MASONIC FESTIVAL.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIII, Issue 992, 30 December 1856, Page 2

MASONIC FESTIVAL.

The past -week has truly been one of festivity Thursday was Christmas day ; Friday, boxing day ; and Saturday, though not recognised as a festive occa* {■ion by the community generally, was held as such by a body — large and influential throughout every portion of the civilized world— the Order of Free and Accepted Masons. Of this Order there are, as our readers are doubtless aware, two lodges in Auckland— the lodge Ara and the Waitemata lodge— the officers and brethren of which, together with a few invited guests, sat down, on Saturday evening, in the William Denny Hotel, to a banquet prepared in celebration of the day — the anniversary of St. John the Baptist. The chair was occupied by F. W. Merriman, Esq., (S.W. of the Waitemata Lodge), and the vice-chair by James Buchanan. Esq., (W. M. of the Lodge Ara)— the number at table about thirty in all. A portion of the Regimental Band was stationed in the gallery of the dining room, performing several select, and, as the evening proceeded, appropriate pieces of music. On the cloth being removed— the viands having previously been done ample justice to — the following toasts were given in succession, and drunk with Masonic honours : — From the Chair — The Queen (National Anthem) ; Prince Albert and the Royal family (Prince Albert's March) ; his Excellency the Governor (March); the Army and Navy (British Grenadiers and Rule Britannia), responded to by Captain King, R.E.V the Earl of Zetlard, Grand Master of England (A man's a man for a' that) ; the Grand Masters of Ireland and Scotland (St. Patrick's day and the Thistle of Scotia) ; —From the Vice-Chair,— Sir Osborne Gibbes, Provincial Grand Master for New South Wales (The Free and Accepted Masons), responded to by Mr. Solomon ;; — ■ By Captain King,— The W. M., Officers, and Brethren of Lodge Ara, responded to by Mr. James Henderson, (j.W );) ;— By Mr. Hendarsbn,— The W. M., Officers, and Brethren of the Waitemata Lodge (The meeting of the waters) ;— From the Chair,— The Visitor* (Fly iiU yet), responded to by D. A. C. G. Wood ;— By Mr. Solomon, — The Ladies (Here's a health to all good lasses), responded to by Mr. Buchanan — both speeches eliciting roars of laughter ;— From the Chair,— Masonry all round the Globe (Auld Lang Syne). This completed the list, but The Press (responded to by Mr. Wood, of the 'Southern Cross'), and other toasts were subsequently given from the chair. Last, though not least, was the health of Harry Jackson, who, as manager of the William Denny Hotel, had done his best to contribute to the ha piness of the evening. While it was being drunk with hearty good will, Harry himself made his, appearance. In responding to the toast, he expressed a hope that any little deficiencies might be overlooked, as he was not yet thoroughly initiated in his new 'line of business.' He concluded, in-response to the unanimous call of the company, by singing a comic song, in his own inimitable ityle. His good example was followed by others, and the evening, though necesstrily short, was one of much hilarity — tempered, however, by a moderation, characteristic of those who are bound together by the 'mystic tie.' The company separated at 12 precisely.