The Lyttelton Times. TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 1898.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIX, Issue 11540, 29 March 1898, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times. TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 1898.

A heavy north-easterly wind was ing during the University boat race, and the river was very rough. Oxford bad .the' advantage of positions!

London quotations for New Zealand i frozen mutton are Canterbury, 3id per lb; Dunedin and Southland, 3fud pbr lb; North Island, 2 ’-J-d per lb. Prime Canterbury lamb is quoted at did per lb. Great storms are being experienced in the English Channel and the North Sea, and there has been considerable loss of life.

A largely-signed petition has been presented to the Governor of West Australia, asking for the early summoning of Parliament to deal with the mining difficulty. _ At the London wool sales competition continues spirited, and prices are firm. James Payn, the novelist, is dead. The German Reichstag has passed the second reading of the Navy Bill. The mails and specie by the P. and 0. steamer China, which wont ashore at Perim, have been saved. There are hopes of saving the vessel if the weather should be favourable.

Yiscount Cross, Lord of the Privy Seal, in a speech, said that a well-directed policy would settle the difficulties with regard to China and the Niger, provided.that Great Britain was prepared to show that she was not afraid of war.

M. Hanotaux, in the course of an interview, said that Great Britain and Prance were willing to mediate between America and Spain. He referred to the Niger difficulty as on the high grade towards an agreement.

British newspapers generally complain of Lord Salisbury's weakness and vacillation with regard to the crisis in China. Influential merchants in London contend that the efforts so far made by Great Britain, with the view of maintaining the independence of China, have failed. They urge the occupation of the island of Chusan and the Eoroloon Peninsula as necessary to safeguard British interests in the valley of the Tang-tse-Kiaug and Hongkong. Russia has agreed that Talienwan shall bo an open port under the superintendence of Russian officials, with a tariff similar to that of the Chinese treaty ports.

It is believed that Russia and China have ageeed to prevent Great Britain from acquiring Weihaiwei, and that Russia undertakes to protect China from the British.

In return for concessions in Corea, Japan will not oppose Russia in the Liatong Peninsula.

The Hongkong Naval Yards are working night and day. The British warships in port are loading coal and ammunition, and preparing to leave for sea immediately. All cargo shipped from London for the East is paying war rates. At the meeting of the City Council last night, it was decided to erect a public morgue on the bank of the river near the Chester Street Fire Brigade Station, but notice of motion to rescind the resolution was given. With regard to the holding of public meetings in Cathedral Square, no action was taken, but a definite expression of opinion was given by the Council, to the effect that the views of the committee appointed to report on the subject had not been faithfully represented by the advertisement published on the subject. The civil and divorce sittings of the Supreme Court were opened yesterday morning before his Honor Mr Justice Denniston. The business was disposed of in less than an hour. Two civil cases were adjourned, and the third, a claim for accounts, referred to the Registrar to report. A decree absolute was granted in the divorce case of Horse v Hurse.