BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 8121, 18 March 1887, Page 5

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

[BP ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH—COPYRIGHT.] [Reuter’s Telegrams.] I Received March. 18, at 1.5 a.m.] THREATENED TROUBLE IN AFGHANISTAN. CALCUTTA, M Alien 16. Fearing complication from internal discord in Afghanistan, the Indian Government intend to station a British observing force on the Pisheen frontier. RE-CALLED. ROME, March 16. General Gene, commander of the Italian forces in Africa, has been re-called. [Special to Press Association,] [Receive! Match 17, at 12.45 p.ra.l LONDON, March 16. The statement recently made that Russia had bought designs from the Chief Draughtsman of the Chatham dockyard has elicited a denial from the Government of that country. The Bight Hon W. ; H. Smith, leader of the House of Commons, stated, in reply to a question, that the site of the Imperial Institute is subject to a mortgage of 46150,000, and that the conditions of occupation had not yet been arranged. The Sportsman and Evening Netcs have both made reference to an assault said to have been committed in a Sydney hotel on Barnes, the English professional, by a well-known Sydney cricketer; The papers have

suspended judgment until further particulars are received.

[Received March 17, at 1 p.m.l The Rev Mr Lees, the new pastor ©f the Scot’s Church, Melbourne, sails by the Austral. The Sight Hon Cecil Saikes states that it shows a want of courtesy to refer postal matters to a select Committee, in view of the approaching meeting of the Imperial Conference. Canada will celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee concurrently with England. It is reported that Government intend to abolish the dual ownership of land in Ireland. [Received March 17, at 12.14 p.m.l It is stated in official circles that the English Government will decline to entertain any proposal for the reinstatement of Ismail as Khedive. BEET-IN, March 16. The festivities in celebration of the ninetieth birthday of the Emperor on March 22 will be attended by eightyfive royal personages from all the European States. It is reported that the Emperor will choose the occasion to proclaim the Crown Prince Coregent. [Received March 17, at 7.13 p.m.] LONDON, March 15. Lord Salisbury will present Mr Downer, of, South Australia, at the drawing-room on Friday, and the Dnchess of Buceleuch will present his wife and niece. Mr Downer intends to raise the deceased wife’s sister question at the Conference. The Australian section of the London Chamber of Commerce has declined to adopt the motions submitted respecting a subvention to a cheap cable service, and the withdrawal of the mail subsidies. Shares in the Federal Insurance Company are being allotted. The Imperial Conference will hold its sittings in the Foreign Office, and if that proves to be too small, in the Colonial Secretary’s Office. t Received March 18. at 12.50 a m.l LONDON. March. 17. Mr Downer has interviewed both the Peninsular and Oriental and the Orient Companies regarding the carriage of Australian mails, and hopes to be able to arrange a compromise. It is probable that the Australian delegates will confer previous to the date fixed for the opening of the Imperial Conference.

Sir Samuel Griffiths, Premier of Queensland, and Mr Alfred Deakin, Chief Secretary of Victoria, arrived here to-day.