ENGLISH.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 850, 15 June 1888, Page 25

ENGLISH.

(per press association.) London, June 6. The Australian shippers have not adopted the Committee’s report, as they consider that the concessions offered by the shipping rmg are valueless. .London, June 7. Three thousand five hundred bales of wool have been Bold since May, at a slight advance on closing rates. A strong section of the Tories and Unionists are urging Government to withdraw the Licensing Bill. London. June 7, The bank rate of discount is per cent. '} he Chairman of the Peninsular and Oriental Company states that the Company has sustained losses in traffic outside of the Australian trade. In the House of Commous, a motion ■for the repeal of tbo Contagious Diseases and Cantonment Act in India was agreed to on the voices. Ic is probable that proceedings will shortly bo taken against the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul’s Cathedral to compel the removal of the reredos recently erected at a cost of £30,000, on the ground that it savors of idolatry. It is reported in railway circles that the Chief Commissioner for the New South Wales Railway Board has virtually been selected. The total quantity of wheat afloat for Great Britain is 1,012,000 quarters, for the Continent 568,000 quarters. The American visible wheat and flour supply is 26,500,000 bushels. The Secretary to the Chinese Legation has bad a long interview with the Marquis of Salisbury to-day. The Federation League approves the proposed conference between Canada and Australia. On the motion of Earl Cadogan a committee lias been appointed to report on what reforms could be effected in the House of Lords. Lord Knutsford definitely declines to give his assent to the Victorian Marine Bill, as France protests against the clauses affecting foreign shipping. Lord Knutsford suggests that the present Bill should be withdrawn, audafresh Bill introduced omitting the objectionable clauses, when the Queen’s assent would be given, bir Graham Berry is urging for the Queen’s assent to the present Bill conditionally on Mr Gillies, Premier of Victoria, pledging himself to pass the amending Bill promptly.

London, June 8. Mr E. Stanhope, Secretary of State for War, has ordered the Volunteer force to be brigcded, in order to facilitate the mobilisation of the army in the event of an emergency. Lord Wolseley asserts that a consensus of opinion exists among naval and military authorities that with the facilities now offered by steam, and rail, coupled with the almost defenceless condition of the coast, and the insufficient strengthof the fleet, England might be invaded. The wool lists have closed with the arrivals of 365,000 hales, including 61,000 from the Oape. The number of bales available is 330,000, including 4006 from the Cape. It is expected that merinos will show an advance of five per cent. London, June 9. In consequence of the opposition of a large section of their supporters, the Government have withdrawn the licensing clause in the Local Goyeyn-. meat Bill. 1350 cases pf kauri gum have been sold, at a deoline of ss. It is reported that the Chief Commissioner of the New South Whies Railway Board is to receive £3QQQ, increasing to four, London, June 10, Ghftuary -r- Colonel King-. Harman, M.P. for Isle of Thanet, and Mr S, Jones, member of the Australian Eleven, of rheumatic fever. All the crew of the ship Heury James, which was wrecked by striking on a rook near the Sandwich Islands, have been saved. The five sailors who left in a boat for assistance reached land safely. The s.s. Mariposa, bound for San Francisco, rescued the remainder and landed them at Honolulu. The rock on which the vessel struck is not marked on the chart.

Replying to the Earl of Carnarvon, Lord Knutsford said the Government would not appoint a delegate to represent Great Britain at the Chinese Conference.

At a large meeting of Irish autonomists, Mr John Morley strongly denounced the existing system of government in Ireland, and urged that renewed efforts should be made to carry Mr Gladstone’s scheme. The Austrian war estimates have been submitted. They provide for an expenditure of 98,000,000 of florins, including 9,000,000 for the navy and an extraordinary credit of 23,000,000. Consols are quoted at IOO*. Owing to speculative operations, New Zealand 4 per cent inscribed stock is showing a strong upward tendency. The present quotation iB 98. Australian wheat, ex warehouse, 34s 9d. For cargoes of uew crop on passage 33s 3d is offered, but sellers ask 6d more. Off-coast cargoes have all been sold. Now Zealand wheat, long berried, 34s 3d. New Zealand flour, patent, 22s 6d ; Australian, superfine, 245, ex store. Tallow.—Best mutton, 24,s ; beef, 235. Chilian copper, £B3 per ton. Tin. —- Best Straits, £Bl 5s ; Australian, LBl 10s. Pig iron.—No. 1, best Scotch, f 0.b., 428 9dper ton. Sugar German, 14s 3d ; Java, 15s 6d. The Defence Commission appointed to inquire into the state of the coast defences and armaments includes Lord Hartington (chairman), W. H. Smith, Lord Randolph Churchill, Campbell Bannerman, Major-General Brackenbury, Sir Richard Temple, and Admiral Richards. London, June 11.

H.M.S. Orlando, the new flagship for the Australian Station, sailed today. London, June 11.

TheR.M.S. Ruapehu has arrived, all well, at Plymouth to-day, with her meat iu good condition. Arrived Ship Waitangi, from Auckland (Ist March) ; Famenoth, barque, from Port Chalmers (29tli February) ; Kirkdale, from Bluff Harbor (6bh February) ; Salado, from Lyttelton (6th February) ; ships Canterbury, from Lyttelton (29th February), and Jessie Readmau, from Wellington (Bth March). The steamer Essex, from Sydney for London, has put into Aden with her cargo on fire. London, June 12.

The proposal to introduce farthing bids at the wool sales has been withdrawn pending inquiries which are to be made of the colonial chambers of com: merce as to their views on the subject. JThe International Conference of Foreign and Colonial Missions is now sitting, and has affirmed the necessity of creating Rockhampton (Queensland) a separate diocese. The Lancet urges that great caution should be used in introducing M. Pasteur’s scheme for the extermination of rabbits, alleging that the s.cxil and water would teem with .microbes to such an exteut that a plague, involving destruction to human life, might possibly be the result.

The hop market is firm, and prices have advanced a few shillings. The Times this morning, in an article on the Chinese question, says the recent enactment of the Legislature of New South Wales is absolutely incompatible with the treaties of Nankin and Pekin 5 but whilst this is so, England is prepared to ihdulge the colonists to the last point consistent with national honor and equity. The Bishop of Limerick has directed the clergy of his diocese to strictly enforce the recent Papal rescript.

SPECIAL, (PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.) 1 London, June 7. The Lord Mayor of London has invited the Agents-General to a coronation banquet to be held PA the 2&th instant. The Bj&hep of' Lincoln has been accused of Ritualism. I Lord Wolseley combated the statement of Lord G. F. Hamilton, that the English Channel rendered England safe from her enemies, and stated that the shipping at present in French ports was-sufficient to land 100,00.0 troops in England. The French hanks are supporting the copper syndicate to the extent of in order to enable them to hold 100,000 tons. The Financial News continues to make violent attacks on the condition of New Zealand. The Gamora, bound from Newcastle to London, has been posted at Lloyd’s as overdue. London, June 7. The motion of Earl Cadogan provides for creating life peers, and expelling the black sheep from the

right to sit,-and enabling the peers to divest themselves of the right to a seat. London, June 8. In discussing the Chinese question, the Earl of Carnarvon spoke in the most friendly manner oi Australia, saying that if lie were an Australian he would never allow his country to become a receptacle for Mongolians. The Government have purchased from Mr John Watkin the exclusive right of an invention known as the position finder, which automatically traces the course of a vessel so that, from the indications registered by the instrument, guns may he brought to bear accurately on her from forts. It is understood that Mr Wa'kin has received L25,t)00 for his patent rights. At the centenary of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls, celebrated yesterday, the Prince of Wales presided, and L 50,000 were subscribed in the 100 m toward the funds of the institution.

London, June 10,

Lord Wolseley has expressed an opinion that a cyclists’ corps will soon become an integral part of every army. The steam cruiser Medea, six guns, 2SOO tons, 9000 h p., has been launched at Chatham. It is expected she will prove the swiftest, English cruiser afloat.

The Government have agreed to a convention for the neutrality of the Suez Canal.

Three hundred members of Parliament visited Portsmouth at the invitation of Lord Charles Beresford, and inspected the warships lying there, including those in course of construction.

Obituary—Sir Francis Doyle, poet, aefcat 78.

Canada is floating a four million loan, at 3 per cent., the minimum being 92J.