 600 ft. It is within a few yards of tho road from Port Chalmers to Purakanui, and is also accessible by several well-formed footpaths up tho face of tho hilL

The sombre-hued but solid Port Chalmers stone is being used iin the construction of the cairn, which, when complete, will roach a height of 30ft, Tho base is 12ft in diameter, and tho shaft will measure sft 6in across. On tho top will bo placed a largo concrete anchor. Heavy buttresses have already been constructed on foureidei of tho oairn, which on its completion will no doubt bo a very substantial and impressive monument.

In view of tho fact that the late Captain Scott was a member of the English Constitution of Freemasons, tho Port Chalmers Boiiough Council decided to ask the chief local representative of the constitution to lay the foundation stone. A largo number of officers and members of the District Grand Locfeo of Otago and Southland, E.C., made tho journey to Port Chalmers, and there were also present at tho ceremony members of the Scotch District Grand Lodge, and local representatives of the Irish and New Zealand constitutions, numbering in all about 60. About 3.15 p.m. a procession left the local Masonic Hall, led by tie acting D.G. director of ccremonies (W. Bro. W. R. who was followed immediately by tho junior members of the lodges. On arrival at the site the lines opened out, and allowed tho R.W.D.G.M. Bro. T. S. Graham and other district grand officers to pass up tho centre to the place of ceremony, where they wero met and formally welcomed by the Mayor (Mr Mawson) and councillors of Port Chalmers.

Tho ceremony itself was of a> most interesting nature, being invested with all the pomp and circumstance peculiar to the; order. Tho proceedings wore commenced' by the sinking of the hymn, "Hail Eternal!' by Whoso Aid" by the Masonic choir, under tho direction of tho D.G. organist (Bro. Bennell), accompanied by tie. St. Andrew's Masonic Orchestra, Tinder tho oonductorehip of Bro. Oooko Prayer was offered by tho D.G. chaplain, after which the D.G. superintendent of ,works submitted tho plans of the structure to tho R.W.D.G.M., Bro. T. S. Graham. Tho Btone was then lowered, with three pauses, tho public grand honours being given between each pause. Tho duties of proving ■ tho stone by means of tho plumb line, level, and square were .performed at tho request of the D.G.M. by W. Bro. J. W. Johnson, D.J.W. Bro. J. S. Webb, and D.S.W. Bro. D. Cameron. Tho elements of consecration, consisting of com, wine, and oil, wcro then presented, and applied to the stono by the D.G.M., after which tho hymn "Divine Creator! by Whose Aid" was sung. The D.G.M. then completed the laying of the Btone, 'and made tho following invocation: " May the all bounteous flow of naturo ever bless tho inhabitants of this plaoe. and grant them oil the necessities, conveniences, and comforts of life; enable them to erect and complete this memorial; protect the workmen from every danger, and long preserve this 6tructuro from dccay. May each ono of us roccivo in needful supply tho corn of nourishment, the wino of refreshment, and the oil of joy." , Addressing the gathering, the D.G.M. said that ho considered it his duty to thank tho Port Chalmers Borough Council for tho compliment it had paid himself and tho English Freemasons of the district in calling "upon them to carry out the ceremony they had just witnessed. Personally, , he felt that the oompliment became an honour . when he was requested to lay the foundation stone of a memorial to that great man, Captain Scott, and his gallant band. It was very fitting that tho residents of Port Chalmers should have taken on themselves to raise a memorial to them. It was unnecessary for him to attempt to tell them of tho work dono by tho eminent commander, who was ono of the finest seamen who ever trod the deck.. Tho tragic and terrible end of him and his noble party in tho dischargo cf their duty was still fresh in their minds.. He did not know of anything in his experience which had sent such a " thrill of pain through the woTld as the sad news of tho death of Captain Scott and his band of noblo spirits. Ho felt, however, that tho poignariby of tho bereavement fo tho captain's wife and to the relatives 'of tho other members of the ill-fated patty must have been somewhat assuaged and softened by the sympathy displayed bv tho people of every country. He thankecl the Mayor and councillors once again for offer- [ ing Freemasons an opportunity of paying their respects to the memory of their late brother, Captain Scott, who, 46 possibly some of them were aware, had taken his finishing degree in St Alban's Lodge, in Christchurch, under tho English constitution. The /Mayor, in a brief speech, thanked tho D.G.M. for performing tho ceremony, and the brethren of tho various lodges ; for their attendance. It was fitting that tho residents of Port Chalmers should perpetuate the memory of Captain Scott and his party, in that Port Chalmers had been their port of departure. Tho hymn "Oh. Lord of Hosts" was then sung, and a short prayer b.v the D.G. chaplain concluded the oeremonv. Owing to shortness of time, tl)0 foundation stone was not inscribed, bnt the following inscription will bo placed on it:— "Foundation stone, laid by R.W.D.G.M. T. S. Graham, E.C., December 13, 1913. . On the sido of tho cairn opposite tho foundation stono, and facing tho road, ; a marblo tablet, bearing tho following inscription, will bo fixed: — IN MEItORIAH. Captain Bobert Falcon Scott, C.V.0., B.JT. Dr Edward Adrian Wilson, F.Z.S. Oaptain Lawrcncc E. G. Oates (InnisldHen Dragoons). Lieutenant Henry E. Bowers, B.LU. Potty Officcr Edgar Evans, R.N. Who sailed in the Tern Nova from this porton November 23, 1910, and reached the South Pole on January 17, 1913, bnt lost their lives on tho homeward journey. Extract from hie Last Messaob. "1 do not, regret 'this jonrney, which has fhown uti that Englishmen can endure hardship.', help one another, and meet death with as great a fortitude as ever in the past. We took risks; we knew we took them. Things have come out against us, and therefore wo have no cause tor complaint, but bow to the will .of Providenoe, determined still to do our (best tvi tho last. Had we lived, I should have had a tale to tell of tlie hardihood, endtmnoe, and couragc o! my companions which would have stirred the heart of every Englishman." R. SCOTT. JTarch 55, 1312. " \Te have been willing to give our lives to this enterprise" (Captain Scott's diary). PORT CnALMBRS, 1313, " When your children in times to come shall ask their' lathers ' What mean these stones,' then ye ehall let them know." —Joshua iv, 21-S2.