CONSECRATION OF MASONIC TEMPLE AT HAWERA.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 4240, 15 January 1883, Page 2

CONSECRATION OF MASONIC TEMPLE AT HAWERA.

THE BANQUET. The following is condensed from the report in the Hawera Star: — The chair was occupied by the It.W.M. Hawera Lodge, supported on the right by the P.G.M. and P.M.S., and on the left by the P.M.'s of Hawera and Dc Burgh Adams Lodges and Bro. Major Atkinson. After the brethren had partaken of the good things provided, the R.W.M. proposed the. toast of the evening, the Queen and the craft, vrhich was drunk "with ■" Masonic' honors, the toast of the Prince' of Wales and Royal Family was next done honor to. Bro. Finnbrty, P.M., proposed the R.W.P.G.M. The toast being duly responded to, tho R.W.P.G.M. then rose and requested the brethren to allow lum to retire, as he had to leave for Wellington in the morning, and it was necessary for him to obtain some rest. Bro. Bate, D.M., proposed the " Parliament of New Zealand," coupled with the name of Bro. the Hon. Major Atkinson. , Bro. Atkinson, in a few well-chosen remarks, responded, and thanked the brethren for their kindness ; for his colleague, the R.W.P.G.M., and himself. Brother Whitaker, in responding, said : Brethren — It is a source of great gratification to me to know that you are pleased to have me among you this evening. I was initiated a Mason in 1839, under the English constitution, and I have also been under both the Scotch and Irish constitutions ; so that I hardly know whether to call myself nu Englishman, Scotchman, or Irishman. I must again speak in praise of the Hawera Lodge for the energy displayed by its members and the rapid advancement made. 1 hope to see it improve still more yet. The duties of the P.G.M have been rather arduous, but I trust soon to be able to give more time to them, and visit all lodges under my charge of tener, and I trust that the next time I have the pleasure of visiting the Hawera Lodge I shall be able to give even a better report of its doings than on this occasion, and it will afford me very great pleasure to be able to report so favorably on this my first visit to my Hawera brethren. Brother Whitaker then proposed tho " R.WaM. and Officers of the Hawera Lodge." Bro. P.M. Pitcher, in a neat speech, proposed ''The Visiting Brethren." Bros. P.M. Lobinto i ; A. King, W.M. De Burgh Ad .ms Lodge ; Luxford, Patea Lodge ; P.M. King, Manawatu ; Tutty, Waitara ; Gordon, Robinson, and Ancher responded. In t'l3 coarse of his remarks the latter b -otl er said : I had the honor of installing t' c fi . :t officers of this lodge. Masonry w s one of the grandest inst'tutions in the wo -Id, and the Hawera lodge had reason to be proud of what it had done. He hoped the energy displayed by the Hawera Masons would stir some of the other lodges up. Fe wished the Hawera brethren every success, and had pleasure in proposing the P.M.s of Lodge Hawera, coupling therewith the names of Bros. Finnerty and Pitcher. Both Brothers responded, tracing the history of the Lodge from the commencement up to tbe present time, and each in turn giving a modicum of praise to the Lodge Secretary for the manner in which he had fulfilled the duties pertaining to his office. The R.W.M. then proposed the toast, " Poor and Distressed Brethren," which was honored in the usual way among Masons. During the evening several songs were sung by brethren, who separated about 12.30 o'clock, after singing "Auld Lang Syne." Altogether 109 brethren signed the attendance book, and 92 sat down to the banquet. The new hall is decidedly an ornament to Hawera, and we should say a pride to all Masons. The front is purely of the Corinthian order of architecture. The entrarce is espscially striking, being bold and supported by carved pillars on each side of the steps. The lobby leads to anterooms 12 x 12 on each side, from which access to the Lode-room is obtained. The Lodge-room is 35 x 24, and is exceedingly handsome in appearance. The ceiling is co/ed to a flat of stained glass ceiling lights, which obtain light from skylights in the roof. This gives a very novel and pretty effect. The ceiling itself, which springs from a moulded cornice, is perforated for ventillation, and is painted s'.;y-blue, and is embellished by stars to resemble the heavens. The walls are indistcuper and of a creamy colour down to the wainscoting, which is probably the best feature in the room. The panels of picked red pine, contain specimens of some of the most beautifully marked timber to be got, r.nd the light kauri stiles form a very pleasant contrast. The centre of the lodge-room is painted to represent tessalated pavement, having a five-pointed star in gold in the centre. The pedestals are painted to represent white marble. Great credit is due to Mr. G. Symes, the contractor, for the faithful manner he has carried out the architect's (Mr. Pinches) plans ; also Mr. Read, the painter, and Mr. Epping, who is responsible for the mystic decorations in the lodge-room. The furnishing was carried out by Mr. J. Duffil in his usual good style.

The Philharmonic Society's first concert of the season will take place on Wednesday night at the Alexandra Hall, when Mendelssohn's oratorio of Elijah will be performed in its entirety. As the s.s. Macgregor was coming in yesterday she went close to the schooner Cora to onaMe the captains to speak, when the boom and head gear of the schooner were carried away by the steamer. The s.s. Wanaka, Captain Holmeß, arrived in the roadstead yesterday, at 5 a.mShe left Dunedin on the 9th instant, calling at Akaroa, and other usual ports, and leaving Nelson at noon on the 13th, arriving off New Plymouth as above. Experienced fair winds and weather to Lyttleton ; from thenco to Wellington met with north-west gale with heavy rain, and variable winds and fine weather the romninder of passage. Seventy-five entries have been received for the various events in tho Amalgamated Societies' Sports, to be held at Glcnavon to-morrow week. This is oxclusivo of entries for juveniles, so that the various events are sure to be well contested and interesting. The Committee are doing their best to make perfect arrangements for the accommodation of the public, and all that remains to make the sports enjoyable will be a fine day. Ono of the largest fires for many years occurred in London on the 7th December. It commenced in the premises of Foster? Porter, and Co., wholeaale hosiers, of WoodBtreet, and destroyed the block of buildings bounded by London Wall, Phillip 's-lane, Addle-street, and Wood-street. Arriong the sufferers are -Poter Ryland, Neber and Fleming, the Hon. Harvey Cox nnd-'lde, tho Creosote Works 'Company. Foster, Porter, and Co., and Ryland were fully insured. Owing to the seriousness , of the cqnilagration, Captain Shaw, Chief of the Fire Brigade, ordered out the whole department. The burnt area is over two acres. One person was killed by falling walls. Loss, £3,000,000.1 Tho heaviest losers among the insurance companies are — North British and Mercantile, £ 80,000; Commercial Union, £50,000; Phoenix, £4.5,000 j and Royd Uxtage, £42,000,