HOME AND FOREIGN.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9604, 19 December 1896, Page 8

HOME AND FOREIGN.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright THE SCHOOL QUESTION. London, December 17. The National Liberal Federation condemned the attempt to enquire into the Board schools, and insisted that local control should accompany State aid. THE SHAH OF PERSIA. The Shah of Persia intends to visit Europe in the Spring. VENEZUELA. The Venezuelan Government has ordered all arms and ammunition to be deposited in the Government store previous to the Congress in February. BARON DE COURCEL'S RESIGNATION. The Pai'is correspondent of Tlie Times, alluding to the resignation of ! Baron de Courcel, says that one of the ! reasons was that he was greatly discouraged by the difficulty of solving the questions at issue with England. RIVER PLATE COMPANY. The annual balance sheet of the New Zealand River Plate Land and Mortgage Company shows a profit of £20,501. A further dividend of 3£ per cent, was recommended; £7656 will be added to the reserve, and £2154 carried forward. DEATH OF A CRICKETER. The death is announced of H. H. Stephenson, the well-known English cricketer, who was a member of one of the early teams to Australia. PACIFIC CABLE COMMISSION. December 18. It is believed that the Pacific Cable Commission will recommend that a State owned cable and a State survey of the route is necessary. The Commission has adJQurned until the 29th, in order to consult Mr Chamberlain on the matter. ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SUICIDE. St. Petersburg, December 18. Zacharow, an Armenian, shot and severely wounded M. Wasilewski, the President of the State railways, in St. Petersburg, and then committed suicide almost immediately. THE TUNIS TREATY. Paris, December 17. The Chamber of Deputies has approved of the Tunis Treaty. TRIAL OF ANARCHISTS. Madrid, December 17. The trial of the Barcelona anarchists has concluded but the sentences have not been made public. It is believed, however, that they are in accord with the Public .Prosecutor's demand, in which case twenty-eight will be condemned to death and fifty-nine to penal servitude. THE REVOLT IN THE PHILIPPINES. The revolt in the Philippines is becoming serious. The rebels are said to number 50,000, and it is also reported that a section of the Spanish troops has revolted. A Protection Committee has been formed. A FATAL EXPLOSION. Berlin, December 17Seventeen person were killed by an explosion in a match factory in Bavaria. GERMANY AND CHINA. December 18. A Commission to promote trade between Germany and China starts for Pekin in January. THE SWISS CONFEDERATION. Berne, December 18. M. A. Deucher, formerly Minister of Agriculture, has been elected President of the Swiss Confederation. THE RUSSIANS IN AFRICA. Rome, December 17. In the Chamber of Deputies it was officially stated by the Government that the Russians had landed at Rahieta solely for scientific purposes. THE PLAGUE IN BOMBAY. Bombay, December 17. The total fatalities from the plague raging here number 1100; quite 200,000 have fled from the district. RIOTS IN GOA. Rebels in Goa, a city of the Portuguese dominion, 250 miles south of here, saoked and burned the Treasury. Troops were called out and dispersed the rioters. INDIAN PAPER CURRENCY, Calcutta, December 17. The Indian Government is increasing the paper currency by two crores of rupees. December 18. At a meeting of members of the Indian Council it was stated that, owing to the great stringency of money, the Directors of the Bank of Bengal were considering tae question of the advisability of stopping advances on Government paper. A BOER CELEBRATION. Pretoria, December 17. Five thousand Boers have assembled to take part in the celebration of the anniversary of the great defeat of the Zulus under Dingaan. President Kruger said that the Government would be true to the burghers and would entertain goodwill to the British. God gave the Boer liberty. TARIFF BLLL WITHDRAWN. Washington, December 17. The Dingley Tariff Bill has been withdrawn. ALIENS IMMIGRATION ACT. December 18. The Senate has carried a resolution exempting Cubans from the operation of the Aliens Immigration Act.