BRITISH AND FOREIGN NEWS.

Evening Post, Volume LIII, Issue 114, 15 May 1897, Page 6

BRITISH AND FOREIGN NEWS.

Perhaps the most remarkable evidence of the change of sentiment which is coming over France regarding England (says the Home News of the latest date to hand)) is the tribute paid by the Temps to Lord Salisbury when it says that " his mind is : one of the most masculine, his understanding one of the broadest, his reason one of the clearest and most luminous of his country and his age." The Porte is pressing enquiries on the Russian Ambassador regarding the presence of a large and increasing number of Eussian troops on the frontier of Asiatic Turkey. The Tsar's Government has concentrated 200,000 men in South Russia. Advices from Scutari, in Albania, report the outbreak of serious disturbances between the Mahomedans and Christians at that place. Dr. Nansen, on 26th March, received from President Faure the insignia of Commander of the Legion of Honour. A Paris journal asserts that .the Minister of Marine intends to ask the Chamber for a credit of £32,000,000 for the construction of 45 large warships and 175 torpedo-boats. The German Reichstag, on 26th March, adopted by 179 votes to 49 a resolution of the Radical People's Party for the payment of members of the House. Russia is increasing the number of her troops at Askabad and at Merv, in Transcaucasia. The Canadian Government is about to expend 10,000,000d01. Ip enlarging the canal system between Lake SuperidP and Montreal. A substantial reduction in wheat freights is expected to result from the improved means of communication, which will be completed about 1899. The hostile legislation of the United States is provoking among Parliamentarians in Ottawa a strong feeling of indignation, the outcome of which is the decision of the Government to discriminate in favour of Great Britain and against the United States in the new Tariff Bill. It is hinted that the discrimination will amount to about 8 per cent. Mr. Morris K. Jesnp, President of the American Museum of Natural History, is fitting out an elaborate anthropological expedition to undertake a seven years 5 tour for the study of pre-historic man in all parts of the world, at a cost estimated at over 60,000d01. It will (says Nature) be the most elaborate and best equipped expedition ever sent out in the interests of anthropology. Mr. Jesnp has already done much for scientific research. , Mr. Tarte, a member of the Canadian Ministry, delivered a speech in the Dominion House of Commons on 30th March, in which he vigorously denounced the Quebec Bishops for their interference in federal politics. The Government had not, as was alleged, appealed to the Pope to interfere, but 45 Liberal Senators and members of the House of Commons had sent an address to His Holiness urging him to uphold the principle of restraining the clergy from interference with electoral freedom. The Newfoundland sealing catch is now reported to be very poor. Eleven steamers have returned empty out of 1G fishing on the Eastern coast. The foreign fish markets continue depressed, and the serious situation of the colony is becoming intensified. Numerous petitions are being addressed to the Government urging the revival of the Bait Act, as otherwise the summer fishing operations will be largely curtailed. Dr. Koch has published in Berlin the results of experiments, extending over five years, for the perfection of his remedy for the cure of consumption. It is claimed by the inventor that he has greatly increased the curative power of the lymph, and has removed the causes of the unfavourable re-action which has hitherto followed upon its use. Mr. Herbert Gladstone authorises contradiction of the story that his father has become a cyclist. ft It is," he says, " a perfect hoax." Strained relations exist between Hindus and Mahomedans in the Punjab. For a, year or two the Hindu pandit Lekhi Ram has been violently attacking Mahomedauii<m and Christianity. Early last month Lekhi Ram was assassinated by a Mahomedan, and notices have been posted warning certain Hindus and Sikhs that they will be murdered. Some Hindus have also been assaulted in Peshawur. These events have increased the excitement. The Cuban rebel leader Hivera, the successor of Maoeo, has been, captured, badly wounded, in an engagement at Cabezadas. This is considered by many to be the deathblow to the insurrection, bo far as the province of Pinar del Rio is concerned. Dr. Luis was convicted at New York recently of having fitted out a filibustering expedition for Cuba, and was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment and a fine of 600 dollars. Reports received at tho British and French Embassies concerning the Tokat (Armenian) massacres show that they lasted for two days. The number killed and severely wounded is given in tho French reports at 900 and in the English at 600. All parts of the town inhabited by Christians, as well as the bazaar, were pillaged for eight hours. Greeks and Armenians, Protestant, Catholic, and Gregorian, were alike the objects of. Mohamw*- fury. According to

information received by the Armenian Patriarchate, the number of Armenians killed was 700; but Major Bulman, the British Vice-Consul at Sivas, who is now at Tokat, telegraphs that 89 Armenians were Killed and 36 wounded, and that two or three villages were pillaged.

It is understood that the Government oflices throughout the colony will be closed for three days during the Eecord Reign celebrations. » The Minister of Public "Works cannot see his way to throw Government House grounds in Auckland open to the public daily. Mr. Edwin Edwards has been granted the exclusive right of practising massage in connection with the Sanatorium at Te Aroha, for a period of five years. The Colonial Secretarj' (Mr. Carroll), who is taking a \ery keen interest in the project for connecting ltotorua and Gisborne by a light line of railway, is confident that the scheme will be carried out at no distant date. The engineering difficulties, he assures us, are no greater than those encountered in the formation of the line between Dundas and Zeehan, in Tasmania, and there is every reason to believe that the cost would not exceed £1725 a mile. Photographs of the Tasmanian line have been obtained by the New Zealand Government, and copies of them will be madeiu "Wellington for distribution amongst people who arc connected with the project. The proposed line is about 100 miles long. The "Wharves and Accounts Committee of the Harbour Board was interviewed yesterday by a deputation from the Carriers' Union, who complained of the methods of some of the porters in plying for hire, &c, and asked tue Board's assistance in rectifying the matter. It was suggested in reply that the matter lay with the City Council as the licensing body, and finally it was decided that the Council should be asked to appoint a committee to meet delegates from the Carriers', Cabmen's, and Porters' Unions (and, if necessary, a small committee of the Harbour Board) to frame a bylaw which will give satisfaction to all parties. Some time ago the Harbour Board suggested to the Council the advisableness of framing a bylaw making it illegal for porters to divide their work with cabmen and expressmen, and restricting the quantity of luggage, &c, which a porter may carry. The question whether the sender of a cheque or its intended receiver is responsible for the loss occasioned by its theft was the subject of what is described by the London correspondent of the Lyttelton Times as an astounding decision given by Mr. Justice Grantham at Leeds on 20th March. Briefly put, the facts are as follows : — Messrs. John Crossley & Sons, Limited, posted to Mr. J. "W. Pennington a cheque for £503, in pa3 rnient for goods supplied. ' The cheque was stolen in transit, and misapplied. The Judge's decision was that the posting of the cheque was payment of the debt. According to the report in the Leeds Mercury, "the defendants had exonerated themselves from liability by having paid this account by sending a cheque to the Post Office on Dec. 24, 1896." The cheque did not reach its paj'ee, who was consequently made the victim of the theft. It is not very clear on what grounds the learned Judge arrived at this conclusion. He admitted the difficulty of the case as involving hardship to one of two innocent parties, but appears to have ruled that these two parties had agreed that the payment should be made by cheque, and that proof of posting the cheque would be proof of payment that must be held good in law. Last night the show of meat at the Gear Company's shop in Lambton-quay attracted a considerable amount of attention. The tasteful manner in which the meat is exhibited and the scrupulous cleanliness of the premises have long been familiar to the public, and last night's display was quite up to the compan3 f) s usual standard. There were on view 50 bodies of beef and about 140 carcases of mutton, in addition to a well-stocked small goods window. As to the supposed rarity of nautilus shells in Cook Strait, Mr. H. C. Field, of Wanganui, writes to the Chronicle that " as a matter of fact these shells are by no means rare at the end of summer and during autumn, but owing to their fragility they are generally broken in coming ashore, or by the sea birds to devour their contents. For the last 45 years I have repeatedly found broken ones at different points between Waitotara and Paikakariki, and some years ago one of my daughters got more than a dozen perfect ones during a short visit to Waikanae. Several other extremely beautiful and fragile shells are to bo met with on our coast, particularly towards Paikakariki." ' A barque, supposed to be the Hudson, from Glasgow, for Dunedin and Wellington, was reported twelve miles off Otago Heads on Monday, but was blown off by a south-west wind. The local paper considers that under such circumstances it would be advisable for one of the Harbour Board tugs to be despatched to the assistance of vessels unable to make the Heads. It thinks that the interests of consignees are worthy of a little consideration. The following tenders were received by the Melrose Borough Council for the construction of a culvert, and the formation of the diversion of the Hamilton-road, Kilbirnie :— J. Daly, brick culvert, £136 13s 4d ; concrete culvert, &c, £96 15s 4d. M. Forrest, brick culvert, &c, £144 10s ; concrete culvert, £114 13s 4d. M'Grath & Lamberg, brick culvert, &c, £158 15s; concrete culvert, £138 15s. The tender of J. Daly for concrete culvert and formation works, at £96 15s 4d, was accepted. The third annual report, for the year ending 31st March, 1897, of the Trustees of the Wellington Hospital Convalescent Home shows that much good work is being done by this institution in affording change of air, re.st, and proper attention to invalids who aro unable to obtain the care they require in their own houses. Seventy-five patients (from the Hospital, as well as from their own homes) occupied the Home during the year, the average duration of stay being 18J days, at a cost of 3s 8d per day, as against 64 patients for 21i days during the previous year. Thanks are given to the Wellington Hospital Convalescent Fund Committee for their contribution in aid of patients from the Hospital, amounting to £31 103. The Trustees regret that by the departure of the Countess of Glasgow they have lost their Patroness, who always showed such a kindly interest in the Home, and who so liberally contributed to its {establishment and maintenance. The Visiting Committee and the City Missionary are also thanked for their attendance. The management of the Homo by the Matron, Mrs. Rutter, has been satisfactory. The Home is controlled by six Trustees, appointed by the contributors, in accordance with the Hospital and Charitable Institution Act, 1885. The Home is connected by telephone, and 'subscribers can communicate with it at any time. Eight adult patients and one child can be accommodated. The Mayor and two members of the Parnell Borough Council havejbeen summoned for breaches of the Municipal Corporations Act. A practice which has sprung up in Auckland of allowing mining shares on which calls are payable to be forfeited and then buying them at auction at a smaller sum than the amount due will probably lead to the Government taking such measures as will previ-U continuance of the proceeding.

A private match between two well-known sprinters— Gilchrist and Graham— for £20 aside, was won by Gilchrist (who gave his opponent 53'ds start) by a yard and a-half. The distance was 220 yds. At the monthly rabbitskin pay day at Waikato the number of skins purchased from the Maoris ou behalf of the Government was a little over 5100, a falling-off of 1000 skins. This leads to the impression that the rabbits are decreasing. Captain Ashley, formerly in command of vessels trading between the Home Country and New Zealand, has sold the shipping bnsincss which he has conducted in London for many years, and has retired on his means. A resident of Hastings has received a letter from his sister in Dungannon in which very complimentary references are made to our new Governor and family. In the course of some chatty and interesting remarks, the writer says :: — •' You will be surprised to hear of Lord Raufurly going out to New Zealand. It is well for you getting such an excellent man as he is. We are sorry to part with him ; he is so kind, so clever and hard-working. Of Lady Ranfurly I cannot say too much. She has the kindest heart that anyone ever possessed, and she is lovely." Much recrimination was indulged in at the last meeting of the Auckland Board of Education in reference to the travelling expenses claimed by some of the members. One gentleman, it appeared, drew £31 5s for attending 27 meetings during the past 12 months, and two others received £19 10s each. The outcome of the discussion was that it was decided, " That a return be prepared showing the distance each member lived from the nearest railway or other means of conveyance, and the cost of such conveyance to Auckland." The Sydney-Melbourne express train now leaves Sydney at 7.15 p.m. every morning excepting Saturday, arriving in Melbourne the following day at 12.30. There is no train leaving Sydney for Melbourne on Saturday. The express train from Melbourne leaves that city at 5.15 p m. on every week da}' (Saturdays excepted), reaching Sydney at 10.50 on the next day. On Saturday the express leaves Melbourne at 3.40 p.m., reaching Sydney at 9.5 on the next day. There is no train from Melbourne to Sj'dney on Sundays. These changes will be of interest to passengers from this colony. A meeting of the Taitapu Gold Estates Company, West Wanganui, of which Messrs. G. Beetham and A. H. Turnbull, of Wellington, are directors, was held in London last month. Mr. Roland G. Hill, who was in the chair, in moving the adoption of tho report, pointed out that in the early stages of a company like the Taitapu work is necessarily confined to prospecting and development. Since Mr. Low's return, other important discoveries had been made which tended greatly to enhance the value of the shareholders' property. Mr. George Beetham, one'of the directors, who had recently visited the property, cabled, "I consider it a most valuable property ; the developments of the mine fully justified the expectations which have been formed." All the working arrangements were proceeding as rapidly as possible. The manager anticipated no difficulty in breaking down ore to keep pace with the battery, and the directors were convinced that before many months were passed regular returns of gold would be made. The directors intended, Mr. Hill continued, to form a separate company to take over and work the Golden Ridge mine, and the shareholders would have the first opportunity of taking up the capital when offered. The report and balance-sheet were unanimously adopted without discussion. Mr. H. C. Parkes and Mr. W. A. Low were re-elected directors, and the Hon. J. B. Whyte, of New Zealand, and Mr. Horace "W. Snow were elected additional directors. The delay in the opening of the shooting season resulted in George M'Gavin and William Smith, of Duuedin, being charged at Gore with having in their unlawful possession native game on the 7th April. Counsel for the defence contended that defendants were unaware the game was protected.heing led to that conclusion by a notice circulated by the Otago Acclimatisation Society that the season would open on Ist April. His Worship said that the defendants had resolved to risk the penalty of a breach of the law, though they knew that it was probable the season would not open till the 17th April. Mr. Chisholin, a member of the Otago Acclimatisation Society, is reported to have said, in referring to notices having been issued by the society fixing Ist April, and to persons in remote districts shooting on the faith of that notice, that if " he were in the position of these people he would not care for any communication from anyone, but would shoot at his own risk." When an instigation to break the law comes from such a source it is hardly to be wondered at that thoughtless young men should accept the suggestion and take the risk. Each of the defendants was fined 10s with costs. The Empiro Sash and Door Factory, Man-ners-street West, recently damaged by fire, is again working, and Mr. Compton notifies that prompt attention will be given to orders. Tho No. 1 Co-operativo Building Society of Wellington's next loan appropriation is advortisod in another column. A notice of importance to the members of tho No. 4 Co-operative Building Society of Wellington appears in another column. Mr. W. F. Shortt sells to-night at his mart, Willis-street, as advertised, clothing, &c, and accordeons and fancy goods; also on Monday, furniture, bottled stout, fancy goods, and sundries. The little folks are being specially catered for by Mr. C. Smith, tho Cash Draper, Cubastreet, this week. Mr. Smith has purchased at a large discount 500 coats, pelisses, and dresses, which ho is offering at about half the usual prices, 3s lid to 10s Gd. A special job line of 270 children's millinery hats and bonnets has been seenred by tbo firm, and will be sold at half-price, 2s lid to 4s lid, worth 5s to 10s Oil. Children's mackintoshes, roofers, and other jackets at special cheap prices, at C. Smith's, the Cash Draper, Cubastreet. — Advt.