The Lyttelton Times. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1901.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12426, 15 February 1901, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1901.

An explosion at the Chilworth Gunpowder Works at Guildford killed six workmen.

Over Iwer.ly-iive millions h.vc been subscribed towards the British 3 per cent Exchequer Bond Loan of eleven millions. The average given was 1197 5s 4d. Russia is largely increasing her Pacific fleet. Marconi has succeeded in sending a wireless telegraph message a distance of two hundred mdco.

Fresh disturbances have occurred in Madrid, and the Constitution has been suspended. The King'and Queen will go to Copenhagen in March, after visiting the Empress Frederick and the Kaiser. A plot to assassinate the Czar haa been discovered, and one of the conspirators has committed isuieide. The offer of the Tasmanian Government to send additional,mounted men to South Africa has been accepted, and the West Australian Government has decided to send a Hn-nh Con-

tingent. Lord Kitchener has informed the South Australian Goyernpient that the services of the new Contingents will he one year, or till! the end of the war. The Imperial Troops reached Napier yesterday, and proceeded north in the evening. | The appointment of Mr Them Cooper to the I Supreme Court Bench is meeting with uuivex-. ' sal approval. Thr Chief Justice, who recently ro urned front .he Commonwealth festivities, is suff.r jig 1 I Jt l f 3° l iulnounced..'tha't the tour of-the Duke I and Duchess of York will) extend over six months. A strong protest has been «ent -front.

Melbourne -against -the proposal that -the Boyai party should make Sydney the first port Of call in Australia. Tlj.e Federation Commission continued its sitting in Dunedin yesterday. Again the majority of the witnesses were opposed to union with the Commonwealth. The British Minister at Pekin has informed China that Great Britain cannot recognise the obscure official it is proposed to send to London to congratulate the King on 'his accession. 1 The plague is raging in the Khirghiz Steppes, in Western ’Siberia. The Victorian Government has decided' to grant loans on easy terms to the sufferers from the bush fires. Mr Clement Wragge, the Queensland meteorologist, has returned from his visit to Europe. The summer meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club was commenced at Biccartoh yesterday. The two principal’ events were Von by Mr G. G. Stead. Sir George Turner states that the Federal elections will ho held during the last tveek in ■March. The Anglican General Synod closed its ’session in Napier yesterday. The Primate announced) his intention of going 'Home by the Britannic as chaplain to the troops. Extensive thefts of military stores have heon discovered in Natal. 1 Sir Gordon Sprigg has promised! that th© Government will do its utmost to prevent an epidemic of enteric fever in Oa-pe Colony. ’ In his despatches just " published, Lord Roberts mentions Colonel B-obin, of New Zealand, as having distinguished himself, among other colonial officers. -t Li Bung Chang has informed the Foreign Ministers that the Emperor is directing the. affairs of China alone. Colonel Picquart, who was dismissed from the French army for the independent part_ he played in the Dreyfus affair, has formally withdrawn his appeal for reinstatement.