MASONIC MEETING.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 88, 15 April 1887, Page 5

MASONIC MEETING.

At the meeting of tlie Remuera Lodge-, 1,710, E.C., held on Wednesday, Bro. D. Kempt was duly installed W.M. for the ensuing year, the whole of the ceremony being performed by the retiring master, Bro. B. J. Esam, in a most able manner, Bros. P.M.'s W. Lodder and Rees George being the presenting officers, P.M. C. La Roche D.C., and P.M. Cooper giving the working tools. The working of Installing-Master Bro. Esam was greatly admired, and worthily closed his most successful year of office. The large assembly of Masons (about 120), of these 34 being P.M.s, fully showed the high esteem in which both he and the W. M., Bro. Kempt, are held by their Masonic brethren. Amongst them were Bro. G. P. Pierce, P.G , M I C. Lodder, D.D.G.M.E.C, Bro. H. 'g! Wade, and the officers of Grand Lod°-e ; W.M. Bro. Knox, and officers of LoSge Albion; W.M. Bro. Kidd and officers of Lodge Am ; W.M. Bro. Auger and officers of Lodge Waitemata ; W.M. Bro. Allen and officers of Lodge United Service; R.W.M. Bro. F. Macrae and officers of Lodge St. Andrew ; R.W.M. Bro McCulloughand officers of LodgeManukau. W.M.s. and others of Lodge Wairoa,; Star of the Far South, Rodney, Duke of Albany, Eden Lodge, Alexandra,"Dargaville, Blenheim; P.M. Clark, Princo of Wales Lodge ; Bro. ('. C. McMillan, Captain Olive King, etc. The W.M., Bro. D. Kempt, invested in a most creditable manner the following brethren for his officers :—- --1.P.M., Bro. B. J. Esam; S.W., Bro. J. Coom; 1.W., Bro. W. C. Walker; Treasurer, Bro. (P.M.) H. Rees George; Secretary, Bro. (P.M.) W. H. Cooper; S.D., Bro. W. R. Walker; 1.D., Bro. \V. Somerville; 1.G., Bro. J. A. Stitehbury; D.C., P.M. F. M. Kewson; Stewards, Bros. P.M.'s Laßoche, Grainger, Young and James; Organist, P.M. C. Hesketh ; Tyler, Bro. Meickleson. To show the success that Remuera Lodge has attained, the .statement of accounts prepared by the outgoing Treasurer (Bro. P. M. Cooper) showed a balance of above £900 of assets to the credit of the Lodge. After the closing of the Lodge the brethren adjourned to the banquctting room, where the usual Masonic toasts were given and responded to, those of the retiring- and newly-installed Master being enthusiastically received by the brethren. While Bro. G. P. Pierce was responding as Provincial Grand Master, 1.C., he made the suggestion that the brethren of tho three Constitutions in Auckland should unite in having a gathering to celebrate Her Majesty the Queen's Jubilee year in a truly Masonic manner, and, from the unanimous approval with which this was received, we hope early action will be taken to carry this into effect. Midnight broke up one of trie most successful meetings ever held in Remuera Masonic Hall.

On 'Change to-day, Saxon shares were quoted at 2s (id, and Cambrias at ss, with very little business doing.

One oil-colour painting by Mr Kenneth Watkins, which we mentioned in our yesterday's notice of the Art exhibits, represents a tragic incident that we give the story in the artist's words :— The subject of "A Christian Martyr" is from a sketch by the Rev. P. Walsh, and has been in the possession of the artist for some years. It is an endeavour to describe the manner in which Bishop Patteson's body was found by the returning boat s crew from the mission schooner, the Southern Cross, both of which are shown in the offing. The canoe in the foreground has just been pushed out from shore, and is seen gliding slowly over the calm water inside the reef. The body of the bishop is enveloped in the native mat, and across the breast is attached the palm leaf with the five knots, significant of the live lives he was said to have been in exchange for, according to the savage custom of that group of islands. '

It has been stated that the City Council were unable to acquire the block of land lying between the new Free Public Library/ and Lome-street, because of the high price' asked for it by the owner. If there ever wfo' any truth in the statement, such is the case no longer, as we are assured that Dr. Philson is perfectly willing to sell the block in question on most reasonable terms, either to the City Council or the McKelvie trustees for the purposes of an Art Gallery building. .Mr T. B. Hannaford has been taking- considerable interest in this matter, and his idea, if carried out, would reside in a great public benefit and a vast improvement in that part of the city.

To the Editor : Sir, —In reference to a paragraph in your issue of yesterday concerning my benefit, I must ask your permission to correct one passage, which is Sightly at variance with the truth. "One of the Crowd " (if he is actually one) ought to know that neither the pianist nor the organist attended every rehearsal. The facts remain thus—the pianist attended three rerehearsals, the organist two —a preliminary and a final. I may state that the rehearsals for the above cantata commenced in December last, and I trained both chorus and principals without the aid of an instrument, as is always the case with' my teaching, until within two weeks of'the performance. I must admit the assistance I received from Messrs Kowe and .Baxter greatly added to the success of the performances. —J. H. Edmoxdes. Carlton Gore Road, April 15th.

Attention is called to the pale of furniture and effects to be held on Monday next by B. Tonkri and Co., at the residence of Mr T. Levy, opposite Hellier House, Grey-street. The furniture is really good, and'has been selected with great care. The house is open for inspection to-morrow (Saturday), and all those desirous of looking over the furniture are invited to inspect.

At the next meeting of Auckland City Council, Cr. Davie.s wil move " That the absolute necessity of attending to fires as quickly as prssible renders it desirable that this Council should have small sets of hose, say 150 feet each, with hydrant anr nozzle, placed in a box, or cupboapd with lock and four keys, one for the In spector, ■end three for adjacent neighbours, ami that two sets, as a trial at about the cost of £20, be ordered and fixed."_ His {Vorship will also move at the next sitting " That this Council, in pursuance of the provision? of the Corporations Act, .1886, and Rating Act, 1870, and amendments thereto, will, on the sth day of May next, make out and levy a general rate of one shilling in the pound on all ac-c-e.«sablc properties within the City of 'Auckland, payable in one sum at the offices of tho said Council, on Wednesday, June 1, IS*"-

Mr Matthew Burnetb received an enthusiastic reception by the Temperance organ Rations an his return to Melbourne from his tour of New Zealand. In the course ot an address Mr Burnett said that during the past 6 years he could bear testimony fo the fact young Australia was notadnilk •L community, and since his arrival m the cofonies he had induced 150,000 of his fellow colonists to take the pledge.

POVBRTT AND SUFFERING. —" I Was f r Soctorlhe which did them no good. I was were an "l/i''l l T vant t0 g ay to all poor men, C^S can 6ieep your a famUie 3 leU a yea* with you k a" "Tv.'v'-hod Bitters for less than one Zi 1 I know U.-A Wobk"nsMan." Read.