BRITISH AND FOREIGN

Otago Witness, Issue 1501, 21 August 1880, Page 19

BRITISH AND FOREIGN

(Retjteb's Special.)

London, August 17th. American wheat harvest prospects are favourable. The third series of wool auctions opened to-day. There waa a good attendance of Home and Foreign, buyers. 69,000 bales were offered. There being inferior and faulty wools of all kinds, the tone of the bidding was hesitating, wool auctions will close on October Ist. In the House of Commons the Marquis of Hartington, the Secretary of State for India, in submitting the Indian budget said an increase of taxation was proposed of £1,800,000. He also mentioned that no definite proposal had yet been made by the British Government to render any aid, i until such time as hostilities were suspended. Paris, August 18th. It is expected that the French crop this year will be an average one. Calcutta, August 17th. Intelligence has been received from Afghanistan that a large body of Pathens attacked the British garrison at Kachmadan, but were repulsed and pursued, and a severe loss inflicted on them. Calcutta, August 18th. Further information to hand states that Ayoub Khan is now engaged bombarding Candahar, and the British forces are acting on the defensive. London, August 18fch. In the House of Commons to-day Mr W. E. Forster, Chief Secretary for Ireland, denounced the wickedness and cowardice shown by Mr Dillon in his seditious speech at Kildare, but said he had no intention of prosecuting him.