FIFTY YEARS AGO

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 138, 7 December 1929, Page 17

FIFTY YEARS AGO

NEW SUPREME COURT

A MASONIC CEREMONY

FOUNDATION-STONE LAID

"The. most imposing public ceremonial which probably has ever yet been witnessed in New Zealand," stated the "Evening Post" of Monday, Ist December, 1879, "took place to-day on- the occasion of tho formal laying of the foundation-stone of the new Courts of- Justice about to be erected on the reclaimed land opposite Lambton quay. The matter, has been taken up with the utmost enthusiasm by the Masonic fraternity since- it was decided on, and all the preparations were in so forward &'-state by the end of last week that success was assured, provided only that the weather should prove favourable. .... Certainly there was no ground for complaint on the score of the weather, which was simply magnificent, with almost cloudless blue sky, brilliant sunshine, and light breeze. Long lief ore the hour "high noon" fixed for the commeneemnt of the ceremonyvast crowds of spectators began to assemble, and by half-past 11 the grandstand which had been erected for lady ticket-holders was thronged with gailydressed ladies, whoso varied toilets enhanced the brilliancy of the scene during the ceremony. Nor were the military and naval elements wanting, but added their uniforms to the diverse attractions of tho striking spectacle. The D (Wellington) Battery of the New Zealand Artillery, the City Bifles, and the Nayal Brigade, all under the command of Colonel Pcarce, paraded on the reclaimed land, and attended as a guard of honour. Shortly after 11 o'clock the brethren of the mystic tie ■began to assemble at St. George's Hall. The ceremony tfeing under the direct management of the Provincial Grand Lodge of-the North Island of New Zealand, under the Scottish Constitution, that lodge was duly tyled at 11 a.m., and^ opened in regular form. Subsequently the District Grand Lodge for the ..North. Island . under the English Constitution attended, as also the New Zealand Pacific Lodge, No. 517, E.C.; the Waterloo Lodge, No. 463, S.ti; the . .Wellington Lodge, No. 1521, E.C.; and the St. Andrew's Lodge, S.C. At a quarter to 12 the grand procession was formed and marshalled, leaving St. George's Hall, and proceeding to the enclosure on the site of the intended ■building. The procession—a very lengthy one—was preceded by a band playing "Onward, Mason Brothers." On arrival, the Grand Lodge officers mounted" the platform with, due formalities, "the Provincial Grand Master ..taking up a central position, with the District Grand Master on his right ■hand, the Grand jewels being laid in front of the former," and "a strong ■choir, under the direction of Bro. Angelo Forrest, D.G. organist (who presided at a cabinet organ conveniently placed), sang the following anthem: *' 'Bound the spot—Moriah's Hill Masons met with cheerful will." . . . The Provincial Grand Chaplain, the 3£ev. W. B. Harvey, next offered up an appropriate prayer. "The Provincial Grand Master then called on the Provincial Grand Secretary (Mr. George, P.M.) to place the proper records in the cavities of the stone. This was duly performed, the 'Evening Post' and 'Chronicle' of Saturday evening, and the .'New Zealand Times' and 'New JJealander' of this morning being placed therein, alio a parchment, on which was engrossed the following inscription: 'In the name of the Great Architect of the" Universe.—ln the fortythird year of the reign of' Her Majesty Queen Victoria this ■ first stone of the Wellington Law Courts was laid in ancient Masonic form, on the first day of December, A.D. 1879, and in the Year of Light 5883, by the Hon. (afterwards Sir) Frederick Whitaker, Eight Worshipful Provincial Grand Master of the Freemasons of the Scottish Constitution of the North Island of New Zealand, a member of the Legislative Council, and Attorney-Gen-eral of the Colony—Brother Sir Hercules, Robinson, K.C.M.G., being Governor of the said Colony; Brother the ►Honourable William Rolleston being of Justice; Brother Christian Julius Toxward being Eight Worshipful District Grand Master of the Freemasons of the English Constitution in the North Island of New Zealand; Brother George Patrick Pearee being Eight Worshipful Provincial Grand Master of the Irish Freemasons in NewZealand; Brother Burrows, 463 S.C, being the architect of the building; and Messrs. Barry and M'Dowell the builders. May the undertaking prosper by tho blessing of Almighty God.' " The stone was then well and truly laid by the Eight Worshipful Provincial Grand Master, the Hon. Frederick Whitaker, "using a richly, chased silver trowel," which, suitably inscribed, was presented to him as a memento of .the. occasion. - - • . Brief addresses, were delivered by the Hon. Frederick Whitaker and the Hoif. William Rolleston-, and the ceremony concluded with a thanksgiving anthem by the choir. ; .:-.?'The whole affair," stated "The Post," "passed ofi with brilliant and unqualified success. Especial credit is due to Bro. E. T. Gillon, Grand Assistant Secretary, who originated the idea and organised the entire scheme; also to Bros. Wildman (Grand Director of Ceremonies), Dimant (Grand. Marshal), and Stevens, P.M., and Lyon (Assistant Directors)." "■WHY BY SECRET SOCIETY?" . In the House of Representatives two days later, "Mr. Johnston asked the Government, 'Why the Government arranged that the foundation-stone of the new Supremo Courthouse should be laid by a secret society, and what is the meaning of the inscription on the scroll deposited with the stone, that it ■was laid in tho Tear of Light 5883?' The Hon. Mr. Kolleston replied that the matter was arranged as such matters generally were, namely, by the con,tractors. The Government, as a Government, had nothing whatever to do with it. The contractors were in possession, of the ground, and it was to be presumed that they made the necessary arrangements for the ceremony. As regarded the inscription 'deposited , with: tho ' stone,- - he- • had- - onlyto say that . the. . .GQvernme.nt, had no official intimation as to what the 'year of light' meant. Mr. Johnston remarked that it was to be regretted, and that it was hardly right that., contractors in this colony should be empowered to call the volunteers out." •■' "OLD PIVE-AND-TWENTY PEE CENT." A "local" in "The Post" of 3rd December, 1879, states that Mr. James Macandrew, M.H.R., who had been Minister, of Public Works in the Grey Government, "recently speaking on the question of retrenchment in the Civil Service expenditure, complained thatssome years ago, when he submitted a proposal to the House to reduce all salaries on a sliding scale, beginning at 25 per cent, on the higher salaries, and coming down until £300 was reached—of which proposal nothing came—he could not go down Wellington Beach afterwards without seeing himself pointed at, and hearing the remark, 'There • goes old Five-and-j twenty; Be? Pen*!* — "