GENERAL NEWS.

Hastings Standard, Issue 405, 21 August 1897, Page 3

GENERAL NEWS.

(Per Press Association. —Copyriyht.) London, August 20. A detachment of the New South Wales mounted rifles was entertained at Birmingham by the local volunteers. Colonel Lasseter said that the Right Hon. J. Chamberlain was engaged in a scheme for bringing the British and Colonial troops still closer together. It was intended on the earliest possible occasion to despatch a contingent of British troops to Australia on a return visit. Arrangements have been made for a company of the Berkshire Regiment, stationed at Halifax, in Canada, to interchange with the company of Canadian infantry stationed at Fredricton, with the objeefc of obtaining military uniformity within the Empire. Paris, August 20. The prosecution is proceeding of M. Mackan, President of the Charity Bazaar committee, and two kinematographe employes, on charges of culpable neglect in connection with the late terrible bazaar fire, when a large number of people lost their lives. France has proposed to enter into a reciprocal commercial treaty with America. Bkcssels, August 19. The Belgica, which left a few days ago on an Antarctic expedition, has put into Ostend with her machinery damaged. August 20. King Leopold inspected the Belgica at Ostend, and wished the expedition success. Washington, August 20. The Hon. John Sherman, in a friendly despatch to the Japanese Government, gives an assurance that in the treaty entered into between the United States and Hawaii Japan's interests will be fully-safeguarded. Brisbane, August 20. Obituary —Sir Charles Lilley. On the advice of the German Consul in Sydney, in consequence of the weakness of the evidence Whitman, the man arrested as the supposed tierman absconder May, has been leleased. Sydney, August 20. The Eddy memorial fund has reached £I7OO. The increased demand for Australian timber has led to the formation of an influential English syndicate, which proposes to lease all timber rights on Crown lands in the northern river districts, the most important timber area in the colony.