South Australia.

brought with him a Countess to gaze upon the beauties ot the river and the forest , was an event so utterly unprecedented , that the recipients might be excused lor becoming somewhat demonstrative and boisterous in the expression oi their joy . Amongst many other deputations ancl addresses was one from the Masonic bodv , which was very taslilv engrossed , and was read by tlie AVorshipful Ma .-tor—Mr . T . Bawden , J . P .: — " To His Excellency the ( liht Honourable SomersetRichard

g , Earl of Belmore , a member of Her Majesty ' s Must Honourable Privy Council in Ireland , Governor aud Commander-in-Chief of the Colony of New South AVales , and Vice-Adniiral of the same , & c , & c . 'May it please Tour Excellency , —AVe , the members of the Palmerston Lodge of Free aud Accepted Masons at Graf ion , No . 11-18 E . Carc desirous of taking the opportunity of your

,, , Excellency's arrival amongst us , respectfully to record our devoted loyalty and attachment to Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen . AVe desire ut state that our Order consists oi quiet and peaceable subjects , true to our Sovereign ; that , we do not countenance disloyalty or icbellion , but patiently submit to legal authority , and conform with cheerfulness to the Government under which we live , yielding obedience to the laws , which

ailbril us protection . AVe cordially welcome the arrival of your Excellency and the Countess nf Belmore t' > the city aud district , and humbly pvaythat the Great Architect of the Universe , may spare you both many years of health , happiness , aud prosperity " T . Bawden , AV . M . " The above address his Excellency made the following ly : —

rep " To the Palmerston Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons , of Grafton , No . 1 , 148 , E . C . " Gentlemen , -The sentiments of loyalty and devotion towards Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen , which you have expressed , are very gratifying to me , ou the occasion of my visit to you as her representative . I beg to thank you cordially

for the hearty welcome which you have aflorded to Lady Belmore and myself . " Belmore . Grafton , July 29 th , 1869 . " A Masonic ball was given in the evening , which was the grandest of all the festivities . The annual Masonic ball has always been looked upon as one of the great things in the year for Grafton , but upon this occasion , its grandeur aud

importance was greatly advanced , in consequence of the presence of his Excellency aud the Countess of Belmore , and suite . The ball , on Friday evening , was held in the ball of the Grafton School of Arts , and a large pavilion erected on the left baud side for a supper room—the size of which was 22 lt . by 50 ft , with tables erected , capable of seating seventy-five couple . The internal arrangement were a raised dais on the platform for bis Excellency and Countesshung on either side with very elegant

, green curtains , wnilst at the back was a small transparency , beautifully executed at Mr . , 1 . AV . Limit ' s studio , bearing the British coat of Arms . The hall was tastefully arranged with wreaths of flowers , festoons , flags , ancl the emblems of the ancient Craft . The library was set apart for tha Countess of Belmore , and was carpeted and supplied with a suite of furniture , & c . A corridor was erected from the gate entrance to the Countess' room , and from thence to the platform entrance ,

gaily hung with splendid Chinese lanterns , ancl laid with floor matting . The supper-room was gaily and neatly decorated , and was lighted by chandeliers aud Chinese lanterns . All the members of the Palmerston Lodge appeared in the insignia of their Order , and the various badges of their offices , which presented a very pleasing effect . The ball was attended by about fifty couples , the Earl and Countess of Belmore , Mies Gladstone and Captain Beresford . The hall was opened by bis _ Excellency the

Earl of Belmore leading off with the Mayoress ; and his AA ' orship the Mayor ( Mr . T . Bawden , J . P . ) with the Countess of Belmore . Tlie supper was served up iu Holmsten's best style .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

ENGLISH CONSTITUTION . CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORELAND . CAEI ^ ISLE . — Cumberland Lodge ( No . GO ) . — The quarterly meeting of ehe above lodge was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Casule-street , on Monday , the 1 st inst . The meet ing was called

Mark Masonry.

for V . 33 p . m ., hut in consequence of the municipal elections being on the same clay only a few members made their appearance . The lodge was opened under the presidency of Bro . G . G . Hay ward , P . M ., supported by Bro . A . Woodhouse , S . AV . and Sec , J . Porter , J . AV , and several other members . After the minutes of the last regular meeting were read and confirmed , tho ballot was taken for Bros . John AA ood , painter , & c , and Edwin Hinks , malinger of the hotel , Kcowich , the former also

belonging to that town . It being found unanimous , they were grepareel and admitted in due form , and advanced to the degree of Mark Masters in Bro . Hayward ' s usual style Tiro gentlemen were proposed for advancement—in the persons of Bros . R . Calvert , mariner , and Colour-Sergeant T . E . Haddon , of the 40 th Regt , now stationed in Carlisle . The lodge was duly closed , ancl the brethren retired to tlie refreshment room , where after speaniug an hour iu true Masonic style , they parted at an early hour , well pleased both with their labour and refreshment .

Religious And Military Order Of The Temple.

RELIGIOUS AND MILITARY ORDER OF THE TEMPLE .

SCOTLAND . PRIOHV OE THE LOTHIATJS . —Installation , of H . I . 3 . Prince Rlimlocanah-is . —A special meeting of this Priory was held on the 20 fch nit , when Comp . the Prince Rhodocanakis was received into the Order . in clue and ancient form . There were present—Sir ICuts . CapS . W . H . Ramsay , Venerable Prior , Grand Secretary to the Chapter General ; H . Y . D . Copland , Marechal ; AV . Mann , Capt . Ay lmer , L . Mackersey , Dr . Cairns , Dr . Dickson , Dr . MeCowcn , AVm . Hay , and many others . Comp . Charles Fitzgerald Matier , was also installed a Knight of the venerable Order .

Theatrical And Musical Notes.

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES .

The London theatres mostly seem to pursue the even tenour of their way , " no change of any importance being announced for the past week—indeed , none may be expected this side of Christmas . The only alteration is the bills is the production of Forbidden Fruit at the Lyceum , a piece which , although said to have been a " great success in the pi-ovinces , " has ended , according

to tho almost unanimous decision of the critics , in a miserable failure , both as to the piece itself and the acting of the principal character by Mr . AUerton , who had the great mortification of eliciting roars of laughter in those passages where precisely the contrary effect was intended . Tho Prince aud Princess of AVales honoured Bro .

Buckstone with a visit to the Haymarket on Saturday last to witness New Men and Old Acres . Mr . G-, Sydney has produced at the Royal Alfred Mr . 0 . Reade's drama , It is Never Too Late to Mend , and states that in consequence of the heavy expense attending its production , ho has been compelled to raise the prices . Mr . Cave has contradicted the report that he intends to dispose of his interest in the Victoria Theatre .

Reviews.

REVIEWS .

Bro . Markham Tweddle's " Bard and Authors of Cleveland and South Durham" is approaching completion , nine out of the twelve parts having been published . The author must have possessed some rare collections to have raked up so much lore anent the local bards and authors of Ms locality , of tvhom he , doubtless , is no mean example . The work is admirably got up—paper , printing ,

wood and steel-plate engravings all being excellent . Although to a great extent the interest in the work may be said to be local , still the general reader cannot fail to be gratified by the interesting sketches given , each of