HOME AND FOREIGN.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9817, 28 August 1897, Page 8

HOME AND FOREIGN.

Press Association—By Telegraph- Copyright THE AUSTRALIAN SQUADRON. London, August 26. H.M.S. Minerva, a twin screw cruiser of the second class, which has been engaged on particular service, is to be recommiseioned in October, and will relieve H.M.S. Orlando as flagship on the Australian station.

[The Minerva is a second-class steelslieathed cruiser of 5600 tons (the sam-i an the Orlando). She is 3Soft long, with a beani of 53ft, and a maximum draft, of 20lL 6in. Her horsepower is 9600, as against the Orlando's 8500. She was built at Chatham, and was launched in 1895, costing £244,0*16. Her armament consists of five 6-inch quick firing guna, six 4.7-inch, nine 12-pounders, one 3-poiuider, 4 Maxima, one 12-pounder boat gun, and &he has three torpedo tubes. She can steam 19J knots ai\ hour (20 1-3 kuols on hoc trial), and carries 437 meai.] BOAT ACCIDENT. Four old Etonians attempted to row across the English Channel. They were accompanied by a tug. A heavy swell caused the boat to sink, and the occupants were rescued with great difficulty. CONFERENCE OF PREMIERS. August 27. It is stated that the Colonial Premiers have with them copies of Mr Chamberlain's opening speech at the Conference and the resolution passed at that gathering, THE SENTENCE ON A CUBAN LAD*. Rome, August 26. The Pope has intervened on behalf of the niece of General Cienero, who was arrested for being concerned in the rebellion in Cuba. THE TRANSVAAL. Pbktoria, August 26. In his speech in the Volksraad on the question of British suzerainty, President Kruger referred to an article in the Convention providing that foreign treaties entered into by the Transvaal shall be referred to Great Britain, and he admitted that if within six months any treaty was found to conflict with British interests it might be disallowed. MOUNT ST. ELIAS. Ottawa, August 26. The Duke d'Abruzzi, a member of the Italian Royal House, ascended Mount St. Elias, one of the highest peb.ks in the north-west territory of Canada. The party reached an altitude of 18,100 ft, and were fiftyone days amidst ice and snow. [The altitude said to have been attained is considerably greater than the height hitherto attributed to Mount St. Elias. The mountain has, we believe, never been conquered before, although a number of attempts have been made.] PRESIDENT BORDA'S ASSASSIN. Buenos Ayeks, August 27. Arredondo, President Borda's assassin, was an army officer. The deed was due to personal hatred, and there were no accomplices. The crowd at the Cathedral door threatened the murderer with violence, and the military were compelled to charge with fixed bayonets. Several were killed and many wounded.