The Lyttelton Times. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1901.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12425, 14 February 1901, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1901.

The Lord Mayor of London has suggested to the King that a committee should be appointed to consider what form the national memorial to the late Queen sho.v.d take. Arrangements have been made for war vessels to escort the Ophir with the Duke and DUchess of York bn board frbm Portsmouth to' Australia.

Lord Rosebery has announced that he has severed his connection with all party organisations. Anti-Jesuit riots have taken place in Madrid and other towns in Spain. Great discontent prevails on account; of the approaching marriage of the Infanta Maria de las Mercedes with Prince Charles of the Neapolitan Royal House. Sir John Forrest has resigned the Premiership of West Australia and Mr Tlirossel, the Minister of Lands, has been entrusted with the formation of a Ministry. Mr Seddon, speaking at the banquet to the Imperial officers in Wellington, said the time was ripe for asking the Imperial authorities to strengthen the Australian Squadron. A heavy gale occurred at Tonga on Jan. 27 and did considerable damage to the fruit crop and shipping. Mr Chamberlain, in a note approving of Sir Alfred Milner’s reply to the resolutions adopted by the Afrikander Bond Congress, has stated that the Imperial Government has no intention to alter its declared policy in South Africa.

'Commandant Sard Eloff and four other Boer prisoners attempted to escape from St Helena in a fishing boat, but failed to secure oars and were arrested.

The Commonwealth Ministry has received a cable message from the Imperial authorities asking to bo allowed to recruit one thousand mounted constabulary for South Africa within Australia.

The Brisbane Government has offered to send more troops to South Africa. The Imperial troops now visiting the colony arrived at Napier last night from. Wellington. Mr M. Murphy has called the attention of the Canterbury A .and P. Association to the fact that the Hessian fly has reappeared in the wheat crops in the H|lastert<m district. Mr Edmund Barton, speaking at Melbourne, promised that legislation would be introduced for the gradual abolition of Asiatic and Kanaka labour from the Commonwealth.

A meeting of sugar manufacturers at Brisbane has protested against Mr Barton’s proposal to abolish coloured labour. The Supreme Court continued ’ its criminal tailing yesterday. The majority of the witnesses who gave evidence before the Federation Commission_ in Dunedin yesterday were opposed to union with the Australian Commonwealth. Arrangements have bean made for a New Zealand team of bowlem to visit England. The players will leave the colony in April. The Anglican General' Synod continued its sitting in Napier yesterday. At a public meeting held at St Albans last evening a committee was appointed to 'take Steps to secure a recreation ground for the borough. The pula match played in Hagloy Park yesterday afternoon between teams representing Victoria and Canterbury resulted in a victory for the visitors by five goals to four. The man Bourns, accused of attempting to murder «• bank clerk at Wavcrley, lias been committed for trial.

The Presbyterian General Assembly .resumed its sitting s-t Wanganui yesterday, and transacted a quantity of rouiine business. Colonel Soherombrucker, a member of the Capo 'Assembly, is raising a corps of loyal German farmers to co-operate with Brabant’s Horse against the, 'Boers. The natives of ‘the 'Leydsdoip district have risen against the Boers in consequence of the cruel ex.ictions of the latter.

Mir Theo. Cooper, of Auckland, has been offered the vacant Judgeship.