BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIX, Issue 11538, 26 March 1898, Page 5

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

OHited'Prww-Aesaciation— By EleotaicfffeJegrapi-^'

Copyright. Received March.2s,9Jsa.m. AFRICAN AFFAIRS

LONDON, MLuschl 24.

The Standard states that France admits that her forces advanced to J Sokoto, in West Africa, butsheofEer®explanations and regrets. HOME RULE. Speaking at Leicester, Mr John Morley said that Home Rule all round was impracticable. If the Irish persisted in their demand, the Liberals would grant a measures embodying provisions for a strictly subordinate Legislature, with increased devolution of local affairs,: in order to satisfy the claims of the Scotch and the Welsh. THE BRITISH PREMIER., Lord Salisbury-8 health has sufficiently improved to permit him to leave for the Continent on Saturday. ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION. Makch 25, The Admiralty decline to assist Antarctic exploration with either ships or officers. They are willing,, however, to lend the necessary seien-; tific instruments.

THE GREEK LOANThe House of Commons has agreed to guarantee the interest on the Greek loan of £6,800,000 jointly with Russia and Prance. Five millions will be issued immediately to provide the indemnity instalment and the revenue deficit. The balance will be employed to convert the floating debt and meet future deficits. AUSTRALIAN ART. The Australian Art Exhibition will open in the Grafton Galleries on April 4. Australian artists resident in Burope will exhibit fifty pictures. JAMES PAYN. James Payn, the novelist, ia dying. STEAMER ASHORE. Lloyd’s agent at Perim telegraphs that the P. and O. steamer China, homeward bound from Australia, is ashore at Azalea Point. [Perim is a small island lying in the Straits of Bab el Mandeb, between the Gulf of Aden and the Eed Sea.] OBITUA RY. _ CALCUTTA, Maech 25. The death is announced of Sholam Hyder Khan, the Governor-General on the Afghan frontier.

ANTI-SEMITIC OUTBREAK. ALGIERS, March 24. An anti-Semitic outbreak has occurred here. A BIG THEFT. BERLIN, March 24, A man named Grunenthal, a retired official of the Imperial Printing Office at Berlin, has been arrested on a charge of stealing bank notes valued at 1,120,000 marks.

DISASTROUS FLOODS. NEW YORK, March 24.

Heavy floods have occurred in Ohio, "Virginia and Pennsylvania. They have stopped the railway traffic, and work in the factories is suspended. Thousands of persons have been rendered homeless, and great damage has been occasioned. SIGNOR CEIBPI CENSURED. ROME, March 24. The Chamber of Deputies, by 207 votes to seven, censured the irregularities of Signor Crispi in connection with the Bank of JSapies scandals, but rejected a motion by the Radicals to impeach or prosecute him.

CRETE. VIEJSNA, March 25. Austria will withdraw her troops and warships from Crete in April.