Trouble In New Zealand.

W . J . Clarke ) for his decision . That is how the affair stands at present , but Masonic people generally express groat indignation at the details having been published in such a form as to reflect upon the personal honesty of the Secretary .

New Building At Pontefract.

NEW BUILDING AT PONTEFRACT .

ON the 25 th ultimo Bro . T . W . Tew Past Provincial Grand Master of West Yorkshire , laid the found ation stone of new buildings which are being erected in Bopergate , Pontefract , for the brethren of the St . Oswald ' s Lodge . The buildings will be of modern

classical structure , of red brick , with terra-cotta panelling , and stone facings . The back of the building will abut upon Bopergate , the front looking into a garden . On the upper storey will be a lodge-room 34 ft . by 21 ft .,

with ante-rooms adjoining . Downstairs there will be a dining-hall 51 ft . by 21 ft . which will also be available for use as a ball room , and will be fitted with movable partitions to make three smaller rooms . There will also be

a caretaker ' s house adjoining , the whole work costing £ 1 , 000 apart from the price of the site . Bro . J . H . Greaves J . W . is the architect . After the ceremony the members of the Craft and brethren from other Lodges were entertained to a sumptuous banquet , by P . P . G . M . Tew , at the Elephant Hotel .

Consecrations: Gosforth, No. 463.

CONSECRATIONS : GOSFORTH , No . 463 .

ON the 24 th ult . a special meeting of the Provincial Grand Mark Lodge of Northumberland and Durham was held at the Grand Hotel , Barras Bridge , Newcastle , for the purpose of consecrating the Gosforth Lodge , No . 463 . There was a large assemblage of brethren , including

Bro . Sir M . W . Bidley Grand Junior Warden of England and other present and past Officers of the Grand Lodge . The Provincial Grand Lodge was opened in due form , and the new Lodge consecrated by Bro . the Bev . Canon Tristram , D . D ., F . B . S ., Provincial Grand Mark Master

assisted by present and past Provincial Officers . Bro . John Straker Wilson was then installed by Bro . R . B . EeedD . P . G . M . M . asW . M . of the new Lodge ; the Senior Warden being Bro . H . Soden Bird , and Junior Warden

Bro . Faraday Speuce . The members afterwards dined together . The chair was occupied by the Provincial Grand Mark Master . The usual toasts were given and honoured .

Prince Of Wales, No. 466.

PRINCE OF WALES , No . 466 .

ON Monday , the 29 th ult ., at St . Helens , the Bight Hon . the Earl of Lathom Prov . G . M . M .

consecrated this Lodge at the Masonic buildings , in Hall Street . There was a large attendance . After the consecration Bro . Wm . Simpson installed as first Master Bro . D . M . F . Gaskin I . P . M . 393 Prov . Grand Treas .

In the absence of Col . LeGendre N . Starkie , Bro . W . J . Thomson , of St . Helens , acted as Deputy Provincial Grand Mark Master . The following were the other officers in addition to Lord Lathom and Bro . W . Simpson already mentioned : —Dr . J . Murray J . W . / T . Whitehead

M . O ., J . C . Christian S . O ., C . H . Woods J . O ., J . J . Hainer I . G ., J . C . Kobinson D . C . Afterwards the W . M . appointed and invested his Officers as follows : — Bros . J . L . Wolfenden S . W ., J . J . Tickle J . W ., J . S . White M . O ., Thomas Sherlock S . O ., F . A . B . Neill

J . O ., Jno . Turton Treas ., Jos . W . Boardman Reg ., H . Moxom Sec , J . L . Hodson S . D ., Wm . Southern J . D ., B . G . Brook D . C , G . Burdekin jun . I . G ., Jas . Heaton

S . S ., and Robt . Cook J . S . Subsequently a banquet was given at the Fleece Hotel , when the usual Masonic toasts were proposed and responded to .

At a meeting of the Strand Lodge , No . 1987 , an interesting memento of the Sir John Franklin expedition of 1852 was presented to the Lodge , in the shape of a gavel made from the timber of H . M . S . Resolute , which went in search of the former expedition .

Prince Of Wales, No. 466.

The marble gravel used by President Washington at the laying of the corner-stone of the Capitol , a century ago , is claimed to be in the possession of the Potomac

Lodge of Freemasons of Georgetown . The gravel is of fine marble , slightly yellowish , and about eight inches long .

o o o A novelty in the way of office holding is referred to in the report given elsewhere of the installation meeting of the Military Jubilee Chapter , the First Principal of

which ( Major-General Cuming ) is accredited with the office of Z . in three Chapters at the present time . This is a compliment to our distinguished Companion that is seldom shown , but we do not think it is desirable to

extend it to others . As our readers are aware we are opposed to dual Masterships , although , of course , it may be a manifest advantage to have an exceptionally good man at the head of affairs in more than one Lodge or Chapter .

o o o The popularity of the Earl of Warwick as Grand Master of Essex is evinced by the desire of brethren to place themselves under his rule . It is an open secret

that his Lordship has just recommended to H . R . H . the Prince of Wales petitions for two new Lodges in Essex , one to meet at the Roebuck Hotel , Buckhurst Hill , and the other at the Castle Hotel , Woodford . The

firstnamed Lodge , says the " Walton Gazette , " is to be called the " Ixion , " and is designed to form a bond of union for cycli & ts of the mystic tie . The other will be called the " Warwick . " Both petitions are influentially

supported , and should the Prince of Wales be pleased to grant the Warrants applied for , the number of Lodges in the Masonic Province of Essex will be . raised to thirty-six—seventeen of which have been added since the present Provincial Grand Master was appointed in 1882 .

o o o The far reaching effects of unpunctuality in commencing our meetings was exemplified on a recent occasion when the proprietor of an hotel was summoned

for keeping his house open after hours . It was admitted that several gentlemen were present at forty minutes past eleven , but pleaded in defence that they had a right to be there , being members of the local Lodge , the

meeting of which was celebrated that day , and was prolonged later than usual because , through the trains being late in consequence of Christmas time , a start

could not be made at the proper time . In the end the landlord was fined £ 3 and costs , a result directly attributable to the irregularities of the brethren , and all for lack of punctuality .

o o o We would draw the attention of our readers to the remarks of Bro . Alfred Hebden P . M ., & c , made at a meeting of the Lodge of Instruction , No . 581 , and

reported last week . He claimed that the Lodge in question had furnished many Past Masters , Provincial Officers , Wardens , Deacons , and fifteen Directors of Ceremonies . We are proud to hear of such results from

this excellent Lodge , the influence of which is not entirely confined to the Provinces of East and West Lancashire . We recollect having seen the account in a contemporary ( the Weekly News ) , of another Lodge of

Instruction : the Crusaders , No . 1677 , held at the Northampton Arms , Goswell Boad , E . C , where the painstaking Treasurer of No . 581 was called upon to perform a ceremony . The report said : "Bro . Fletcher

courteously vacated the chair in favour of Bro . George T . Lenard , who rehearsed the second degree with a completeness and mastery , of working that elicited full expression of thanks and acknowledgment of perfection

in the knowledge of rite and ritual . " This is highly satisfactory , and emphasises in the best possible way the words of Bro . Hebden at the meeting referred to ,

that the example set by Officers was a recommendation for the younger members , and should induce them to work energetically onwards . We commend these sentiments to the notice of all whose aim is the attainment of the chair of K . S .