New Zealand.

at the important part they had taken in the management of the lodge that day , winch he was happy to say already numbered over forty brethren . " The Past Master , I . C ., " was then proposed by Bro . Hoius , who ( in the absence of Bro . Carrington , AV . M ., to whom the toast would have fallen ) paid a tribute to the amiability and worth of the worthy and worshipful Bro . Perceval , whose health they were about to drink .

Bro . PEHCEA-AL , P . M ., ably responded to the toast . "The Wardens and Officers of the Lodge , " was then proposed by Bro . NEWLAND , P . M . The Senior and Junior AVardens responded , and expressed their earnest desire to do their utmost to support the AV . M . in conducting the affairs of the lodge . " The AV . M . and P . M ' s . of the Mount Egmont Lodge ( 670

E . G . ) " was then given by Bro . CASTHAT , AA ' . M ., who alluded to . the very kindly assistance and countenance they had given to the new lodge- —the AV . M . ( Bro . Carrington ) even condescending to take the humble post of Inner Guard , thereby shoAving himself to be imbued with a deep Masonic feeling of humility ; and Bro . Black , P . M ., very kindly undertaking the onerous , and , to a lodge just forming , most important , duties of Treasurer . "The Installing P . M ' s . " was proposed by the AV . M . who

, again reiterated his obligations for their kindly services that day . Bro . NEAVLAJOI , P . M ., in the name of his absent colleague , Bro . Black , P . M ., and in his own , acknowledged the toast in suitable terms . He could answer , he thought , for his absent brother and

himself , that as long as their faculties lasted their zeal in the cause Avould not wane . "The AVardens , Officers , and Brethren of tho Mount Egmont Lodge , " Avas proposed by Bro . PERCEVAL , P . M ., who trusted there would always be the samo good feeling between them and the AA'ardens , officers , and brethren of the De Burgh Adams Lodgo , that it was so pleasing to find existed betwen the individual members of either lod

ge . Bros . AVEIIS-I . -EI ! , S . AV ., and BREWER , J . W ., responded in feeling terms . The DIR . OE CERS . gave "The A'isitors . " Bro . AVYXN had had great gratification on his visit to Taranaki during the sitting oftlie Supreme Court . He had always heard of the beauty of this part of the country and the fertility of the soil . He had gone over a great part of the province ; his

personal observation corroborated what he had heard from others . He was satisfied that this miserable Avar being once brought to a close , tho capabilities of this province would draw a large population , and that nothing Avould then be wanting to render this one of the foremost provinces of New Zealand , but a suitable harbour . He considered himself happy to have paid a visit fo New Plymouth at this time . He had been received with great kindness by Masons in this town . Ho should return

to Auckland very favourably impressed with Masonry in Taranaki . He wished success to the " De Burgh Adams Lodgo ;" expressed his appreciation of the honour he had in his health being drunk as one of the visitors , in Avhose name he begged lo return thanks . ; Z _^^ - ' - < -v ' . " * . ' . - ¦¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ -i

A variety of other toasts were drank and the proceedings brought to a close about eleven o ' clock . Thus terminated , in " peace , love , and harmony , " a day we consider a most important one for this province , for Masonry , and for this branch of the Irish Grand Lodge , in particular .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BEO . THOMAS RICHARDSON . On Monday last tho funeral of Bro . Thomas Eichardson , late Junior AVarden of Pleiades Lodge ( No . 710 ) , took place at Totnes , Avliere lie had for some years past resided and carried on business as a builder . The age of the deceased ivas 56 years . He AA'as a self-made man , of great activity and enterpriseone of the largest

loy-, emp ers in Lis business in the toivn , and ivas very highly esteemed by his felloAV-toAvnsmen , nearly all of Avhom partially closed their shops during the time that the mournful proceedings were taking place . Bro . Richardson ivas in partnership with Mr . Reeve . He had been for a long time past very seriously ill , and during his

illness he expressed a desire that Iiis Masonic brethren Avould attend his funeral . In consequence of the expression of this Avish an application Avas made to the E . AV . and Eev . Bro . Huyshe , the Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Devon , for a dispensation to enable the brethren to accompany his remains to their last rosting-place . This dispensation

Avas immediately granted , and in a letter from Bro . Moore , of Exeter , P . S . G . W ., accompanying it , that gentleman said he was sorry that business engagements prevented his personal presence ou the occasion . The deceased was one of the earliest members of his lodge , and at the time of his death filled the office of Junior Warden . As the dispensation Avas not in the hands of Bro .

George Heath , the hon . sec , till Saturday , he Avas unable to issue invitations to the brethren till the afternoon of that day , and thc consequence ivas that the attendance of brethren of distant lodges , though numerous , ivas not so large as it would otherwise haA'e been . This ivas the first Masonic funeral that had taken place at Totnes , and it excited very groat interest , the

streetsbeing lined people . The brethren assembled in tbe IICAV lodge room , in Mill-lane , a A'ery beautiful temple , Avhich has been erected from the designs of Bro . John Heath , jun ., and will , when complete , bo ono of tho handsomest lodges in the county . It has been erected on trno Masonic principles , and being an isolated building it will be set apart wholly for the purpose . At about 11 . 15 , the brethren having

appeared in full Masonic clothing , with . Masonic mourning , namely a Avhite crape band Avorn on the left arm , Avhite gloves , and carrying a sprig of acacia , the lodge ivas opened in due form by the W . M . Bro . John Heath ,, jun . The folloAving brethren ivere present in the lodge : — John Heath , juii ., _ AV . M . ; John Marks , S . W . ; James Wherry , acting J . W " . in tho place of tho deceased ; BCA * .

James Powning . Chaplain ; Henry Bartlett , Treasurer ; George Heath , Secretary ; G . W FOAVIO , S . D . ; John Haiiis-v J . D . ; James Willcocks , J . D . ; W . H . Taylor , Organist ; J . Crocker , Tyler ; James Dronnan , J . P . Heath , Thomas E ,. Owen , T . Seccombe , E . P .. Eeod , M . J . Oldrey , David Manning , W . Knapman , W . -Piillincr , John Mackay , P . Prov . G . D . C . ; B . W . Morgan ( True Love and Unit }' , 348 );

AV . S . Sawyer ( Harmony , 156 ); S . Thomas ( late 954 ) , P . M . ; Georgo Glanaficld ( St . John ' s . Torquay , 328 ) , AV . M . ; AV . A . Goss ( of 328 ) , P . M . ; H . I . Ward ( of 328 ) . S . AV . ; E . H . Dyer ( of 328 ) , Secretary ; P . D . BOAVOS , I . P . M . ; B , H . AVatson , P . M . ; H . Edmonds , P . M . ; John Heath , P . M . ; Frederick Stokes , I . Latimer ( Fortitude , 105 . and Sincerity , 189 ) , AV . Thos . Searle Hangworthy ( BrunsAvick ,

159 ) , E . Dennis ( Harmony , 156 ) , M . M . ; J . Johnson ( True Love and Unity , 24-8 ) , P . M . ; John MoCollough , ( Harmony , 248 ) , S . D . ; W . Howard ( True Love and Unity , 248 ) , P . M . ; E . Lambswood ( ditto 248 ) , P . M . ; P . Bartlett ( ditto ) , P . M . Bro . Distiu and several olhcr Masons AvhoAverc unable to bo at the lodgo were on the ground . During the preparations for the lodge Bro . Taylor perfornied Avith much solemnity tho "Dead March hi Saul . "

AVhen the lodge had been , duly opened the brethren proceeded in Masonic order to the late residence of the deceased . Tho body ivas placed in a hearse , folloAved by a couple of mourning carriages , iu Avhich were thc widow , children , and near relatives of tho deceased . There Avas a very large attendance of the tradesmen of the town , who folloAved the carriages on foot . Tho Freemasons headed

the procession , walking tAvo and tAvo , and when they arrived at thc entrance to the old church of Totnes they opened file to allow the hearse ancl mourners to take their proper place . Here the corpse Avas taken out and borne into the church , the Chaplain of the lodge ( the Eev . Jas . Powning ) reading the service Avith great feeling and solemnity . On the pall Avere the Masonic badge and collar . That portion of the burial service Avhich is usually read in church having been concluded , the procession formed as before and proceeded to the beautiful cemetery