BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 8148, 20 April 1887, Page 5

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH— COPYHIBUT.] [Bbutbb’s Telegrams.] —, ' 'Arßooafrad April 19, at 12.15 p.m.l COLONIAL DEFENCE. LONDON, April 18. It is now announced that the following decisions were arrived at by the Australian delegates at their meeting, on Friday last to consider the question of Imperial defence. It was resolved to recommend that the Imperial Government should supply three cruisers, two vessels of the Archer type, and two torpedo gunboats, on condition that the existing fleet in Australasian waters is not lessened, and that the Colonies pay the cost of | maintenance, which is estimated at £90,000 per annum on a peace footing, and £160,000 in time of war. England to pay for the extra vessels, and the retiring allowance of officers and men. The Imperial Government will, it is expected, approve of the scheme. , , [ Received April 19, at 12.15 p.m.J WRECK OP A STEAMER. LONDON, - April IS. News is to hand that the -Peninsula and Oriental Company’s steamship Tasmania went ashore on Saturday night on the Monachie rocks, off the coast of Corsica. The women and children have been lauded, but the rest of the passengers, numbering 200,.remain on board. Assistance has been sent to the soeile of the wreck. £ Received April it 2.55 p.m.J SHIPPING. ' LONDON, April 18. Arrived—Orient steamship Potosi, at Plymouth. ' MONETARY AND COMMERCIAL. ’’ LONDON, April 19. Consols remain at 102|. New Zealand securities The 6 per cent 10-40 loan has advanced to 102|, and 4 per cent inscribed'Stock to' 98f, a rise of £l. Colonial breadstuffs and tallow are without quotable change. The woo] sales continues firm. The catalogue for to-day’s auction comprised 12,300 bales. THE MAILS. The Australian mails per Carthage (Melbourne, March 11) were delivered to-day. A DIVIDEND. The Orient Steam Navigation Company have declared a dividend of 5 raT cent. forward and reserve £&oo6i--... THE ’FRISCO MAIL. SAN PEANCI9CO, Amu, 18, Arrived, at noon on Saturday— R.M.S. Mariposa, from Auckland. [Received April 19. at 10.30 p.m.] THE CRIMES BILL. LONDON, April 19. In the Honse of Commons last night, the division was taken on Mr Samuelson’s motion, that the Irish Crimea Bill he rejected. The*motion was defeated by 870 to 269. The Bill was then read a second time without a division being taken. NEW MINISTERS. It is announced that Earl Cadogan, Lord Privy Seal, and Mr C. T. Ritchie, President of the Local Government Board, have joined the Cabinet. (Special to Press Association.] [Eeeeived April 19, at 11.12 a.m.l LONDON, April 18. M. Flonrens, French Minister of Foreign Affairs, opened the Astronomy Congress. The Protection v, Freetrade struggle, which has been carried on in the Swedish Diet, has resulted in a complete victory for the upholders of Freetrade. The Governor of Candabar states that he will be unable to attack the Ghilzais until he has been reinforced. Baron Nordenskjold, who purposes leading the expedition to the Antarctic regions, hopes to start by Christmas. [Received April 19, atuoon.l The financial condition of Bulgaria is becoming more critical. An attempt to float a loan on the European markets, in order to meet the more pressing engagements, entirely failed ; and the Regency is now arranging to mortgage the Rustchuk Railway. In his speech at Edinburgh, the Marquis of Hartington said the time had not yet arrived for a satisfactory solution of the Irish difficulty. He urged that previous to any feasible attempt being made to influence the Irish party or sacrifice the integrity of the Empire, it would be necessary for that party to throw over»their revolutionary principles. The Daily News advocates the establishment of a universal penny postage, Mr Deakin is enquiring into the general mode of working prisons and asylums in this country. The French Press has resumed its furious onslaught on England. The charges comprise quite a variety of -sins against the French nation. (Received April 20, at 1.25 a.m.J LONDON, April 19. The, Daily Telegraph, announces of Messrs Mann and Stogdale, Australian merchants. The liabilities are estimated at £BO,OOO to £IOO,OO, The prospects of a favourable liquidation depend chiefly

upon realising the goods in Melbourne. The Mahdi offers to become tributary to the Sultan provided the Soudan is allowed to remain independent of Egypt. A Russian fleet of fifteen men-of-war is preparing for sea. Mr Parnell, in the House of Commons, declared that the letter published by the Times is a villainous, berefaced forgery. After the second reading of the Crimes Bill was carried, Mr Sexton declared it would be useless to appeal to an English jury. Mr Gladstone predicted that the Act would produce a crop of secret societies, and lead to an increase in crime. A French journalist stabbed Marshal Bazaine in the head, but the wound is not serious. The discussion of the Pacific Islands question by the Conference has been postponed till Monday, at the request of Mr Service. Sir Thomas Gore Browne, formerly Governor of New Zealand, is dead; aged 80.