A TRIP TO WHANGAREI.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 111, 10 May 1895, Page 3

A TRIP TO WHANGAREI.

SOME NOTES ON THE DISTRICT.

VISIT OF THE GRAND LODJE

OFFICERS, E.C,

(BY OUR OWN REPORTER,)

J3T the s.s. Wellington, which left for WhaDgareiab half-past! ten o'clock on Tuesday Slight, Bros. Geo. S- Graham, District/ flrand Master of the English Constitution, Jsro. Hon. Wm. McCuilough, P.G., Master jf the Scotch Constitution, and a number of brethren /working under the banner of the ••Old Country" Constitutions were passengers for the purpose of aesisJing ab the installation of officers of Lodge ftar of the North, No. 1647, E.C., WbangaI'ei.' In addition to the two Grand Maa- : $ers the Auckland visitors comprised the Hollowing ;—Bro. J. P. Clark, D.G; Secretary ; Bro. R. S. Bush, P.M. 1930, E.C.; Bro. H. F. VVindoor, P.M., P.8.G.P.; Bro. W. H. George, D.G.J.W.; Bro. Charles ■■:.' Ileskebh, 1710. E.G.; Bro. Stephen Gilbert, P.M., 1338, E.C.; Bro. Alex Sutherland, W.M. 689, and D.G.D.; Bro. Joseph R. Simpson, 1338, E.G.; Bro. W. C. Nairn, jjf.W.,1338, E.C.; Bro. Adam Brock. P.M., $48,1.C.; Bro. J. H. Phillpob, 348, 1.C.; pro. F. Prime, 348, I.C. The trip up proved a most enjoyable one, the nighb going cleat, and the water ho smooth that Dhere waß little chance of the .greatest Bufjerer from mal-de-mtr being effected. Of jjourse bhis pub overyono on board in good Spirits,.and it was a lat9 hour before the jnajority thought of-"seeking the seclusion irtiicb a cabin grants," for they sat listen•f'ng to choice musical items rendered by Bros. Phillpot, George, Nairn, Simpson, *nd Prime,*a3sißted by other passengers. Another entertaining spirit was Bro. .£dain Brock, The,officers of the steamer jvore most' assiduous in promoting the pleasure of the Aucklanders, and none : Snore io than Mr E. Woodbouse, the fliosb obliging of chief stewards. It graa the first visit of tbe writer to Whafogarei, so ib is unnecessary to cay Jbab the delightful scenery which is to be toeb with on all sides in the run up the Stiver came in for plenty of admiration. * Among the objects of interest pointed out Upas one which goes to show whab perseverance and industry can do. This was a homestead where a pioneer settler had lome thirty years ago dug with a spade $1 ty acres of land for cultivation. A jiotable industry in the river is that of jMr Rubhen'ord, where hydraulic lime and (hematite painb are turned out in large Uuanbities and exported. This establishment is situated ab bhe juuetion of the Whangarai and Mangapai Rivers. An old jetbler points out the Government township mown as " Grahamstown," named after %he lat« Mr Robert Graham, and tells of the jaany attempts which had been made from time to time to get the railway ierminas made there. He thinks the Wha3igarei tOwnßhip should have been located At thin spob instead of in its present position, and there is some truth in what be says, jor. thore is a splendid deep-water berthage iere, sufficient* to provide for the drawing poweira of a large steamer or man-of-war. |o nsuch by th« way. By eight o'clock on Wednesday morning Captain Stepbenson ia* the 8.8. Wellington berthed'salongaide Sba Railway Wharf at Whangarei, where ffa'e Auckland brethren are accorded a hearty welcome by Bros. Thos. McClintock And J. R. Reyburn, besides others. Afew juinutes later we are in the train, and soon afterwards the whole party are located at , Jtie comfortable, clean and well-kept ftoßtelry of which Mr J. A. Finney is **miri« hosfe," viz., the Settlers' Hotel. >AfUir breakfiißb the Auckland visitors lake,^a, .walk round the township. (All 3riasa«iß of tradesmen are,represented, and Jb can be. plainly Been from bhe well-stocked }h'bps that the local shopkeeper can supply everything up to date and also ab " town jjritjea." During the day Kamo is visited, ftrhoro the writer has a look through the loeaJ. coal mine. The mineral springs of Mr Jas.-Taylorj1 which are reported to have fluxed many cases of rheumatiam, dyspepsia ftr/d urinary troubles, are looked over, and 7j bath indulged in. A etarb ia then ' 'made for". Hikurangi, situated ten jnilea from Whangarei. After lunah ab Mr Kolleston's hotel, and a walk aboub the Hikurangi township, a start is made for Whangarei, some of bhe brethren returning fey road and others preferring the trip on 'Jhe railway line. The road from Whai (Dgarei to Hikurangi is a' good one, and the | 'surrounding country is of a striking and picturesque character. There are some' •pretty homesteads between the township of p %hangarei and Kamo," one and all giving | a stranger the impression that the owners lire prospering. As visitors know, WhaI ingarei is famed for oranges and lemons, and I ihe crop of the first-named fruit (which is I Suat ripening) appears to be a large one. The Aucklanders were very sorry indeed . 'that time would not permit of them paying ■i visit to Mr Bobbie's famous orchard. HODGE STAB OF THE NORTH INSTALLATION* The installation of Bro. Thomas Me' Clintock as W.M. of Lodge Star of the .tlorth and officers took place on Wednesday evening in the Masonic Hall, Waltonstreet,,. _The hall is a subatantially-builb trick sbructure, with a well - finished interior, and altogether a credit to the Masons of the district. Heavy rain fell for » couple of hours previous to the time of ipeeting, bub this did nob prevenb a mosb areditable muster. The Lodge was opened »t ten minutes pasb seven by Bro. .Mo€Untock, 1.P.M., and W.M. elect. The • lanior warden's chair was occupied by Bro. A. Hanson, P.M., while Bro. C. Eyles filled ; Hhatr of the junior warden. Oub of respect 'to Bro. Andrew Peterson, the late tyler, the jewels worn by the officers) and bhe |Lodge furniture were draped wjbh crape. ■Bro. A. \V. McGregor read the minutes of the last meeting, held on April lOtb, which ■ were confirmed. The minutes stated thab the minute-book had been purloined from the Lodge. Tbe following brethren were Unanimously elected joining members of the Lodge :—Bros. G. W. McKay, H. Hall ;-.. Siaaons, P.M., Joshua Taylor, P.M., and John McNicol. ■■;■■. Bro. G. S. Graham, D.G.M., and the j' Officers of the English Grand Lodge to the ;i dumber of cloven were then announced, and I Em entering the Lodge were received with sausical honoura. Bro. Graham then assumed the chair, and opened a District iirand Lodge. Bro. Norman McLeod, ; 1.P.M., 1810, E.C., was invested as SuperJntendenbof Works, to which office he had ;; been appointed. The Hon. W. McOullough, ;:, f-.G. .Master S.C., and Bro. Adam Brock, the representative of the Irish Constitution, , intered, and were each received with , touaical honours and saluted. Bro. Brock Apologised for the absence of Bro. W. J. S Jteea, andbhe Grand Lodge was then closed Master. ;i /Bro. McClintock eaid the business of the '■ evening was installation ceremony. He :■ iailed upon Bro. J. P. Clark, D.G.S., to /»cb as Installing Master. Bro. Clark took /'the chair and opened the Lodge in the V\ Jecond degree. Bros. Hansen and Sissons -.then presented Bro. McClintock to the Installing Master. The charges and regulations were read to the W.M. elect, who duly made the obligation, and bhe Lodge > fraa raised. ' A Board of Installed Masters ; being raised, Bro McClintock was duly inHailed into the chair ot King Solomon. :"Bro. S. Gilbert presented the W.M. with the working toola, and the Lodge was towered to the second degree. The workliS: tools in the other degrees were pre'seated by the Installing Master and Bro. Norman McLeod, of Dargaville. The E warrant of the Lodge was then duly banded over to the W.M. Bro. McClintock invested his officers as Wllowg;-.S.W., Bro. C. Eylea; J.W,,

Bro. J. R. Reyburn; Treasurer, Bro. R. Thompson, P.M. ; Secretary, Bro; John McNicol; S.D., Bro. <L W. McGregor; J.D., Bro. S. Dickey; Inner Guard, Bro. E. A. Hutchings; Tyler, Bro. A. M. Rpsb, P.M. The brethren sang;."Hail Masonry Divine," after which the Installing Master impressively addressed the W T.M. The address to the wardens was given by Bro. H. F. Windsor, P.M., and the address to the brethren by the Installing Master. The duties of Installing Master were performed in a mosb capable and finished manner by Bro. Clark, while, the impressiveness of the ceremony was considerably heightened by the Auckland choir pre&enb, Bro. Phillpob presiding ab the organ. The D.G. Master rose and congratulated Bro. McClintock upon his accession bo the chair. He also thanked bhe brebhren for their attention and reception of bhe Grand Lodge, and said he felb from the bottom of his heart that it was a pleasure to meet bhem. The D.G. M. then referred at some length to those who had seceded from the Lodge,* i Bro. Brock offered congratulations to the W.M. He said the Auckland brethren had come specially to support him in his election to the chair. Bro. McCullough said be was glad to find such an excellent Lodge in the district. He wished them a prosperous, harmonious, and happy time during the year. t Bro. Gilbert said he had visited the Old Country lately. Those brethren who had done likewise, and mingled as he had with members of the three constitutions would have no inclination to join the New Zealand Grand Lodge, bub be pleased to be a part of British Masonry. Congratulations were tendered the newlyinstalled W.M. by a number of brethren, for which he returned thanks. A telegram from Lodge Rodney, 1711, E.C., conveying fraternal greetings, was also read. The Lodge was closed at five minutes pasb ten by bhe singing of bhe hymn "As from this place we.go once more." THE BANQUET. The whole of bhe brebhren, to the number of aboub fifty, then adjourned to the large and spacious hall adjoining tbe Settlers' Hotel, where Mr Finney had served up a sumptuous repast. The laying out. of the table came in for much admiration, while the menu was a.large and varied one. Lines of flags supended from the ceiling, and a large display of ferns, foliage, and chrysanthemums, altogether gave the hall a pretty effect. A number of toasts were duly proposed and honoured.' Tbe D.G.M. •proposed the toast "The Newly-insballed W.M." He said thab Bro. McClintofik was an enthusiastic Mason, and he trusted that by bhe aid of his officers and his own zeal and skill Lodge Star of the North would have a prosperoua year. Bro. McClintock, who served as W.M. of the Lodge two years ago, and. also as W.M. of Lodge Northern Light, Kawakawa. suitably replied. Bro. Thompson, M.H.R., said thab he hoped tihab the Grand Lodge officers would visit the' district frequently. At intervals, songs were sung by the Auckland hrethren, and altogether the pleasant evening spent, will be long remembered by the Whangarei brethren and all others present. The Auckland visitors left Whangarei ab half-pasb seven o'clock yesterday morning, and reached bown in the afternoon ab half-pasb four.