The Lyttelton Times. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1901.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12428, 18 February 1901, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1901.

The departure of the Duke and (Duchess of York on their tour of the colonies is now fixed for March 16. . . The members of 'the Federation Commission arrived in Christchurch from the south on Saturday evening, and will commence their sittings here this morning. ■Mr A. Morrison, M.'H.R., lias resigned the Chairmanship of the Midland Railway Commission, on account of ill-health. . The death roll in connection with the Sydenham (Nfew South Wales) railway accident has now reached nine. The oa.use of 'the catastrophe is still l unexplained. Thirty Roman Catholic Peers 'have protested against the Prince of Wales's declaration concerning tramsubstantiaiion. A severe gale occurred at Fiji at 'the end ol ■last month. Several vessels were wrecked, but no lives were -lost. , Be Wei, with two thousand men, crossed the Orange River at Zands Drift on Feb. 11, but his advance into Cape Colony appears to have been checked. ~ . , , ~. y_ The ■troopship Cornwall arrived at Albany on Friday, after a fine- passage. &he lost two horses from pneumonia, and two troopers have bean moved into hospital- _ iEstreme cold has been experienced in France, and several people have been frozen to death. ■ . , ,„ , , T!he summer meeting or the. ICaniterbury Jockey Club was concluded at Riccarton on Saturday. The Champion (Plate was. won by Mr Stead's 'Monschikofi. The Imperial Troops reached Auckv&nd on Saturday morning, and were given a most brilliant reception. . . The Empress Frederick is suffering from disease of the kidneys, and dropsy has supervened. . . , . Th« marriage of the Pnncoss of Astunas with Prince Charles was celebrated in. Madrid' on. Friday. The presence of large bodies ol ■troops in >tho citv prevented any disturbance. The Chinese attacked 'the .Russian force beyond 'Sha,n-lM,i-kwan, and 'killed four officers and forty men. Reinforcements arc being sent. The correspondent of the London ""Timee reports that France, Germany and Italy are annexing vahia.ble property- in- 'Pekin. _ The Australian Bushmen did most of the fighting during the march of Lord Methuen's column between Kurumau and the Transvaal border. . • . , The Federal' Cabinet has authorised the issue oif writs for holding the Queensland Federal elections, on March 30. The elections are -likely to take place in- West Australia on the same day and in the other States on March 29. The "Age" declares that the failure of the Victorian 'Government to accept the terms offered by the Eastern 'Extension Company is costing the colony over £50,000 a year. New South Wales and cannot agree to the proposal of the Imperial' authorities to recruit 1000 men within, the Commonwealth for the 'South Africa Constabulary. Queensland sees no objection 1 io the proposal. The Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairsstated in the House of Commons the Powers had been too lenient towards China. It is intended to appoint a committee from both Houses of the British Parliament io enquire into the question of pensions for the widows -and orpbana of soldiers who have lost their lives in -the 'South African war.