Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

BRO . SIR ARTHUR SULLIVAN has left town for Biarritz for rest and change . BRO . LORD AND LADY ARTHUR HILL have removed from 74 to 43 , Eaton-place . BRO . LORD AND LADY SALTOUN have taken 26 , Grosvenor-place for two months and are expected in town this week .

BRO . EARL EGERTON OF TATTON and the Duchess of Buckingham and Chandos , who have been travelling in Greece , are expected home shortly . ON SATURDAY LAST Lady Frederick Cavendish presented the prizes at the Hendon Hall School for Girls , Hendon , Middlesex .

BRO . CHAS . E . KEYSER presided last week at the annual Festival of the London Orphan Asylum at the Hotel Metropole . Subscriptions amounting to £ 3 ( 100 were announced . THE BELLS OF WINDSOR were rung last week , and a Royal salute was fired in the Long Walk , in celebration of the 36 th wedding day of T . R . H . the Prince and Princess of Wales , who were married at St . George's Chapel on March 10 th , 1 S 63 . BRO . SIR FRANCIS KNOLLYS , Private Secretary to H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , after being present on Saturday last at the departure of H . R . H . the Princess of Wales and her daughters from Charing Cross , left , with the Hon . Lady Knollys , for Hythe .

BRO . J . L . TOOLE received many congratulations on -Sundriy last on his 69 'h birthday , and innumerable frends will be glad to hear that the veteran comedian is still in good health . His eyesight is better since the operation he underwent so successfully some time ago . THE LORD CHAMBERLAIN is authorised to state that Drawing Rooms will be held at Buckingham Palace en Wednesday , May ioth ; on Tuesday , May 16 th ; and on a day , not yet fixed , later in the season . The names of ladies to be presented cannot be received at the Lord Chamberlain's office until Monday , April 17 th next .

LORD ALEXANDER THVNNE , brother of Bro . the Marquis of Bath , has been selected by Ihe Executive Committee of the City of London Conservative Association to stand as a candidate for election as successor lo Bro . the Duke of Leeds , who recently resigned his position as a representaiive of the City on the London County Council . YOUNG TROUT FOR THE THAMES . —The Henley Fish Preservation Society has made another addition to the stock of trout in the local waters of the Thames . The consignment consisted of icoo healthy youn ? fish , and they were distributed between Henley and Medmenham . The Windsor and Eton Preservation Society , it is announced , will this week turn 1500 trout into the Thames .

H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES , as Grand Prior of the Order of the Hospi : al of St . John of Jerusalem in England , has sanctioned a " Cafe Concert" being held on May Sth , at , probably , the Grafton Galleries , in aid of the funds of the 15 itish Ophthal nvc Hospital at Jerusalem , belonging to the Order . H . R . H . the Princess of Wales and the other members of the Royal family are among the patronesses .

HER MAJESTY , accompanied by their Royal Highnesses Princess Henry of Battenberg and the Duchess of York , and their Highnesses Princess Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein and Prince Leopold of Battenberg , and attended by her suite , left Windsor Castle on Saturday morninglast at 10 . 35 o'clock for Folkestone . Subsrquently the Queen embarked en board the South-Eastern steam packet Calais-Douvres for Boulogne , en route for Nice . Her Majesty arrived at Cimiez on Sunday afternoon .

AT QUEEN S HALL , on Tuesday evening , the members of the Royal Amateur Oichestral Society gave the second smoking concert of their 37 th season . The Lord Mayor ( Bro . Alderman Sir J . V . Moore ) , who was supported by the Sheriffs ( Bros . Alderman Alliston and Lieut .-Col . Probyn ) , in their chains of office , presided , and there was a gocdly attendance of friends and visitors . Mr . Ernest Ford again took charge of a programme which contained many favourite pieces , among them being Sullivan ' s delightful overture to " The Yeomen of the Guird , " ihe ballet music from Gnunod ' s " Faust , " and a selection from Bizet's " L'Ar ' esienne . "

H . R . H . THE PRINCESS OF WALES , Princess Victoria of Wales , and Princess Charles of Denmark left Charing-cross by special train at 10 . 55 on Saturday morning last for Paris , on their way to Marseilles , where they will embark on board Ihe Royal yacht Osborne for a Mediterranean ciuise of several weeks'durati in . Miss Knollys , Bro . Major-General Sir Stanley Clarke , and Vice-Admirat Sir Henry Sttuhenson were

in attendance , and travelled with the Royal party . The Duke of York , attended by the Hon . Derek Keppel , accompanied Ihe Princesses to the station , and saw them off . General Sir Dighion Probyn and Bro . Sir Francis Knollys were also present . Their Royal Highness , at the station , were received by Colonel Suttees , one ol the directors , and Bio . Gioige Abbott , Ihe district superintendent . .

BRO . EARL CARKINGTON presided at the annual banquet ot the society of East Angliansin London in the King's Hall , Holborn Restaurant , on Saturday evening list , among thecempany being Countess Carrington , Bro . Lord and Lady Suffield , Viscount and Viscountess Coke , l . ady Dorolhy Nevill , Sir William Robinson , Sir F . Lacey Robinson , Sir Joshua and Lady Fitch , Mrs . Henry Fawcett , LL . D ., the Djan of

Norwich , the High Sheriff of C ' ambndgeshire , several of the members of Parliament for East Anglia , and Mayors and Mayoresses of boroughs in the Eastern Counties . In proposing the toast of the evening , the Chairman dwelt very happily on the history and traditiens of Norfolk , and humorcusly referred to the pugnacious character of the people ficm the Jays of Queen Boadicea down to that moment when lliey were engaged in fighting each other in a by-election .

RHODESIA *; GOLD TRUST . — Ihe event of the past lew days has been the interest taken in everything Rhodesian . Some of the biggest liranciets , including the Messrs . Rothschild and the leading Berlin bankens , are now largely interested in Rhodesian gold properties . It is said that Mr . Cecil Rhodes has gene to Berlin to personally confirm the statements made about the great mineral wealth of Matabeleland and other pans of Rhodesia . The Rhodesian Gold Trust Limited , whose capital is £ i , coo , oco in snares of £ 1 each , has laken over an immense tract of gold-bearing reels . They own 2157

claims in Ihe best known and most important parts of Matabeleland and Rhodesia . According to the reports from their engineers on the spot , there are va luable old workings on many of these claims . Some of the properties are now being developed , which mtnns the ( loiation cf a number of subsidiary companies , with large profits to the parent company . The prosperity and success of the Rhodesian Gold Trust are now so well assuied that it is right attention should be drawn to the low price , Ss . per share , at which its £ 1 shares are now selling on the London Slock Exchange .

Masonic And General Tidings.

BRO . COLONEL T . DAVIES SEWELL has been elected a Fellow of the Roya > Astronomical Society . PRINCESS CHRISTIAN has arranged to leave London for the Continent on the 24 th instant .

BRO . SIR HENRY IRVING has promised to distribute the Beaufoy and Mortimer prizes at the City of London School on Friday , June gth . IT IS WITH regret we announce the death , on the 13 th ult ., of Bro . H , J . Rustomjee of the well-known firm of H . J . Rustomjee , of Kurrachie and Bombay .

BRO . J LOBS , C . C ., M . L . S . B ., has left town for Bournemouth . We are gratified to hear that he is making satisfactory progress towards recovery from his recent severe illness . BROS , THE LORD MAAOR , Alderman and Sheriff Alliston , and Colonel and Sheriff Probyn , L . C . C ., will be the guests of the evening at the dinner of the Law and City Courts Committee at the Albion Tavern on Monday , the 16 th inst . Bro . Thomas Briggs , Chairman .

THE ROYAL SEA-BATHING HOSPITAL . —A concert will be held at Grosvenor House , by the kind permission of the Duke of Westminster , on the afternoon of Thursday , the 1 st June . Her Majesty the Queen has been graciously pleased to patronise the ssme , and has signified her attention of taking tickets . H . R . H . the Duchess of York has also been pleased to give her name as a Patroness .

WEST SMITHFIELD LODGE OF INSTRUCTION , NO . 1623 , meets at the " City Scotch Stores , " Knightrider-street , St . Paul ' s Churchyard , E . C ., every Wednesday during the reason at 7 . 45 p . m ., and on Wednesday next , the 22 nd instant , but at the earlier hour of 6 . 30 p . m . tre business of the lodge will be the woi king of the Fifteen Sections . The chairs of the Principal Officers will be occupied by Bros . F . P . Weinel , P . M ., Preceptor , as W . M .: H . J . Lardner , Past G . Std ., as S . W . ; and Herbert Clinch , W . M . No . 1623 , as ] . W . : with Bro . 1 . Knight as I . P . M .

A MASONIC CASE , inscribed " Charles C . Pearce , Enfield Lodge , 1237 , " has been recovered from the river Lea , near Tottenham Lock . Inside the case were several packages of tea bearing the name " Fnank H . Pearce , 1 , Aldgate-avenue , " and a hat bearing the same name was found in Ihe vicinity a few hours later . Inquiries made at 1 , Aldgate-avenue show that Mr . C . Pearce has been dead some time , but his son , Mr . F . H . Pearce , has carried on business there as a tea merchant . He has been mis-ing for about a week , and it is conjectured that he has been drowned in the Lea .

THE SHRIEVALTY OF THE CITY . —At a meeting of the Court of Aldermen at Guildhall , the Lord Mayor exercised an ancient privilege accorded to his office by nominating as a candidate for the Shrievalty of the City of London Bro . Alfred Henry Bevan , citizen and brewer . Bro . Bevan is a director of Messrs . Barclay , Perkins , and Co ., Limited , and has been recently chosen G . Treasurer for the year . The nomination has been made at the request of Bro . Alderman Newton , who stands next in rotation for the Mayoralty . In the absence of a contest the Sheriffs for next year would be Brcs . Alderman Treloar and Bevan . The election takes place at Midsummer .

THE ANNUAL DINNER OF THE OLD MASONIANS will take place at Anderton's Hotel , Fleet-street , E . C , on Saturday , the isth instant , at 6 . 30 for 7 p . m . Bro . John Strachan , Q . C ., G . Registrar , who is President of the Association for the year , will occupy the chair , and it is hoped that there will be present on the occasion a numerous gathering of the friends and supporters of the Association as well as of the members .

Full particulars of Bro . Horace Lewis , Hon . Sec , of whom tickets , price 5 s ., can be obtained . Morning dress . We beg to add that at 5 p . m ., the same afternoon and at the same hotel , an emergency meeting of the Old Masonians Lodge , No . 2700—of which Bro . C . E . Keyser , P . G . D ., is W . Master—will be held for the purpose of initiating two ex-pupils of the School , and it is hoped that those who propose to attend the dinner will take the opportunity of visiting the lodge .

THE GREAT NORTHERN COMPANY announce that since the opening of the Great Central new line , they have commenced runninrr their own passenger train service throughout between London ( King | s Cross ) and Manchester ( Central ) . Several of the most important express trains , with luncheon and dining accommodation ( istand 3 rd class ) , are run daily , via Nottingham and Sheffield , thus placing Nottingham upon the main route to Manchester . The remainder of the service is worked via Retford and

Sheffield . The principal trains are comp lsed of new str ' ck fpecially constructed for the London and Manchester service . The dining and luncheon cars are of the newest and most approved type , and the whole of the third-class carriages are fitted with lavatory accommodation . The Great Northern passenger terminus in Manchester is the Central Station , of which they are joint owners , and , pending the completion of the Nottingham Cenlral passf neer station , the through trains stop at the new Great Northern Station at London-road , Nottingham .

AT THE FUNERAL SERVICE for the late Bro . Lord Herschell , which is to be held in Westminster Abbey at noon on Tuesday next , the Queen will be represented by Lord Churchill , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales by SirFrancis Knollys , and the Duke of York by the Hon . Derek Keppel . The mourners will consist solely of the family , the former private secretaries , and the vicar and churchwardens of St . Peter ' s Church , Eatonfquare . The pall-bearers will be as follows : On the right , Ihe Lord Chancellor , the

Earl of Kimnerley , Lord Strathcona ( High Commissioner of Canada ) , the Speaker of the House of Commons , and Mr . Victor A . Williamson , C . M . G . ; and on the left , the United States Ambassador , the Right Hon . A . J . Balfour , Lord | am * s of Hereford , Sir Henry Roscoe ( Vice-Chancellor of London University ) , and Mr . Francis W . Buxton . The Loids Justices of Appeal will be accommodated with stalls in the choir . The order of service will be similar to that used at the obsequies of the late Bro . the Earl of Lathom .

MINES CONTRACT COMPANY . —This company was established in 1 SS 8 , and has paid dividends which for one year amounted to no less than 95 per rent . Owing to the renewal of activity in the mining market , a resumption of distributions is probable . What the premium on the shares will then be investors can judge for themselves . The issued capital is only yf 5 . S , ooo , an extremely moderate figure when the assets are taken into account , and which the last balance-sheet issued show to be of an amount nearly four times the capital . Out ot this the directors wisely placed about iTioo . oro to a "

contingent reserve fund . " The M nes Contract Company owns 700 acres of coal lands in South Wales , t ttc-thirds inlerest in an Australian gold property , a considtrable interest in mining claims in Rhodesia , half interest in a large number of properties in Canada , a large interest in the Lomatie ( Lydenburg ) Exploration Company , half interest in a Mexican silver property , and a considerable interest in a mica manufacturing company , shares in various other of these

besides syndicates . Some concerns are doing extremely well , whilst , in addition , the company hold mortgage charges to the extent of £ 32 , 000—a very important asset . Why Mines Contract £ 1 fully-paid shares should be quoted in the neighbourhood of 12 s . Cd . is an anomaly which wil | probably right itself in a very short time ; in any case , a good chance is now given to cautious mining investors . — Money Market Review .

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SMOKERS SHOULD USE CALVERT'S DENTO-PHMOLEHE . A DELICIOUS ANTISEPTIC LIQUID DENTIFRICE . A few drops in a wineglass of wafer makes a delicious wusli , for sweetening ( lie lircuth mid leaving 11 pleasant laste anil refreshing coolness in I lie month . Kilitor nf Health snys : — " Most cITcctiuil for Ktrniiirlheiiing tho gums in ense of tenderness and ridding the inniuli ( if the nrninii of tnliacco . '' Is . Od . and 2 s . Oil , Bottles , at Chemists , & c , or Post Froc for Value . Illuslraleil Pamphlet , of Culvert ' s Carbolic Preparations sent post free on application . F . C . CALVERT & CO ., Manchester .

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JEROME THIBOUVILLE-LAMY & CO ., 7 & 10 Charterhouse St ., London , E . G ., And at Paris , Sydney , and New York . Manufacturers of Military Band Instruments , VIOLINS , VIOLONCELLOS , DOUBLE-BASSES , GUITARS , MANDOLINS , & o . Celebrated Violins by O . Qrandini , Senr ., and Charles Buthod ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE POST FREE .