In scribed on the plate are the following words : “This foundation stone of a provincial build ing, containing Council Chamber and Govern ment and City Corporation offices, was laid on the 29th of January, 1872, by the Hon W. Eitzherbert, Superintendent of the Province of Wellington, in the presence of Henry Bunny, Esq., Provincial Secretary and Trea surer ; George Hunter, Esq., honorary member of the Executive Council; Charles B. Borlase, Esq., Provincial Solicitor ; Alfred W. Renall, Esq., Chairman of Committees, and Joe Dransfield, Esq., Mayor of the City of Wel lington ; J. H. Marriott, Sergeant at-Arms; J. Toxward, Architect; Gascoine and Parsons, Contractors.” Into the cavity were then placed a bottle containing two copies of the Inde pendent newspaper, one copy of the “ Even ing Post,” and one copy of the “ Christian Messenger.” A number of current coins, consisting of sovereigns, half-sovereigns, half crowns, shillings, sixpences, and coppers, were also placed in the bottle, which was then placed in the cavity, embedded in mortar, the engraved plate placed over the whole, and the stone lowered. During the progress of these formalities the Garrison Band pTayed a prayer from Medea, which waF very appropriate and had the effect of render ing” the scene complete. His Honor having struck the stone three times with the mallet and tested its squareness with the plumb rule, declared the foundation stone of the building to be well and truly set. The band then struck up the Anthem, which was followed by a salute of twenty-one guns, fired by the Artillery Corps under the direction of Captain Pearce. The stone itself is a handsome block of Oamavu stone, rough chiselled, and about two feet six inches long by two feet across. The formalities being concluded, His Honor the Superintendent said the occasion was not one of an ordinary kind, and, looked at from any point of view, must be regarded as of the very greatest interest to the province. He was glag to be able to tell all ill-omened people who declared the province bankrupt, that he stood then on our own land, and laid the stone of a building to be erected with our own money. 