PAGES FROM THE PAST.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 October 1921, Page 4

PAGES FROM THE PAST.

THE BROUGHAM STREET HALL INTERESTING PAPERS FOUND. The old Masonic Hall in Brougham Street, which was built in the early days of New Plymouth, was recently partially destroyed, by fire, and is to be sold for removal. The fact that certain records were placed under the foundation pile led to an investigation by the present owner of the building, Mr. F. Amoore, and on Saturday he was successful on recovering some old docu-’ ro.ents and mementos. The first prospecting was made beneath the pile, which was sunk about 4ft. below the surface of the soil. This quest, however, proved fruitless, and so the pile was split, and, nicely ensconsed in a square pocket at the head of the pile was found a sealed tin which, when opened, was found to contain a parchment referring to the laying of the foundation stone. Other documents in the receptacle were a copy of the Municipal Police Ordinance, 1862, a copy of the conditions upon which land was granted to settlers who performed certain military services as set out, an advertisement for Robert Ward, family grocer, Currie Street, a copy of the Taranaki Herald of Saturday, December 24, 1864, and a cne shilling piece, a sixpence, a fourpenny piece, and a threepenny piece. All the contents of the tin were in a gcod state of preservation. The parchment read as follows: In the Reign of Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria. The foundation stone of the Freemasons’ Hall was laid with Masonio honors by the W.M., P.M., Wardens and Brethren of the Mt. Egmont Lodge, No. 670 E.U. on Tuesday, the 27th day of December, A.D. 1864 (A.L. <5864), being the festival of St. John the Evangelist. Sir. Geo. Grey. K.C.8., Governor. F. A. Weld, Colonial Secretary. W. Fitzherbert, Colonial Treasurer. W. Sewell, Attorney-General. H. A. Atkinson, Minister of Colonial Defence. W. Mantel], Native Minister. Officers of the Mt. Egmont Lodge, No. 670, E.C. W. Carrington, W.M. G. AN. Woon, P.M. W. Black, P.M. John Newland, P.M. John Bell, P.M. AV. Perceval, P.M. F. L. Webster, GW. H. W. Brewer, I.VV. J. Knight, Treasurer. E. B. Laing, Secretary. R. C. Hammerton, S.D. S. Aaronson, I.D. W. H. Skinner, I.G. This building was erected by the Brethren of the Mt. Egmont Lodge with money raised by shares £2 eacs. Messrs. Watson and Brown, architects. Messrs. Kelly and Burton, builders