BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 999, 24 April 1891, Page 30

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

{PER PRESS ASSOCIATION'.) London, April 15. It is considered that if India abolishes the exportation cf opium she will impose cotton duties. The motion carried in the House of Commons condemning the opium traffic is causing great dismay in India. Earl Kimberley, who was Secretary for India under the last Gladstone Administration, will take the leadership of the Liberal Party in the House cE Lords until the elections, in place of the late Earl Granville. Influenza is spreading throughout England. Sir John Pender refuses to make any alteration in the cable rates to New Zealand and Queensland. Barry Sullivan, the well-known tragedian, is in a critical state of health, and no hopes are held out of his recovery. The Katoomba, one of the Australian cruisers, sails on Friday for her preliminary cruise. Obituary —Mr G. Greene, M.P. for Stowmarket. Mr Bottomley, managing director of the Anglo-Australian Printing and Publishing Union, has been' condemned in LIOO damages for libelling the editor of the Paper Record because he attacked the Union. Max O'Rell has signed a contract with Mr R. S. Smythe to lecture in Australia. London, April 16. The Governmeot Gazette notifies that Lieutenant Guthrie, of the Fife Artillery, has been attached to the staff of Lord Onslow, Governor of New Zealand. Influenza is raging in Hull, and the death rate is 46 per thousand. London, April 17. Obituary—Mr J. B. Warner. The Daily Chronicle states that a syndicate is arranging to start and manage the threatres in Melbourne and Sydney. Influenza is spreading through Liucolnshire. London, April 17. The guarantors cf Barings’ estate have asked 15 per cent, for underwriting the losses. H. M. Stanley’s share of the profits of his American lecturing tour is L 22,000. He denies that he will return to Africa on an exploring tour after his visit to Australia in September. London, April 18. Excellent results are reported from Paris of a new treatment for tuberculosis. The patient passes several hours daily in a metallic chamber into which is forced compressed air saturated with creosote and eucalyptol. Edinburgh University has conferred the degree of D.D. upon the Rev. J. G. Paton, Presbyterian Missionary in New Hebrides. An alarming outbreak of hydrophobia is reported from the Counties of Wexford, Carlow, and Kilkenny. 4 large number of dog 3, cab horses, donkeys, and cows which had become affected have been destroyed. The Directors of the New Zealand Antimony Company have decided to reconstruct the Company. Mr H. H. Gibbs, of Anthony Gibbs and Sons, has been returned unopposed for the City of London seat in the House of Commons, vacated by the death of Mr T. C. Baring. London, April 20. Sir James F. Stephens, who recently retired from the Bench, has been created a Baronet. The receipts of the Salvation Army have receded to LBOOO for the quarter ending March 31st, and the falling off General Booth attributes to the amount subscribed for his colonial emigration scheme. South Australian 4 per cents have declined 1 per cent. Colonial stocks generally are weak. Lord Randolph Churchill sails on his expedition to Mashonaland on Friday. An action in which Miss Gertrude Ellis, actress, claimed from Mr W. H. Hulbert the sum of LIO,OOO as damages for breach of promise of marriage was heard to day. In his defence Mr Hulbert denied having made the promise, and successfully proved an alibi. He also alleged that the case w r as a deliberate attempt to levy blackmail. The jury returned a verdict for the defendant. The Boers propose to absorb the territory bounded by the Limpopo on the south, Mabellano on the west, the Zambesi on the north, and the Portuguese country on the east. London, April 21. The British, German, and French Go • vernments refuse to recognise the closing of the Chilian ports. General Booth is appealing for funds in aid of the Army proper. St Petersburg, April 15. Jews are being treated with increasing severity, and are being expelled from the provinces wholesale. St. Petersburg, April 16. The Czarina is seriously ill. St. Petersburg, April 17. Polish emigrants have been refused permission to cross the Russian frontier. St Petersburg, April 18. The report that the Czarina i 3 ill has not been confirmed. Berlin, April 15. Germany is endeavouring to arrange commercial treaties with Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, and Austria, so as to

bring about the formation of a Customs coalition against France. , Influenza is very prevalent in certain parts, and is evidently spreading. An Italian loan of L 20,000,000 is being arranged in this city. Berlin, April 16. A Socialist named Sclimalfeld defeated Prince Bismarck in the election of a member to represent Gustemunde in the Reichstag. A second ballot, however, will have to be made. Berlin, April 17.

Bismarck heads the poll for Gustomunde by a large majority on the second ballot.

Berlin, April 18. At the second poll for Gustemunde Prince Bismarck, though securing a large majority, did not obtain the requisite majority of votes, and another ballot is therefore essential.

Berlin, April 20. The further ballot for the Gustemunde election, rendered necessary by Prince Bismarck not securing a majority of votes on the second ballot, will be taken on the 30tli inst.

Belgrade, April 15. Queen Natalie, who has been ordered to leave Servia during the minority of her son, Alexander, the present King, states that she will not quit the country unless she is compelled by force to do so. London, April 16. It is believed that Germany suspends the duties on cereals in August, and that France is likely to follow a similar course. Sofia, April 17. It is reported that ex King Milan intends to he married again to a Parisian lady. Paris, April 18. The executors of the late Prince Napoleon have asked permission of the French Government to bury him at Ajaccio, the capital of Corsica, where Napoleon I. was born. The French Government has refused to allow the remains of the late Prince Napoleon to be buried at Ajaccio. Paris, April 20. Madame Boulanger has instituted divorce proceedings against her husband, General Boulanger, who is now residing in Brussels. Belgrade, April 18. The rumour that ex-King Milan proposed to marry a Parisian lady is denied. Paris, April 20. Two members of the English House of Commons, along with forty other persons, have been arrested at certain baths in Paris and detained on a charge of a grave character. Washington, April 15. President Harrison has accepted the resignation of Mr Huston as Secretary of the Treasury, and Mr Hebeker has been appointed in his stead. Washington, April 20. In addressing Congress President Harrison said the United States were not content to allow European Powers to absorb the commerce of the South American Republics, and intimated that the treaty recently entered into with the Brazilian Government would shortly be followed by similar ones with other republics. The Government, he announced, intended to grant contracts to mail ships, and had determined that the American navy be made the best in the world. He hoped to see an early completion of the Nicaragua Canal. New York, April 20. News has been received that the barque Mary S. Ames, which left Auckland for this port on January 21st, had been ashore on the South American coast. She floated off, and a survey at Pernambuco proving that the vessel had sustained no damage, she proceeded on her voyage.