BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 995, 27 March 1891, Page 31

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

(PER PRESS. ASSOCIATION.) ■ . - f London, Marcli 18. , 'The forecast of the Colonising Committee’s report, recently telegraphed; was an accurate one. The Committee now report that while the hulk of colonial opinion is to State-assisted emigration, it is not expedient to recommend it. They would not, however, oppose any scheme in that direction if the individual colonies interested concurred. The Financial News states that the firm of Messrs Cristobal de Murrieta and Co., South. American and Spanish merchants, of Old Broad street, has been Converted into a joint st ;, ck company, frith d coital pf jtira millions and a Million, in debentures; . ... Dr Magee was to-day enthroned as Archbishop of York. London, March 19.

The Times says that the action of the United States Legislature in prohibiting the export of gold bars is the first step towards the abandonment of the gold standard. The postal agreement between France and England signed in August last has been issued. It will not apply to the Colonies unless they desire to take advantage of it within the year. The death is announced of Dr David Hean, who was sent from London by tho titeCtdrs of the Bank of New Zealand to utj&iatia lo exainiiie into the affairs of IHe.B&nk. ... • The Australian auxiliary squadron, will, Assemble at Spitlieatd about the April for the purpose of in'aking trial tjups ilnd testing their torpedo equipment: At thb-sarhe time , the fres'sels will be inspected by the Colonial authorities find the Admiralty. ■ The Court of Appeal has directed the release of Mrs Jackson, who v> as abducted by her husband last week. The Judges described the husband’s conduct as cruel and brutal.

The Government of the Argentine Republic has admitted its inability to remit the interest now due on two of its loans. New South Wales is inviting holders of L 1,982,800 worth of 5 per cent, debentures which fall due in July and January nest to convert them into an equal amount of pet cents, pati passu, existing March and September debentures to be surrendered before the Ist of June, the interest being payable till date of maturity. . , LditbojiT, March 20. The Crown mines, New Zealand, are being reconstructed With a capital of L 75,000. , The election for the vacancy for Astor Manor, caused by the death of Mi G. Kynockj took place to-day. Mr Hutchinson, the Conservative candidate, was rethrned, pollihg 5310, against 2332 by Mr Beale, the Home Rule nominee. i ■: London, March 21. H."M. Stanley proposes to make an extended lecturing tour in Australia, and sails for tbe colonies in October next. The first series will be delivered in Melbourne. London, March 22. A second trial of tbe torpedo gunboat, the Karrakatta, destined for Australia, was a greater failure than the first, and she has been ordered to undergo a thorough overhaul. The Right Hon G. J. Goschen declines to pledge himself to introduce legislation on the investment of trust funds this session. London, March 23. The Times says that the Bengalese are favourable to the terms of the Age of Consent Act. London, March 24. Mr F. O. Licht, the sugar expert, estimates that the campaign will show a surplus of 50,000 tons. The beet production for six months gives an increase of 23,000 tons. Sir J. Lubbock urges an enquiry by a Parliamentary committee before tbe issue of one-pound notes is sanctioned. An impression prevails that the boilers of all the Australian cruisers exhibit similar weakness to the Karrakatta’s, and are unable to stand a forced draught. New York, March 19. The clothing warehouses of Bleecker and Greenstreets in this city have been destroyed by fire. The Lss is estimated at 2,000,000 dollars. Washington, March 20. The President threatens to close American ports against German imports-un-less the embargo on American pork is removed. Washington. March 22. The Bank of Philadelphia has failed for 2,000,000 dollars. Three thousand cases of influenza are reported from Pittsburg, and several deaths have occurred. Revelations have been made showing the existence of white slavery in the wilds of Virginia. The victims are chiefly Bohemians. Washington, March 23. Tho United States Government has submitted the terms of a treaty with Hawaii, which provides for absolute free trade between the two countries. The Queen of Hawaii thinks that tbe Hawaiian Government must reject the treaty unless the bounty on Hawaiian sugar is allowed. Mr J. E. Blaine, Secretary for State, believes that- the Queen of Hawaii is anxious to cultivate reciprocal relations with Great Britain.

Berlin, March 2s. The QermWh expedition up* the Berne Itifer,' Wesl Africa, lias returned! to fhe Cani’eroons; having lost 100, men. The .National Liberal’. JPatti# has declared for Prince Bismarck. Berlin, March 22: A rumour afloat of a scandal in political circles. It is reported the Emperor allowed Von Boetticher, Secretary of State for the Interior, to draw L1T,500 from the Guelph Fund tff *§liev© himself from financial difficulties. Berlin, March 2?. The Emperor’s animosity towards Prince Bismarck is increasing, and he avoids the Fredericksruhe route when visiting Kiel. The German corvette Carola has returned after a cruise of five years abroad, principally on the China Station. Her officers were accorded a hearty welcome Oil their return. lb id ifiM.asserted that it Was the late Eniperof Williiiffi, the present Emperor,' who a&sisted! ..Vp'ff Bo’elticher out of his financial difficulties,' ana that the money was taken from the privy purse and not the Guelph Fund. Rome, March 20. Prince Napoleon’s will excludes his son, Prince Victor. The late Prince Napoleon’s will appoints his youngest son, Prince Louis, to the succession. The Bonopartists, however, recognise the eldest son, Prince Victor. Rome, March 22. After throe days’ debate, the Chamber of Deputies lias passed a vote of confidfe'ncS iff tbe Rudini Ministry by 254 to m, . .. . ... pAkisf March 20.AhaYcliisfs' are fdtii oiire'd to ,be',.preparing by violence to oppose M; Ferry presiding at the Republican! Association dihnei'. Several arrests' have bpert made, ih&tiding,Deputies Granger and Roche. The French Government intend to prosecute the Directors' of the Society Depots Comptes Courantes. Paris, Match 22. The Czar has bestowed the cordon of the Order of Sfc. Andrew on President Caruot. Paris, March 23. The European Co.urts recognise Prince Victor as head of the Napoleons. Gibraltar, March 20. The captain of the steamer Utopia has been arrested on a charge of manslaughter, and admitted to bail. Divers wlio have searched, the wreck discovered a hundred corpses packed in masses. Tbe unfortunate people had evidently been fighting to reach the hatchways When the water rushed in and silenced their straggles; SPECIAL. London, March 18. Counsel for tho defendants in the libel action brought by Colonel Sir W. Cumming deny that a compromise has been effected, aiid state that the cases will be defended to the end. Speaking at Hastings, Mr Gladstone declared that the Government had presented a fictitious surplus in the Budget. He commented favourably on the foreign policy adopted by Lord Salisbury. London, March 20. The Cumming case has been marked urgent for Monday. London, March 24. Colonel North, of nitrate fame, is speculating in Tasmanian, silver shares. The Court of Appeal has decided that, shipowners are liable for thefts by stevedores and their employes. Belgrade, March 21. It is considered that ex-King Milan has developed symptoms of insanity. M. Garaschannie, who was accused by Milan with complicity in the murder of two women, has challenged his accuser to fight a duel, Washington, March 21. Tho United States Government threaten to impose a tax on German sugar unless tho German Government agrees to a tnodification of duty on American pork. Perrin, a Detroit millionare, has been kidnapped, and a ransom of thirty thousand'dollars is demanded for his release. “ Buenos Ayres, March 20. General Mitre has arrived, and has been nominated, to the Presidency. Buenos Ayres, March 23. Banking and currency leforms are projected in the Argentine. The Government guarantee the Provincial Bank till April. Montreal, March 20. A syndicate has been formed here to run steamers from Belle Isle to Ireland in three days. Rome, March 22. The Pope has ordered an enquiry into Prince Napoleon’s death-bed confession. The Queen has departed for Grasse, near Cannes, in the south of France. Lisbon, March 21. The Houbs of Commons has voted a loan of ten million pounds on the security of the tobacco monopoly. Servia and Bulgaria are disagreeing about tbe delimitation of tbeir frontiers.