Provincial.

of the time . AVho , in fact , would be silly enough to go tossing about tho Channel , or threading a hazardous course through thc Needles , or taking a roundabout one at the back of the Isle of AVight in order to a \ -oid them , or Avould prolong a voyage along a dangerous rocky coast , if the means were provided for avoiding all this ? And So soon as the few miles of railway between this toira and Truro shall have been completed , Avhich Avill give you direct communication Avith every railway in the kingdom , Avho can for an instant doubt but that this noble expanse of

inland AA'ater , situated as it is at the mouth of the Channel , and so far out to seaward , Avill become the great outlet to CA"ery ocean . I congratulate you , not only upon this event , but also thc success which has attended the promotion of the undertaking in all its stages , as well as upon the position of the company generally , and in wishing , as I most heartily do , every prosperity to the Falmouth docks , I confidently believe that to tho merchant , the navigator , and the traveller , they will be of tho greatest benefitby lessening the dangers to lifethe loss to

pro-, , perty , and by the saving of time . If so , this ceremony of to-day AAIU be memorable as forming one of those bri ght spots in our recollection which AA ' C shall look back upon Avith pleasure ; and I myself , together AA'ith the directors and all present , witnessing the happy results Avhich AA'ill UOAV from it , shall fell it an honour that our names have been associated AA'ith it , and that Ave have had tho opportunity of assisting in its performance . 'Three times three heatty cheers folloAA ' cd tho conclusion of his lordshi p ' s speech .

Thc 1 ' . D . Pnov . G . MASTER then mounted on the top of the stone and said—Perhaps I may be expected to say something iu regard to tho position which I occupy to-day among my masonic brethren . It is b y the merest accident that I happened to be called upon to preside over them , not from any merit of my own , but simply in consequence of thc misfortune which we must all very deeply regret—that of our head and chief , Sir Charles Lemon , being prevented by illness from being here . No one can regret that circumstance more than I do , because , had he been present , he AA'ould have performed the ceremony much more ably aud much more efficiently than I can attempt to do . ( Cheers . ) In the second place , I have to regret the absence of our D . Prov . G . M . Brother

Augustus Smith , AA-IIO is UOAV attending to his duties iu Parliament . 'This is especially a loss to all hero who know his eloquence , and how happily he Avould have delivered himself on such an interesting and gratifying occasion as this . NOAA ' , I must address a 1 ' eAV Avoids of congratulation to thc gentlemen around mo , not forgetting also the ladies . Wc really were in duty bound , as Cornislimou , one and all—Masons as Avell as those AVIIO are not—to unite most heartily in the ceremony Avhich is just IIOAV coming to a conclusion ; and I congratulate thc

spirited shareholders on the successful inauguration of this great commercial undertaking , for that is what it really is , and AA'ill prove to be mure and more as it groAA-s older . I congratulate them , also upon the fact that my excellent friend , Mr . Alfred Fox , who UOAV occupies the chair , and is the mouthpiece of the board of direction , has ahvays obtained the utmost assistance from all his brother directors . I cannot let this opportunity slip AA-ithout raying that AVC are indebted in a great measure for the success of the

undertaking , of AA'hich the laying of the foundation stone this day is thc commencement , to our excellent , and untiring and influential friend , Bro . Tilly , and I am sure that iu this I speak the feeling of every one here . ( Cheers . ) When he and I have been of different opinions , I knoAV Avhat an opponent he has been . Here , however , we haA'e no difference of opinion , but AVC are all united as Cornishmen—one and all—to thank those who have undertaken the great Avork AVC have so far succeeded in carrying foi'Avard . ( Cheers . ) Perhaps you will Avonder why this meeting

has not been more largely attended by those AA-IIO came from the " far vest . " 1 have told you Avhy I hold the position Avhich I now occupy , and 1 AAIH IIOAV tell you the cause of the absence of some of our nei ghbours . It happens that Ave have a large and influential meeting at Penzance to-day , from which tho Mayor cannot absent himself , and I am here to represent him ; to-morroAV Ave shall have another large and influential meeting of the AVest Cornwall Railway Company at Bristol , and these two circumstances will explain why there are no more of the AVest Cornwall men here to represent tho three important interests of your county . Therefore , you must not look on me as a principal representing any of these interests , but only as the umvorthy deputy of the gentlemen Avho are absent to whom I have referred .

Bro . TILLY being loudly called upon , got up on the top of thc stone , and proposed three times three cheers for Lad y Falmouth and thc other ladies AA'I IO honoured us AA'ith their presence on this occasion . A . Voice—Three cheers for the Queen . ( RenoAvcd cheering . ) ^ Another A / bice—Three more for the Prince of AVales , our own Duke . ( The cheers Avere cordially given . ) Bro . HICKS , of Falmouth—My lord , ladies and gentlemen—After all that has been said and done , Ave have greatly enjoyed the pleasure of

taking part in this ceremony this morning , but I think that the masonic bod y Avould have been still more gratified had they seen your lordshi p clothed in Masonic attire on laying the foundation stone , notAvithstanduig that there is a great deal of honour duo to our Avorthy P . D . Prov . G . M . You have strewed on the stone the corn , the Avine , and the oilwe have celebrated the commencement of the ivork AA'ith Masonic bonours , and AVC may look forward Avith confident anticipations to the 'lay Avlien the ships of commerce shall bring to our shores tho corn , the wine , and the oil for our supplies , and land them in these docks at I' alnvouth . Loud cheering . )

This coucluded the ceremony . In a short time , a procession was reformed and marched back into the toAvn , and tho vast assemblage gradually dispersed . The troAA'el Avhich was presented to Lord Falmouth with which to lay the foundation stone , AA-as a very handsome one , both the handle and blade being of silver . It bore the folloAA'ing inscription : — "Falmouth Docks . Foundation stone laid by the Right Honourable Evelyn Viscount Falmouth 28 th February 1860 . "

, , A luncheon afterwards took place in tAvo AA'arerooms in thc premises of Messrs . Broad and Sons . It had been intended to erect a marquee for the purpose near the site of the foundation stone of the breakwater , but the strong gale that prevailed rendered such a course almost impossible , and therefore in a fevr hours the Avarerooms of Messrs . Broad Avevo cleared , and tables , & c , hastily arranged for the entertainment . The rooms Avere commodious for the purpose , although it would have been desirable if tho company could have assembled iu one room instead of

being divided . The luncheon Avas proA-ided by the Dock Company , and the invitations Avore A'ery numerous . About five hundred and fifty sat doivn to the tables on the occasion . Amongst those present were Lord Viscount and Lady Falmouth and party .

On the completion of the ceremouy of laying the foundation stone , the Masonic 'body reformed in procession in thc same order as before , and returned to Messrs . Broad and Sons' warcrooms , where tho brethren had been invited to join the directors to partake of the luncheon . Tho brethren coidd not be accommodated in thc same apartment Avith the general company , aud a large room adjoining was placed at their disposal . The chair AA-as occupied by the V . AV . Bro . Pearce , P . D . P . G . M ., supported by Bro . Reginald Rogers , P . G ., Secretary ; Bro . Jenkins , P . G ., Junior

AVarden ; Bro . John Borlase , P . G ., Sword Bearer ; Bro . Rev . J . Coope , the Chaplain of the day ; Bro . Mayne , P . G ., Assistant Secretary ; Bro . Rusden , AV . M ., ; Bro . AV . It . Ellis , P . M . of the Falmouth Lodge the AA . M . AVardens and brethren of the various Lodges represented at tho ceremony . Tho Chairman proposed the health of "the Queen , " and also , simultaneously with the General Company , " The health of Mr . Alfred Fox , and Success to thc Falmouth Docks Company , " AA'hich was responded to jrith loud applause . The AV . M . of the Falmouth Lodge

proposorl in very flattering terms " Thc health of Bro . Pearce , Avith tho thanks of tho brethren of the Falmouth Lodge in particular for his able conduct that day . Bro . Pearce briefly returned thanks for the kind and hearty expression of appreciation of his services . Bro . the Rev . AV . J . Coope , congratulated the brethren ou thc ceremony of the day haA'ing been conducted AA'ith due Masonic honours , as a portion of which , a blessing from the Great Architect of the universe had through him , the Chaplain , been called down upon thc undertaking , the commencement

of Avhich they had met to celebrate . The AV . M . of the Phoenix Lodge proposed the health of the Prov . G . Secretary , Bro . Reginald Rogers , AA'hich AA-as responded to by thc brethren by hearty cheers . At tho conclusion of these toasts thc brethren adjourned to thc adjoining apartment to hear the general speeches , aud thc cxclusivencss of the Craft was exchanged for an agreeable fraternizing AA'ith their lay neighbours , AA'ith AA'hom they remained until tho close of the proceedings , leaving , AVO believe , AA'ith but one impression of high gratification at the pleasurable associations of tho day .

KENT . FAVERSIIAM . —Lodge of Ilarnwmj ( No . 155 ) . —A meeting of this resuscitated Lodge AA'as held on Monday , March 5 th , at the Ship Hotel , Faversham . Bro . S . M . Shrubsolc , AV . M ., presided , attended by his AVardens , Bros . Brooke Jones and Shrubsole , Jim . Bros . Mares and Phillips were raised to the degree of M . M ., and Mr . Alfred How Avas initiated into antient Freemasonry . The installation of Bro . Brooko JonesAV . M . electivas postponed until the next Lodgein consequence

, , , of the absence of Past Masters anil other members . It is gratifying to find that this long established Lodge again exhibits strength and stability . It possesses the original AA'arrant , dated 176-1 , from Lord Blaney , the then Graud Master , countersigned by General John Salter , his Deputy , under the able management of these tAvo worthy chiefs . The records shoiv that Masonry made rapid strides .

LANCASHIRE ( EAST ) . 1 'llOVINCVAL OKiSD LODGE . TITE quarterly meeting of the Prov . Grand Lodge of East Lancashire AA'as held at Littleborough , on Thursday , the 1 st instant , at half-past one o ' clock in the afternoon , when upAvards of seventy brethren were present . The meeting Avas held in the National School-house , AA-hich had been kindly lent for the occasion . Bros . AV . Briggs , AV . M . ; It . Veevers , S . AV . ; and H . Briggs , J . AV ., officiated until the Craft Lodge was opened iu the

third degree , Avhen the Provincial officers entered . Thc Prov . Grand Lodge AA'as then opened in due form , by thc R . AV . Bro . Stephen Blair Prov . G . M ., assisted by his Provincial officers , of whom the following Avere present : —Bros . Albert Hudson Royds , Prov . D . G . M . ; L . NeAvell , P . J . G . W . ; Rev . Patrick Charles Nicholson , B . D ., Prov . G . Chaplain ; Thomas Faulkner Pollitt , Prov . G . Reg . ; John Tunnah , Prov . G . Sec . ; Rev . Thomas Parkcs , M . A ., Prov . S . G . D . ; Thomas Parker , Prov . J . G . D . ; Thomas Gilks GibbonsProv . Asst . G . Dir . of Cers . ; Rueben

, Mitchell , Prov . G . S . B . ; AVilliam Roberts , Prov . G . Purs . ; AVilliam Dawson , Prov . G . Tyler ; and Frederick Jolly , PI-OA ' . G . Standard Bearer . Apologies AA-ere tendered for the absence of Bros . George Edmund Balfour Prov . S . G . AV . ; AVilliam Ptomaine Callendar , jun ., Prov . G . Treas .: and R . Muunijnr , Prov . G . SuPt . of AA orks . An application for