HOME AND FOREIGN.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 8271, 23 November 1895, Page 7

HOME AND FOREIGN.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. London, November 21.

REGULATION OF RAILWAY RATES. Ten great railway corporations in Canada and the United States have combined to regulate rates. THE METRIC SYSTEM. Mr A. J. Balfour, replying to the Chamber of Commerce, said it "was difficult to make the metric system compulsory. He suggested that the great industries should initiate it voluntarily. OBITUARY. The death is announced of Sir Henry Ponsonby, of the Queen's Privy Purse. [General the Right Hon. Bir Henry Frederick Ponsonby was bora at Corfu in 1825, and educated at Sandhurst. Iα 1842 he waa appointed enaigu in the 49th Regiment. After being transferred to the Grenadier Guards he was appointed Aide-de-Camp to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and in 1849 was made Private Secretary to the Earl of Clarendon. In 185b he served in the Grenadier Guards at Sevastopol. After the Crimean War he was appointed Private Secretary to the Queen, and ia 1878 keeper of the Privy Puree.] ' ELECTION OF MODERATOR. The Rev. Archibald Scott has been elected Moderator of the Church of Scotland. THE CHINESE FLEET. China is renewing her fleet, and has placed large orders for ironclads and torpedo boats with British shipbuilders. THE LOAN AND MERCANTILE " COMPANY. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company will not issue the new prior lien debentures to the public, as the absorption of the New Zealand Land Association is practically arranged. ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION. November 22. The Right Hon. G. J. Gosohen, First Lord of the Admiralty, consider? the time inopportune for the Geographical Society to ask Government to equij! an Antarctic expedition. ABOLITION OF SLAVE TRADE. A convention has been signed between Great Britain and Egypt, agreeing to the complete abolition of the slave trade.