WELLINGTON. April 29.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8170, 30 April 1895, Page 2

WELLINGTON. April 29.

Tho Government s^ate that Mr Ward did not directly arrange tho loan with the Bank of England, but tho transaction was conducted as usu*l by local agents, after corisultinar with Mr Ward. Withn 15 minutes of tho announcement of tho lo%n it whs quottd at 2 per cjnt premium. Tho Mawhen brought pleren boxes of gold, value L 38,459, from G eymouth yes* terriny. The loca' kerosene market, despite 'he irrival of the barque Trinidad, from New York, list week, with neirly 10,000 case*, is very firm, holdeis asking la per ga'lon in bond, for parcels, or Hn advance of 50 per cont on prices ruling three months «g<>. It is expected that there will ba a for her increase in value at an parly date. Looal importers sty that paraffin wax ii certain to respond in sympathy with kerosono, which will affect the price of otudles of b tter qualities. The annml communici'nn of tho Grand L)dge of New Zjuland was hold this afternoon, the Most Worshipful Grand Master, P. H. D. Bell, presiding. Tho annual b-tlnnco-nheet of the general fund for the year sh wed tho a»s»'ti to bo L7l2s 6* 9d in excisa of the liabilities The sum of L 752 3s stood to the credit of the fund of benovolenoe, oxclusivo of oxpenses and Rundry grants to tho amount of Ll3l nude during the year, Tho amount to tho credit of the Masonic widow and orphans' fund stood at L 175 IDs lid. The report of the Baard of Benevolence otutioned tho brethren agiinst various imposfcerg who »re going about tho colony soliciting nsiißttnce from members. Furthor consideration of tho recommendation from tho Board of general purposes sitting in Auckland to the eft ct fchu tho Grand Socre ary's f-flice should be established in Wellington was udjourned sine die. A long discussion took pi ico on amendment* to th.fl constitution, and various alteration* were madr. GW. Bro. P. D. Ball w»s reelected Most Worshipful Grand Master for the onsuing year. It was decided that the next communication be held at Auckland. In tho evening the installs tion of B,ro. Bell and tho investiture of oflicera took place. The R v. L. M. I>itr, who loaves fpr England by the Gothic on Thursday, was farewellod at a largo public meeting in tho Opera House to-night. Addresses wor<> given by Sir Unhurt S*ou% Mr Lenman, and the Revs. Buimbur, F. W, Isitt, and L. M. IsttN Tho proceedings nero of a most etuhuii^etio oh^racer. Tho three-core oable acrow Cook Strait was broken uoinc timo during last night, and all the work between Wellington and Christ' church it therefore thrown on tho tingle wire cable. To fncilitato tho work and pro* vent a block, tho now Whoits'one autonnlio machine Ira beou called into roquiii* tion between Christchurch and Wellington, and the telegraph officials report that it is working very smoothly. The cable repairing steamer Torranora was working off Otcraugi lhy to-day, but at lateit acoounts she had not start' a to lay down the new :iblo. She will finish this work before sh« uuderUkes r^p«,ir« og the thr«o-oore c»blo,