MASONIC.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 103, 1 May 1894, Page 3

MASONIC.

NEW ZEALAND CONSTITUTION.

Thk Auckland members of the New Zealand Grand Lodge who proceeded to Wellington for the purpose of being present ab the installation of Bro. H. D. Bell, M.H.R., as Grand Master, returned home on Monday via New Plymouth. The Auckland members of bhe Grand Lodge comprised : Bro. Malcolm Niccol, P.G.M., Bro., Alfred Kidd, G.S.W,, Bro. Geo. Fowlds, G.S., Bro. G. H. Powley, P.G.S.W., Bro. W. H. Cooper, P.G.S.W., and Bro. H. Ellison, G.S. The installation waa large and representative, brethren from all parts ot the colony being present. We gather from the reporb of the New Zealand Grand Lodge proceedings in the New Zealand "Times" that the annual balance-sheet showed a credib balance of £736 3a Id general fund, £572 12s lid benevolent fund, bho deposits of various kinds being £746 17s Id in the Bank of New Zealand and the Auckland Savings Bank. The report of the Board of Benevolence, for the quarter, was also adopted.

Very elaborate and encouraging reports were received from fhe Grand Superintendents of the Wellington, Nelson, Wesb Coasb, and Southland Districts. Bro. Hulberb (Canterbury) and Bro. Bilbey (Napier and Gisborne) gave brief verbal reports. The M.G.M. spoko in very favourable terms on behalf of the Auckland District. Bro. Kidd reported that since bhe reporb of the Board of General Purposes had been drawn up, three new lodges had been added to the lisb, viz., St. John's (Invercargill) and Eltham (Eltham), which had come over, and a charter for a new one, to be called the McKenzio Lodge, ab Fairlie Creek, bringing the total roll up to 95 lodges. M.W.P.D.G.M. Bro. J.Edwards, of bhe New South Wales Grand Lodge, waa admitted according to ancienb cusbom, aad received the honour due to his exalted rank. The new Grand Master, Bro. Bell, announced that he had made the following appointments :—Depuby G.M., Bro. Wm. Horatio Hall (Invercargill); Senior Grand Warden, Bro. Alfred Kidd (Lodge Ara, Auckland); Junior Grand Warden, Bro. T. A. Peterkin (Denniston); and P.G.M. Bro. Niccol duly invested them. The following Auckland brethren were invested officers by proclamation: —Grand Chaplain, V. W. Rev. Bro. Joughin ; Grand Superintendent, V.W. Bro. G. Fowlds; Grand Senior Deacons, W. Bros. S. Daweon and Hanna; Grand Superinten. of Works, W. Bro, Thos. Thomas; Grand Pursuivant, W. Bro. J. D. Colebrook; Grand Stewards, W. Bros. H. A. Ellison E. Sewell. A pleasant interlude was made by Bro. Kidd requesting the G.M. to allow a presentation of an address and a purse of sovereigns to be made to Bro. Ronaldson, Grand Secretary, from Lodge Ara of Auckland, as recognition of their appreciation of his services when in Auckland for two years. P.G.M. Bro. Niccol made the presentation in a pleasant manner, adding his testimony to that of the Auckland brethren as to Bro. Ronaldson's services. Congratulations were also received from the Grand Lodges of Ohio, Grand Orients of Italy and Spain, Greece, Cuba, Indian Territory, South Australia, Nevada, Arkansas, Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Oklaharaa, and Mississipi. Bro. E. T. Gillon said that the members of the New Zealand Constitution owed a lot of its success to the Grand Lodge officers in Auckland for the way they had conducted the affairs of the Grand Lodge, especially to Bro. A. Kidd, for the manner in which he had discharged the duties of President of the Board of General Purposes. He had, therefore, much pleasure in proposing thab a hearty vote of thanks be recorded on the minutes of Grand Lodge for the way they had conducted their several duties.. This was carried by acclamation. Ero. Niccol, on behalf of Auckland Grand lodge officers, briefly replied.