HOME AND FOREIGN.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10381, 26 June 1899, Page 5

HOME AND FOREIGN.

tTsited Press JUtociaiien—By Blectrio Telegraph—Cojyyiight. • ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION FUNb. LONDON, June 23. It is expected that the Antarctic Expedition, Fund will reach £100,000. KOAIAN CATHOLIC BISHOP OF ROCKHAMPTON. The RigKtßev. Joseph. Higgins, Auxiliary Boman Cathodic Bisbop of bycfriey, has been appointed Bishop of Rockhampton, in succession to tie late Dr. Cani. {Dr. Hifoins was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney in 1889. Hβ was previously parbh priest of Castletown, Delvin, Ireland. For some time; he was President of the Boman Catholic Seminary at Navan.) CLERICAL TITHES BILL. In the House of Commons Mr Long, President of the Board of Agriculture, introduced a Clerical Tithes Bill,"for the purpose of relieving tithe owners of one +&M the present rate at the cost of local taxation, the tithes to be released amounting to £87,000. The Bill was brought in under a rule of the House limiting speeches to ten minutes, which provoked a protest from Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman. The House by a majority of 78 voted in, favour of its introduction, the result of the division showing a slight Unionist cleavage in f&vour of the Opposition. PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION. June 24. Mr Mcßae, Liberal, has succeeded the late Dr. Wallace as member for Edinburgh East by a> majority of 1930 votes. (At the general election, when Dr. Wallace was returned, the Radical majority was 449 votes). THE IRISH CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY QUESTION. v Miq Balfour, speaking in the House of Commons, declared that Great Britain would never sanction a Catholic University in Ireland unlese jprofessorial freedom were secured. The Nationalists are bitterly disappointed at the Government's refusal to legislate. T"HE CHARGE AGAINST BISHOP TUGWELL. ' The Public Prosecutor has declined to proceed with the case against Bishop Tugwell, of West Equatorial Africa, who was committed for trial for alleged criminal libel. [The charge of criminal libel against Bishop Tugwell was laid against him by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce, in consequence of nis assertion as to the drinking habits of Europeans on the West Coast of Africa.] THE INDIAN CURRENCY PROBLEM. The Allahabad correspondent of "The Times ,, states that the Indian Currency Commission has recommended the maintenance, of sixteen pence as the value of the rupee. Ttiti, SIBERIAN RAILWAY WORKS. ,„- ~ , :i NEW, YORK, June 24. Mr Carnegie's Iron Works has obtained a contract for the supply of 180,000 tons of Tails for the Siberian railway. THE KAISER'S LABOUR BILL. BERLIN, Jute 24. The.Reichstag has shelved the Workmen's Protection Bill framed by the Kaiser, providing heavy penalties against strikes.