Provincial.

planations of Bro . Ratier , tho Orator , were postponed till a future occasion . The most important business of the evening , however , was tho reading of the report presented by the Masonic Hall Committee , the appointment of which was mentioned iu the account of the April meeting , and for the consideration of which this meeting was made special . The AA' . M . of the past year having been re-elected , was reinstalled in his chair , and made the following appointments of tho principal officers , respecting whom it may be stated that there is every reason to hope that ho has

been singularly successful , and that ho is rearing up a class of brethren who will profit by his example , and will prove no mean competitors for honour in the Masonic course which he has run , aud which they will doubtless endeavour to emulate . Bro . Philip Bandanis , S . AA ' . ; Bro . G . A ickery , J . AA . ; Bro . Perrot , S . D . ; Bro . Deveulle , J . D . ; Bro . Le Neveu , Sec ; Bro . J . Asplet , Dir . of Cers . ; Bro . Robert , Assist . Dir , of Cers . The latter appointment is a new one , made in consideration of the advancing years of Bro . Asplet , who certainly has earned the kind

regard and gratitude of all under whom he has so long and efficiently served . It is unnecessary to enumerate the other officers , of whom it may be confidently predicted that they will , iu their turn , obtain higher distinctions . The AA . M . then closed the Lodge , aud the brethren adjourned to thc Poinme d'Or Hotel to celebrate the auspicious event . The following is tho report of the Masonic Hall Committee : — " The committee appointed to devise means for the erection of a Masonic temple

has met many times . Tho committee was required to seek a suitable spot , to inquire into the probable expense , to consider measures for raising the requisite sum , and to present a plan of the proposed edifice . Some situations which have appeared available have been rejected , either because they could not be purchased , or because their extent or form rendered them insufficient or incapable of adaptation . Tks following have been under consideration : —A plot of land in . Victoria-road , belonging to Mr . Aubin , constable of St . Holier ; aud one in Stopford-road , the property of Mr . C . Airier . These two plots were offered to us to the extent required as regards the breadth or front to the public road ; but with respect to the extent at

the back , we were obliged to submit to tho depth of the plots of land themselves . Each of these allowed a frontage of thirty feet , which was deemed sufficient , but the land of Mr . Aubin will allow a depth of one hundred aud sixty foet , aud that of Mr . Airier of one hundred feet . This difference was of little importance , for the excess in tho first case can be useful only as a garden ; nevertheless it may add to the completeness of the premises , and may afford means of more complete isolation . The price required was fifteen quarters , ( £ 300 ) for the Srafc , and eight quarters , £ 160 for the secondThis

( ) . great difference naturally attracted our attention , bub serious objections to tho least expensive land presented themselves to us , compared with the other . Several members of tho committee thought it too remote : considering New-street as one of thc main thoroughfares of the town , there is a difference in the distance from it of about four hundred yards . Again , tho land in Stopford-road is said to be damp , which would render it impossible to have good cellarsand it would be necessary to raise tho building to a heiht from tho surface

, g which would entail considerable extra oxpen . se . Lastly , although Stopford-road is a large street , containing good houses , the part offered to us is at present devoid of buildings , and its future occupation is not so certain as that of Mr . Aubin ; since an extent of sixty feet of frontage of thc latter is taken for the erection of an Independent chapel . All the members of thc committee have agreed that the situation of Victoria-road , between New-street and Bath-street , in one of thc best districts of the town , a little removed from the centre , out of the commercial district , without

being too remote , was perhaps the most desirable , especially as thc elevation of the ground would permit all the proposed plans to bo carried out . For these reasons thc committee lias , without hesitation decided upon the ground in Victoria-road . The question of the price was the only one now remaining , and as tho choice of this spot would involve an expense of one hundred and forty pounds more than the other , the kind offer made by Bro . Manuel was accepted , to see the proprietor with a view to some reduction in the terms he proposed . AVe are happy to say that Bro . Manuel succeeded beyond our hopes ; and it is important to know that it is ou all hands considered that Mr , Aubin presents : cue of ( he best guarantees , iu iA 2