MASONIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8785, 27 January 1892, Page 6

MASONIC.

In replying to the toast of his health at tin banquet held in Oamaru, at the conclusion of the quarterly communication of th Grand Lodge of New Zealand, the Grant Master, Brother Thomson, made the follow ing remarks, which we extract from tin Oamaru Mail of the 15th insfc. " Tin Grand Master said he was shortly to laj down the reins of government, arid when he did so he would hand over to his succes sor a solid and compact body of lodges (now 73) composed of over 3000 members The lodges were strong, healthy, and vigo rous, and were animated by one spiritloyalty to their own National Grand Lodge The bitter feeling exhibited at the begin riing of the movement for Masonic Home Rule was rapidly dying out, and it was now recognised that it was an accomplishes fact, founded on firm foundation. The other side, as he had said, had realised that the present state of things could not continue. As an illustration of what he meant, he referred to his recent visit tc the lodges in Westland ; the brethren of all shades of opinion had expressed their gratification at his visit, and he was assured that, in spite of the edicts of nonintercourse fulminated by the District Grand Master of Westland, Brother John Be van, the English brethren visited the New Zealanders, and they in turn visited the English lodges. A most friendly, cordial, and brotherly spirit seemingly animated the whole craft on the West Coast of this island. They had expressed their strong sympathy with the Grand Lodge, and had even gone so far that some of them had given him the date when they intended to transfer their allegiance. He gave an amusing instance of how the edicts of non - intercourse worked, and what a farce the whole thing was ; and ho said a more cruel and unjust thing had never before occurred in the history of Freemasonry in this colony than tbo action of trying to sow the seeds of a life-long bitterness amongst men who had hitherto dwelt together in harmony. A lodge on the West Coast was building a new hall, and had asked the District Grand Master to lay the foundation stone with the usual Masonic ceremony. The D.G.M. had replied statins that be would be most happy to lay the stone, but he could not allow any member of that 'so-called Grand Lodge of Now Zealand ' to be present* and take part in the ceremony. The lodge replied to the effect that the utmost goodwill had ever existed with their sister lodge under the New Zealand Constitution, and that they preferred .to do without the services of the District Grand Master than lose the affectionate regard of their friends and brethren in the other Lodge. In conclusion, the Grand Master said that this occasion would be the last time he would be present in Oamaru as the chief ruler of the craft under the New Zealand Constitution. He asked for the same kindness and welcome for his successor as they had shown to him, and hoped this visit of the Grand Lodge to Oamaru would do good, and bring homo to them the advantages-they derived from having a Grand Lodge of their own—a Grand Lodge at their own doors—in whose deliberations they could take part in whose proceedings they had a voice—a body where every member could express his opinion and bring forward, without let or hindrance, any ideas he had for the welfare and good government of his Lodge."

NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOUR BOARD. 1 An ordinary meeting of the above Board was held in their office, Broughton-atreet. p re . sent: Messrs. A. Shuttleworth, A. Kyngdon W. Bewley, G. W. Gane, E. M. Smith' M.H.R., Levi Sarten, J. B. Connett, F. p| Corkill, and T. King (chairman). The' minutes were read and confirmed. Correspondence.—Correspondence from J. F. Hooker was read in reference to his claim for fencing, and claiming £3 17s 7d for wire and staples. Mr. Gane said an account had been passed some time ago. The secretary said Hooker's claim had been passed by the Board for £2 l'2s Cd. The secretary read the overseer's report. In answer to Mr. Gane the overseer said he had measured the fence and his report was correct for £2 12s 6d.' There was not three coils of wire used by Hooker as asserted by him to have been used. A long discussion took place. Mr. Gane said that Hooker's claim several months ago was £4 odd, and subsequently lie believed £6 was claimed, and now £3 17s 6d, while the overseer's report said all that Hooker was entitled to was £2 12s Gd. The chairman said the overseer's report settled it. Another letter was read from the same gentlemancomplaining about a portion of the report in the Weekly News, Auckland, which was likely to injure him as a business man. The report was read. Mr. Bewley said ho had always found the reports very fair and accurate. Mr. Corkill endorsed Mr. Bewlev's views, adding perhaps it was hardly necessary for the correspondent to so quite so much into details. After discussion on Mr. Hooker complaint, it was resolved' on Messrs. Corkill and Connet's resolution' to refer the claim back again for Mr. Hooker to explain how he claims for three coils of wire asserted to be used by him, while the overseer reports that there is only two on the fence. From Mr. Wilcocks, of Patea, asking lor the Board to supply him with a truck load of sand grass. Mr. Smith said they ought to charge for it._ In answer to Mr. Connett, the overseer said it would improve the plants by thinning them out. Mr. Corkill said the grass was very valuable, and was fetching a good price in some maces. Mr. Smith said about £9 per ton down tho coast. It was decided to leave the matter with the chairman to ascertain the price and supply it. From Mr. James Micoll, asking for information of price, etc., of a section of land at Mount Elliott Reserve, in Broughamstreet. Mr. Corkill advocated leasing" some of the sections, as land was rising in value in the neighbourhood, and there was a plan and a report of a committee of the Board some ; three years' ago on the table, and if that was adopted he believed the sections would go off well. The chairman coincided with Mr. Corkill's statement re land having an upward tendency in valae, but did not think it 1 advisable to be in any hurry for some mouths to deal with these building sites. Messrs. 1 Bewley and (Jane endorsed the chairman's views. Messrs. Connett and Kyngdon 1 thought something should be done with 1 some of them. Resolved, " That the matter 1 of dealing with the reserve be held over * until next ordinary meeting." 1 Office.— chairman said Mr. Bauchope, t a tenant of the Board, had left their ofliee, 1 and he thought that the Board had better let t it. Mr. Corkill favoured doing nothing of the sort. It was an eye-sore to the town. 1 Mr. Smith said it disgraced the look of the < place. He would favour selling the whole 1 concern to be cleared away. Mr. Sarten I likewise would favour selling, Mr. Gane a was in favour of letting it, as long as they 1 could get a tenant, to raise funds to reduce what they were paying for an office. Mr. a Connett said perhaps Mr. Gane would be moving that tne Board remove into their 1" own ollice. Mr. Gane said he would object a to leasing all the sections. He would be' for t retaining one for the Board's use where the t old office was, so if they would build a new t office at any time the section was in their d own hands. The chairman would favour letting the old office for short terms, say I three months. Mr. Corkill agreed that when n -lealing with the reserves, the Board could £i retain one for their own use, and if the Board thought it advisable they could leave jach alternate section. Mr. Kyngdon a thought action should be taken to lease c some of the sections. ,7 Ikon Girders.—A letter from the Public J \Y orks Department, stating that the Govern- A nent had appointed Mr. E. M. Smith to h >'alue the girders on their behalf, to act with a whomsoever the Board appointed. The n :hair man as authorised at the last meeting lad appointed Mr. Snowball on behalf of the J. Board, and the value arrived at was £80. e< Dredger.—The foreman's report was read, sc itating that the dredger had lifted and taken S o sea 24,30 yards of sand. Some delay had tl )een caused lately in the working of her w jwiii'.' to the gill of the deck crane breaking, ai Lhe heavy sea on the 4th and nth of tins tl nonth washed two top blocks off the top of he breakwater. p Diving Apparatus.—A letter from Mr. 'inches, of Wanganui, was received, asking or information about diving apparatus, etc! .lie secretary will reply. , Cost of the Dredge.—ln answer to Mr. H Jane, the overseer could notgive the extracost f the dredge while making two trips in one ai ay. The shore work was not less efficiently one through making two trips daily. The vcrsecr would give approximately the cost, {

Messrs. Kyngdon and Bewley considered th information necessary. Mr. Oane asked i there was any reason a reserve (sandhills) a; Dell Block, adjoining Mr. F. Salway's farm could not be leased, as he understood if th< Board would give Mr. Salivav a lease h< would plant the sand with sand grass. Mr Connett said Mr. Sal way had already plantei some portion of it, and he had asked tin Board to give him permission to impound stock trespassing, which the Board had giver Mr. Sal way. Sinking Fund.The chairman reported having £1089 sinking fund, which would buy up i'l.'iOO worth of debentures ; it was resolved to purchase. Mr. F. M. Smith asked if the Boa:d had any intention of approaching the bondholders in any way. The Chairman pointed out that it was impossible for the Board to move in the matter. The question was purely between the bondholders and the Government. Mr. Smith thought that something should be done before next session The Chairman said the Board had done its duty. Mr. Corkili complained of the way ! the balance-sheets were made up, as laid down by the Auditor-General, who. would not allow the breakwater as an asset, although the loan was down as a liability. Mr. Gane contended that it should show as an asset It was pointed out that it was struck out' Mr. Corkili maintained it should be put down as an asset, and if the Auditor-General struck it out it would show that the Board should protest. Mr. Sarten thought it useless to put it down it it was struck out. After some further discussion it was understood that the chairman would add a footnote on Mr. Cork-ill's suggestion. It was decided to elect the chairman at the next ordinary meeting. r. Accounts ASSKD -—Secretary's salary, £8 Gs 8(1; Investment Society, £2 Is 8d ; Abbott, 2s L Captain Hoi to rd, A,14 lis Sd ; pay sheet' £45 'is !M: Government Inspector of Machmery, £0; Mr. Cock, stores, £3; Henry Ward, £_ Mod ; Hooker, cab hire, £1 Jos • Okey, £1 17s ; Newton King, £1 13s; Avery' us r'i Davidson, 12s Gd ; Gilmour, 10s '2d. ' The Board then adjourned. [I am rather amused at Air. J. Hooker writing to the Harbour Board re my report of the last meeting, and I may say that perhaps I was not quite explicit enough, but the affair is something of this way : Mr. Hooker is a yearly tenant of the Board ; terms, three months' rent to be paid in advance. At a meeting held on the Bth of April, 1801 he wrote for a refund of £4 10s, which' ho alleged lie paid for his share of a dividing fence. Ihe Board decided to inquire into it On August 2/ til another claim, or rather the same claim was made for £6. It was re-soh-eu, on Mr. Gane's motion, seconded bv v '!• Tr yn ? do "' ' L - hat the ove ™eor report on Mi. Hookers claim at next meeting." At the meeting held on the 9th of September the overser report was read, viz., that Mr Hooker had gone to the expense of two coils barbed wire and 2s Gd for staples, total £_ l_s bd. At a meeting on the 11th of November the overseer again reported tile same, viz., two coils of wire and staples The report was adopted, and the account passed for payment; and now, contrary to the overseer s report, a claim was read -ft . l" ee .H ng "!? fc he 13 th ot January, claiming £3 1/s bd. Ihe overseer was in the office,'and questioned 11 there was any mistake, and hp assured the Board that his report was correct. Ihe Chairman remarked that thaisettles it then. Mr. Hooker sent in a claim for cab hire, £1 ] M , at the last meeting only ind the Board forthwith paid it, but if ft had been rendered before there is no doubt it would have been settled as quickly f()um correspondent.] ' L v n