Provincial.

would long go on progressing in the same way . At the time he was appointed to his present ofilee , there were only ten lodges in the Province . Among the additions made since then , had been the resuscitation of this lodge of Lyinington , the New Forest Lodge —( bear)—entirely , he might say , through the exertions of their esteemed brother Hayward , the ex-mayor of tho borough . Looking at the future , he had no doubt they would soon also be able to assist their brethren at Ringwoodand once more bring

, -them into working order . ( Applause ) . Bro . HEATHER , Prov . G . Treasurer , then replied for the vote of thanks . Ho said he was only thankful for the good opinion of Bro . Portal , though he must say he did not think he was deserving of one-half that had heen said of him . It was a source of grati-. fication to him to be able to do his duty with satisfaction to the provinceand as long as he could make up good returns of their

, progress , it would he great satisfaction to him to bring them forward . Some brethren might not know exactly what he he had to do besides keeping their money ; but he might tell them that considerable labour was necessary in making out the various returns . Bro . HiciaiAN , the Prov . G . Secretary , said the vote of thanks in his favour had heen passed very unexpectedly to him ; but he begged to thank the brethren most heartily . The compliment was

greater than he deserved ; though lie had been anxious to perform his duties to the best of his ability . He had had the assistance of Bro . Stebbing , who had exerted himself quite as much as if he was the Secretary . ( Hear . ) He was glad to bear witness to the valuable aid he had thus received . In conclusion , he wished to say that he should always be happy in doing his utmost to further the . progress of Masonry in the Province . Bro . PORTAL here rose with permissionancl saidbefore the Prov .

, , Grand Lodge proceeded with tho business of electing the Treasurer , he wished to express the great satisfaction he experienced in again seeing Admiral Sir Lucius Curtis filling the chair at their annual provincial meeting . ( Great applause ) . The course he was now taking might not be one always followed in Hampshire , but yet he knew it was not an unusual one in the countv ; and when the brethren

heard their Worthy and Right AVorshipful Prov . G . Master express his satisfaction at once more meeting them all , it was nothing but a fair compliment in return ( and he was speaking as he was sure they every one felt ) for them to express their hearty satisfaction at seeing the gallant admiral again in his place , ancl this they must do with a heartfelt hope that he might yet for many years be spared to rule the Province . ( Loud cheering . ) It was a proof of good rule that the Province could now boast of fifteen ably-worked and

prosperous lodges ; and there was generally a visible increase in Masonry throughout tbe country ( the initiations being at the rate of 100 a week ) . Entertaining these feelings , he begged to move the expression of the satisfation of the Prov . Grand Loclge at once more assembling under Sir Lucius , and the earnest hope that he might for many years be spared to preside over them . ( Cheers . ) Bro . the Rev . G . BRADSHAW , Grand Chaplain , seconded the

motion with very great pleasure , because he was quite suro Bro . Portal had but represented in his speech , the opinion of every brother present . ( Hear . ) Sir Lucius Curtis not only presided over that province with such success , but also occasionally over the Grand Loclge of England , where lie ivas ever received with feelings of respect . Their Prov . G . Master bad ever been guided "by justice in his ruling ; ancl he with great pleasure conveyed to the worthy Admiral , the special thanks of the Masons of Lyinington , trusting that for many years he would be spared to preside over

them with as much vigour and ability as at the present time . The motion was carried with acclamation . The E . AV . Pnov . G . M . rose amidst universal manifestations of love and respect . He said he approached with great difficulty the task of returning thanks for the very kind compliment paid him "b y Bros . Portal ancl Bradshaw , and so flatteringly confirmed by the company . It had been his good fortune , since he had held his present position ( ancl he believed he had now entered his twentieth

year of office ) , never to have for one moment experienced cause to regret that he had been elected to fill it . Such had been the unanimous support he had received from the lodges and the brethren , that it made him hope to continue in his post ; but as to the duration of his reign , that depended upon a Superior Power ; at his advanced period of life , he could not expect to be with them much longer ; but while he was spared he would say that he should endeavour to continue to exercise those principles which he had

in the first place laid down—those principles which thoy ( his brethren around him ) had so kindly ancl nobly supported . AVithout their kind aid he know ho should not have heen so successful . He had endeavoured to treat each and every lodge with firm and equal consideration ; and thou gh the number ' of lodges in the Province continued to increase , yet at the same time he believed he had managed to divide the Provincial honours fairly between them . He much regretted that their respected Bro . Stebbing was not present ,

he having been called away to a distance by especial business of importance . He usually received vast assistance from Bi-o . Stebbing , however , hehad now received excellent aid from their Pfcov . Grand Secretary , ancl who he hoped would accept his best thanks . So long as he had the power to meet the brethren of the Province , so long should he have a pleasure to look forward to . In hia absence heretoforehis place had been filled bBro . Deaconand

^ , y , that satisfactorily to all , and it was only justice for him to say so . He now begged to thank them all most cordially for the kind manner in which they had received his name , and he trusted he should ever receive at their hands the support ancl brotherly reception given to him that day . ( Groat cheering . ) Bro . EMANUEL said for the seventh time in succession he took upon himself the pleasure of proposing Bro . Heather for the office

of Treasurer , and he felt sure he would still continue to give the brethren of the province full satisfaction . The motion was seconded by Bro . Mosse , ancl carried unanimously . Bro . PORTAL addressed the Prov . Grand Lodge concerning the affairs of the Boys School . He said there appeared to be no report forthcoming in reference to any of the charities . He had hoped to have met with some information as to the election of the new head

master of the boys' school , it being a matter in which he , and no doubt many other brethren , felt some interest , being one of great importance to them all . It might perhaps he generally known by this time that the office of head master had become vacant , if it was not well known , he would , however , now make it better known , and he might tell them that no less than three hundred applications had been made for the post . It had become his cluty to urge how

fitting for this situation was a person belonging to this province ( lie alluded to Bro . W . G-. Mason , a member of the Lodge of CEconomy , No . 90 ) . A man more deserving of the place , and more fitted for it , could not be in existence , and of that he was quite sure . ( Hear ) . He , therefore , had taken great interest in the matter of his election , and clone all in his power to further his cause . He did not know Mr . Mason personally ( and he hoped the gentleman was not now present ) but he was influenced by the great superiority

of his testimonials and his long knowledge of tho character Bro . Mason enjoyed . He wished to remark that in the process of the election of this official , he detected an evil , and he would call attention to it . The election appeared to rest entirely with the House Committee ; ancl the votes to be given for any party , must be personal votes , no proxies being received . He thought this was not right . Subscribing \ i \ embers should have the privilege of exercising their voice by proxies . The speaker was also understood to

say subscribers should have a voice in the choice of the House Committee , with whom the election now to be made rested . He understood there was another party in the province applying for office , that of matron to the School , viz . the widow of the late Bro . Firmin , ancl who was most competent- for thepost she sought to fill . He hoped that any brethren present who had an influence to exercise , would use it for the persons he had named . ( Hear . ) The R . W . PROV . G . M . said it had come him bsurprise

upon y that the Head Mastership of the Boy's School was vacant . He beleived there had been no official intimation of the vacancy , which he looked upon not only as a neglect but a want of courtesy to the Province . He had given Mrs . Firman his best support . Bro . Firman had been a most worthy Mason , ancl had assisted him most ably while in the office of Prov . Giand Secretary ; and he was only anxious that all his friends would befriend the widow ; she well knew the routine of a school , Bro . Firmin having once conducted

such an institution , in which she gained every experience . The school was not large , there being little over sixty children . That number ought to be increased , and if there was not room for all tho applicants for admission at election times , those highest on the list ought to be admitted , and the next highest on the list admitted in case of vacancies ocenring before the next regular period of election , without again going through the form of nomination . He fully coincided in all that Bro . Portal had said concerning Bro .

Mason , the candidate for the Head Mastership ( whom he had not the honour of . knowing ) , but from the character of that gentleman , so forcibly put forward by Bro . Portal , he felt it to bo his duty to support him in every way . as a brother of the Province , and a man of most superior claims . ( Hear ) . Bro . COUSINS ( Prov . J . G . W ., Dorset ) , said it had struck him as being strange that the election of Head Master of the Boys' School

rested with the House Committee . He certainly thought the Governors should have the privelege of exercising their influence hy proxy in such elections . He hoped tho question would bo moved in Grand Lodge , ancl in the different provincial lodges , with the view of some better arrangement being come to . Bro . PORTAL said he wasquite willing- to leave tho matternow where it stood , after the remarks of their Prov . G . M ., which strengthened his point . There was an election lately when the Secretaryship of the Boys' School became vacant . He , as a governor , was canvassed