THE COLONIES AND COMMERCIAL TREATIES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXVII, Issue 3, 5 January 1891, Page 2

THE COLONIES AND COMMERCIAL TREATIES.

RAILWAY STRIKES AND LABOR. POSTAL CONFERENCE. FIRE IN NEW YORK. A FATAL COLLIERY EXPLOSION. London, January 3. The Right Hon. G. J. Goschen, Chancellor of Exchequer, has promised the AgentGeneral to give a steady attention to the Trust Funds Investment Bill, which was shelved the previous session owing to his not having sufficient time to consider its provisions. The Departmental Committee of Board of Trade will examine the various AgentsGeneral on 23rd inst. as to whether their respective Governments wish to participate m the renewal of European treaties with Great Britain. Commander Boyle has been offered the command of H.M. new screw cruiser Blonde, which is being equipped for Australian waters. Although the directors of the Scotch railways companies as3ert that the strike is nearly over, the Caledonian Company is still a thousand men short of their usual compliment owing to the demand of the labor party. 100,000 tons of shipping is laid up m English ports. The German Government is desirous of an exchange of direct mails and postcards by British packets with Australia, and wishes to commence the system immediately. Mr Raikes Postmaster-General considers it would bs better for Germany to make the arrangements after the Postal Conference to be held m Vienna m May, and also to arrange for tbe revision oi pastal rates with the Italian and French Governments. January 4. Three hundred Postal and Savings Bank clerk 3 m London have been suspended owing to their refusal to work overtime. Vienna, January 3. The Austrian Government has invitee the Australian Colonies and Figi to appoint delegates for the Postal conference which opens here on May 20. New Yobk, January 3. At midnight a firo broke out m Hermann's Theatre situated m Fifth Avenue, and before the flames were extinguished the building was gutted. The damage is estimated at half a million dollars. Pabiß, January 3. It is officially announced that a French conversion loan of 869,000,000 francs will be issued on tbe 10th inst. The minimum is fixed at 90-95. Behlin, January A. By an explosion m Wilegeck collieryi Silesia, 13 miners wcie killed outright, and thirty others are entombed.