Mark Masonry.

which regiment was assembled in the city on permanent duty . Previous to his departure , however , his Lordship had requested him most particularly to communicate to the brethren of the Mark Lodge bis Lordship ' s great regret at being unable to be present with them that evening , and to assure them that he had anticipated , with much pleasure , tbe prospect of joining them in the lodge , and that nothing but the fact of his sudden indisposition

would have prevented him from attending . The brethren would allow him ( Bro . Beach ) to repeat that the R . AV . the G . Mark Master had enjoined him most strictly and repeatedly to inform them of tbe reason of his absence ; aud he was sure that his Lordship's non-attendance was as much matter of regret to himself as it was to tbe brethren of the lodge . The loclge was then opened in due form with solemn prayer , and the minutes of the former loclge having been read and confirmed , Bro . S . Adamson ,

S . D . of the Craft Lodge of Economy was balloted for , elected , ¦ and advanced to the sublime degree of Mark Master . The lodge was then closed in proper form . A Lodge of Emergency in connection with the Craft Lodge of Economy ( No . 90 ) , was subsequently held for the purpose of meeting brethren of the regiment of Hants Yeomanry Cavalry , on duty in the city . There were present during tbe evening Bro . J . L . Hasleham , AV . M . ; Bro . A . SmithS . AV . ; Bro . H . HugginsJ . AV . and Sec . Bro . Adamson

, . , ; , S . AV . Bros . AV . W . B . Beach , W . S . Portal , J . R , Stebbing , J . Naish , P . M . ; S . R . Everitt , P . M . ; G . Durant , P . M . ; C . Sherry , P . M . ; T . A . Miuicly , E . Carter , and the following visiting brethren : —J . AV . Lamb , J . AV . ( 995 ); J . Mugford ( 387 ); J . F . Allnutt , J . W . ( 717 ); C . Kestall ( 1025 ); J . Griffin ( 319 ); H . T . Nicholls ( 995 ); AV . Gibbs ( 387 ); G . Figgins ( 995 ); and AV .

Gunner ( 428 ) . The AV . M . -n-oduced his amended rules and regulations for the Fund of Benevolence in connection with the Loclge -of Economy , and solicited the opinions of the distinguished visiting brethren thereon . —Bro . PORTAL said , as a matter of general principle they could not but hail ivith extreme pleasure the foundation of such a fund . He bad not yet had time to peruse carefully the rules , a copy of which had been forwarded to him ; but he entirely approved of the principle set forth , and admired

the zeal which led to such a proposition . He hoped good results would ensue . A model of the Masonic monument for erection in the cemetery , in memory of the late Bro . Cowen , was produced and approved of , subject to slight modifications . AVhilc on this discussion , Bro . Beach greatly approved of the idea suggested ; he was glad to see a departed brother's memory honoured by such a graceful tribute , as it was only to his great merits that such a memento should be laced on record—BroPORTAL was lad to

p . . g ¦ see the brethren unanimous in getting up such a handsome memento to their departed Secretary . He had served the lodge faithfully for many years , and set a worthy example for others to follow in his long and good life . He could only hope that the deceased's successor in the office would serve the lodge so long ancl leave so good a name on record . —Bro . STEERING had great pleasure in supporting the observations which had fallen on the

subject . He should be happy to contribute bis small share towards tbe expenses requisite for the erection of the monument . Bros . AV . AV . Beach , IV . L . Portal , and J . R . Stebbing severally subscribed one guinea each in aid of tbe monument fund . The lodge closed with solemn prayer at tho hour of hi gh twelve , and the brethren adjourned for refreshment .

The Week.

THE WEEK .

THE COURT . —On Thursday , the 21 th ult ., His Royal Highness the Prince of AVales arrived at Osborne from Madinglcy Hall , Cambridge . Her Majesty and His Royal Hi ghness the Prince Consort , accompanied by the King of the Belgians , the Count of Flanders , the Prince of AVales , Princess Alice , Princess Helena , and Princess Louise , embarked in the royal yacht Fairy , and steamed

up the Southampton Water . Though it was Her Majesty ' s birthday , no festivities took place in consequence of the mourning . Friday was the anniversary of Her Royal Highness Princess Helena ' s birthday . On Saturday the Prince Consort , accompanied by the King of the Belgians , the Prince of AVales , ancl the Count of Flanders , steamed over to Portsmouth , and returned to Osborne in tbe

evening . The Prince of AVales returned to Cambridge on Monday . On Tuesday His Royal Highness the Prince Consort , accompanied

The Week.

by His Majesty the King of the Belgians , the Count of Flanders , ancl Prince Authur , steamed to Spithead , and went on board the Edgar , the flag-ship of Rear-Admiral Erskine . IHEERIAS PARLIAMENT . —The HOUSE OE LORDS assembled on Monday , after the Whitsuntide recess , and sat for half an hour .

No business of importance was transacted . Lord Brougham urged upon the ; Government the necessity of taking vigorous steps to promote the cultivation of cotton in the colonies ; and the Duke of Newcastle , in reply , assured the noble Lord that every legitimat effort would he made to further this important object . The second reading of the New Zealand New Provinces Bill afforded Lord

Grey an opportunity of discussing the question of the native insurrection , ancl of unfolding his views with reference to the general character of British rule in the colony . His sympathies appeared to rest with the Maoris , and he attributed the present critical state to the colonial Constitution , which was a mere burlesque , and ought to be suspended . After a few observations from Lord Lyttleton ,

the Duke of Newcastle warmly defended the policy of Governor Browne , ancl condemned the conduct of Bishop Selwyn and the missionaries , which , he contended , hacl been productive of much mischief . He described the present struggle as one involving tbe question of Maori versus British supremacy , but he trusted that the war , if not already terminated , would be speedily brought to a

close . Governor Browne , whose term of office had nearly expired , would be appointed to another colony , ancl his place in New Zealand taken by Sir George Grey , at present Governor ofthe Cape of Good Hope . On Thursday , May 24 th , the HOUSE OE COMMONS re-assembled after the AVhitsuntide recess . On the motion that the Speaker leave the chair to ' go into committee of supply , Sir Frederic Smith

called attention to the report of the commissioners appointed to inquire into the control and management of Her Majesty's dockyards . In doing so he complained that , under the present system of management , the Board of Admiralty themselves had no control over the expenditure , and that the production of estimates to the House was nothing better than a farce . In conclusion , be moved " that it is expedient that such reforms should be made in the

control and management of Her Majesty's naval yards as will tend to promote greater- efficiency , and consequently to ensure greater economy iu those establishments . " Sir Michael Seymour admitted that naval reforms were necessary , but the difficulty was to say what they should be . As an instance , he mentioned the circumstance that a new system of accounts had been adopted in a

dockyard with which he had been connected ; but although it involved great trouble and increased expense , it was found to be of no advantage in the end . Mr . Lindsay seconded the motion . Lord Clarence Paget said that it was the intention of the Admiralty to carry out a great many of the recommendations of the iRoyal Commissioners , but that time bad scarcely been afforded for the

purpose . AVith regard to the accounts , their desire was to furnish a full statement at the close of each financial year , and he hoped that in future this would be done . It was also proposed , with a view to the greater efficiency of the service , that the Admiralty and the AVar Department should be under the one roof , and a correspondence was now-going on with the Treasury for thatpurpose . After some discussion the motion was withdrawn . After some questions

on foreign policy had been put ancl answered , the House went into Committee of Supply on the Navy Estimates , the first vote being £ 3 , 489 , 477 for naval stores , for building , repair , and outfit of the fleet , & c . ; a motion of Mr . Lindsay to reduce it being negatived by 66 to 30 . A few smaller votes were then passed . On Friday , there being only 34 members of the House of Commons in their

places at four o ' clock , the House at once adjourned until Monday . In the House of Commons , on th e motion that the House resolve itself into Committee on the Customs and Inland Revenue Bill , Mr . Newdegate moved that it be an instruction to the Committee to divide the bill so that each of the taxes to which it related might be separately treated . Mr . Spooner seconded