Halls.

The desirability of Lodges having their own halls has always been a pet theme of mine. Meeting in hotels is inconsistent with the spirit of the principles of our Order, and even when Lodges cannot get halls of their own, they should meet in places away from hotel influences. Each year lately we are making a step in advance in this direction. A new hall for the Pioneer Lodge will be erected in Rattray-street, Dunedin, to cost about £2,100. A tender is accepted, and work commenced. The bottom storey will be conveniently arranged for public purposes, to accommodate 500 persons; and the upper storey will comprise a Lodge-room, with three ante-rooms. This is a commendable step on the part of the Brothers of our parent Lodge, who inaugurated this movement, and their enterprise deserves every success. The financial success attending the Leith Lodge, as also the Star of Canterbury's Hall, have exceeded my anticipations of last year. Not only have they paid all expenses and interest of cost, but realised a good round sum to pay towards the cost. The Temuka Lodge has purchased a plot of ground to build a hall on.