Selected Correspondence.

Letters were received from N.G. Bro. C. Lezard and Sec. Bro. J. J. Fryer, of the Avon Lodge, Christchurch, asking if it was in the power of their Lodge to "raise the fees of older members so as to reduce the scale for younger brethren." My reply was that the Grand Lodge, when in annual session, was the only power who could alter it. D.D.G.M. Bro. "Watt, Marton, states that the Marton Lodge had not met for six months, and the late members desired to appropriate the whole of the property, £55 cash and a section of land worth £80. Our reply was, that as they had no status in the Lodge or Order (being over six months' in arrears), just in the same manner that members of existing Lodges forfeited all claim to the property and funds of his Lodge if they owed more page 8 than three months' subscription, therefore they were not entitled to any property whatsoever. After further consideration, D.D.G.M. Bro. Watt was instructed to take over the effects of the Lodge and one-half of the real and personal property, the other half to be divided amongst the late members, to which no reply has been received.

D.D.G.M. Bro. M. White states that the Winchester Lodge intends to amalgamate with the Temuka Lodge, through there not being a surgeon in their place. My instructions were that nothing definitely should be arranged until a financial statement was first rendered to the Grand Lodge of the position of the Winchester Lodge, which has not been received to date.

G.S. Bro. Ridgley, G.L.U.S., has sent a large number of American reports, and stated that it was intended from the first there should have been a Supreme Grand Lodge of Australasia, to whom the other Grand Lodges of the colonies were to be subordinate. We contended, in reply, that such a principle would be expensive and unworkable, without any advantages; besides, we desired to retain the position we had hitherto had, viz., that of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand, coequal to the Grand Lodge of Australia, and subordinate only to the G.L.U.S. Copy of this letter was also sent to Bro. J. H. B. Curtis, Grand Secretary, Melbourne. Correspondence, being important, is herewith submitted and numbered in their order.