Adjourned Quarterly Court Of The Girls' School.

but these ho regarded as remote and improbable contingencies . He protested against giving £ G , 500 for property tho outside valno of which was £ 4 , 500 , and warned them of tho consequences which would result from their giving "fancy prices" whenever tho owners of adjoining property threatened that they would convert their properties into public-houses ov boys' schools , & c .

Bro . James Stevens seconded tho amendment , though at tho risk of being charged with " obtuse stupidity and vulgar personality . " Ho had known tho neighbourhood for thirty years , ancl believed that £ 4 , 500 was an outside prico for Lyncombo House and gronnds . Bro . J . M . Klonck also supported tho amendment . Thoro was a fatal objection to tho whole bnilding scheme , and thafc was that if

they had a forty feet road thero must bo an outlet afc the other end , as tho Board would not sanction a blind road . Taking tho leaso of tho property nt £ 150 a-year , and putting it at thirty-eight years' purchase to mako it a fancy prico , thoy would not come near tho prico which tho Institution hacl agreed to pay for it . Bro . Walker Itopokirk said tho addition to tho School of twenty

five girls would bo very satisfactory to tho Craft . Ho gavo credit to Bros . Cox ancl Stevens for an earnest desire to promote tho good of the Institntion , but thought thoy had put thoir knowledge of pounds , shillings and ponco in tho wrong place . Tho laud was of moro value than somo of thorn seemed to think , and if it could bo obtained for tho Institution ho believed it would prove most

beneficial . Bro . J . L . Stothert , as a Provincial brother , took a great interest in tho Charities . Ho was informed that half an aero of ground was purchased by tho Institution not long ago for £ 2 , 000 , bnt thoy had now to deal with throe-fourths of an aero . Ho did not think that £ 1 , 500 for tho land was a high prico , and £ 2 , 000 for tho

honscwhich was admirably adapted for the purpose intended—was a small sum ; and he considered the Committee had acted very wisely in endeavouring to secure tho property . Ho felt certain that a largo number of tho Provincial brethren would agroo with him when he said they were willing to entrust tho interests of tho Institution in tho purchase of this property to a Committee who had so thoroughly

inquired into ancl considered tho matter . Bro . James Mason believed that tho Committee , who stood in tho position of trustees for tho Charity , hacl carefully considered tho subject , arid that no imputation conld bo cast upon them , as they had acted honestly and bowl fide in tho interests of tho Institution . Thoy could well afford tho money , ancl for tho benefit of tho Institution

land should bo considered before price . Ho deprecated Chancery proceedings as being nn-Masonic , and tho result might bo that those who indulged in them would , burn their own fingers . Ho thought tho Committee was entitled to support . Bro . H . J . Thompson said the ten days notice proscribed by the laws of tho Institntion of tbo meeting of tho 3 rd inst . had nofc

boon given , as tho notice was not published until the 27 th ult . Tho meeting had also not been called upon the recommendation of tho General Committee as the Book of Rules laid down . Ho submitted thafc tho Chairman , having had notice of Bro . Locock Webb ' s opinion , ought to havo informed tho Special Court . He did not think the Provincial brethren wero in favour of tho purchase , bufc , on tho contrary , wero

averse to it . Bro . A . F . A . Woodford was anxious to keep before the meeting the bowl fides- of the Chairman , who could not under tho circumstances mako uso of the information he hacl received with regard to tho opinion of Mr . Locock Webb . Bro . Thompson had stated that

tho Provinces Wero against tho proposed outlay , but ho ( Bro . Woodford ) could state from personal knowledge that tho Province of West Yorkshire was heartily in favour of it . After a few observations from the Chairman , tho amendment of Bro . E . Cox was put , when tho votes were—For the amendment fi

Againsfc 61 Majority against tho amendment ... ... 53 Tho motion to confirm tho minutes of the Special Court of tho 3 rd January was then formally put and carried . Tho Chairman then gavo tho following notice of motion : — " It being desirable to enlarge tho Royal Masonic Institution for Girls by maintaining , clothing , and educating twenty-fivo girls , in addition to thoso already in tho

Institution , the House Committee bo directed to mako tho necessary arrangements to accommodate such twenty-five girls , and that such twenty-five girls bo elected afc tho next election , after tho House Committee shall have reported tho completion of tho arrangements for tho reception ancl accommodation for such twenty-five girls . " A voto of thanks to the Chairman brought tho proceedings to a close .

Committee Meeting Of The Girls' School.

COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE GIRLS' SCHOOL .

fllHE monthly meeting of tho Committee of this Institution was - * - held cm Thursday , at Freemasons' Hall . Thero wero present—Bros . Col . Creaton $ in the chair ) , Griffiths Smith , E . Letchworth , II . A . Dubois , James Peters , E . Spooner , A . If . Tattershall , U . Massey , Thomas Massa , J . A . Rucker , Thomas Francis Peacock , W . F . C . Mmitrio , Joshua Nunn , and F . R . W . Hedges Secretary . Tho minutes ot tho December meeting having been road and confirmed , tho minutes

ot tho Special , Quarterly , and adjourned Courts , and of tho House , and Audit Committees wero read for information . The establishment of the "Wentworth Littlo" prize of threo guineas , to be competed for annually by the girls of this Institution , of which Bro . Joshua Nnnn gavo notice afc tho meeting of 21-th December , was carried ; after which two petitioners' children wero placed on the list for the October election , ancl tho Committee adjourned , with n . voto of thanks i to tho chairman .

Tho Installation meeting of tho Kilburn Lodge took place on Monday last ; Bro . Samuel Brooks is tho now W . M . Report of the proceedings shall appear next week .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opini ; ns of cur lor . respondents . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications . All Letters must bear the name an I address of the Writer , wd necessarily for publication , but as a ynarantee of yood faith .

LYNCOMBE HOUSE . To the Editor of the FKEKMASON ' S CUKONIULK . DEAR SIU A . \ I > BKOTIIKK , —Let us hope , now that tho question of tho purchase of tho above place has been a second time so unmistakably sanctioned by tho voice of tho brethren ( that out of a Committee of 85 or 86 , 61 woro for , 15 against , and tho remainder neutral ) , that tho apparently malicious

vindietiveness which seems to havo followed our gallant and distinguished Chairman , Lionfc .-Col . Creaton , for somo supposed or fancied slight on ono of tho prominent members of tho opposition , will ceaso . I had thought ) that onr Grand Treasurer ' s namo was somewhat like Ciosar ' s wife was , or ought to havo been , above suspicion , or ho would not havo obtained that spontaneous burst of approval ,

which placed him in his prosenfc position , but it appears not , for there still remain somo who would fain filch from him that deservedly good name which thoy themselves should only he too proud to achieve . It is to bo hoped that the opposition will take tho advico of that Brother , a Chancery lawyer , who , in that truly honest and fraternally Masonic manner which thonld guide all of ns , warned them against

tho unknown ancl ondloss litigation ancl expense they would be plunged in if they persisted in placing tho matter in Chancery , wi * h a moro than doubtful issuo'in thoir favour ; but , perhaps , like this same Brother's excellent advice , —that Masons should bo moro courteous , more gentlemanly , and lessun-Masonic , when discussing subjects on which thoy are at issue , —it will bo soon forgotten , for a subsequent

speaker conld not let tho opportunity slip of airing ono out of his repertoire of elegant and choice expressions , " bottled moonshine . " Of course , coming from one who repudiates personalities , thero ia nothing personal in it . To return to my subject . Thero aro ono or two questions , I think , would bo apropos : — 1 st . Is the purchase of this house ancl ground for tho benefit of ,

and increased accommodation for , girls of tho Masonio Institution ? if so , 2 nd . Was tho money subscribed and given in thoir bohalf , or for any other Institntion ? 3 rd . Whoro did tho money como from to build tho now wing , or tho laundry ?

4 th . Did it nofc como from the same source as will bo used for tho present purchase ? 5 th . Was not that money legitimately spent then on bohalf of tho children for whom ifc was given ? If ifc was legal then , —ancl I maintain it was , —it is legal now . Our Lodges increase , our members increase , and onr dependent children

will increase ; and if wo have nofc tho requisite accommodation , wo shall not bo ablo to admit them . Tho only legitimate opposition was that of Bro . Cox , viz : The prico given ( undoubtedly tho prico was high ); bat as ifc was nofc to bo hacl for less , I contend that it was well worth that ] to tho Royal Masonic Institntion for Girls , ancl more , if ifc had been necessary ; tho very great increase of the value to tho

present property , tho obtaining a frontage to the main street , the Wandsworth , as well as one at the back , looking towards tho Common seems to be entirely lost sight of . Yours fraternally , HEUSCHEI . '

New Zealand.

NEW ZEALAND .

Masonic Ceremony at "Wellington . —On the 1 st Dec . 1879 , tho foundation stone of the new Courts of Justice was laid down by tho Hon . F . Whitaker , Provincial Grand Master of tho North Island of New Zealand , S . C , assisted by District Graud Master Toxwavd E . G ., and a large number of distinguished brethren . Tho weather was lovclv , nnd the whole proceedings passed off withont

a hitch of any kind . Between 0 , 000 and 10 , 000 spectators wero present , tlio assemblage of bodies in reserved seats numbering at least 800 . Tho procession of Maoris numbered upwards of 500 . Eloquent addresses wore delivered by Brothers Whitaker and llolleston . The ball iu the crening was attended by His Excellency ancl Lady Robinson .

Funeral Of Bro . J . Dickey . —Tho respect in which the lato Mr . John Dickey was held was evidenced by tho large number of townsmen and country settlers who attended his funeral at Auckland on 20 th Nov . to pay tlio last sad tribute of respect to his memory . Mr . Dickey was a member of the Waitemata Lodge of tho Order of Freemasons E . G ., and although the funeral was not , strictly

speaking , a Masonic one , it was largely attended by brethren of tho Order , who appeared in mourning costume , but not in regalia . Every Lodge in tho City was represented . The brethren marched iu front of the hearse , tho brother of deceased and personal relatives and friends following as chief mourners immediately after it , and a long lino of carriages and vehicles brought up the rear . Upon

reaching the entrance to tlio I'reshytoiiitu Cemetery , the Masonic brethren opened out right aud left , allowing the coffin and tho mourners to pass through , after which they closed in and followed tho remains to tho grave . Tho funeral service was read iu an impressive manner by tho Rev . 11 . F . Muuuicol , Pastor of St . James ' s Church , Wellington-street .