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New Zealand Mail, Issue 1200, 1 March 1895, Page 34

CONTINENTAL.

St. Petersburg, February 20. Thirty schoolboys have been drowned at Moscow, through falling into a hole in the frozen river. Vienna, February 21. Twenty persons have been frozen to death in Galicia in two days. St. Petersburg, February 21. The Novosti states that it is satisfied that in view of recent events in the East, Russia will not join the Triple Alliance, knowing that the Powers, after isolating and overthrowing France, would then attack Russia. St. Petersbcjrg, February 22. Serious students' riots took place in the city last night. The disturbances were the outcome of the exclusion of a favourite from a restaurant after a college festival. Many persons were injured, and a large number of arrests have been effected. Stockholm, February 19. King Oscar, in his address at the opening of the Storthing, said the country must spend very large sums of money before the strength of the military would be adequate for proper defence.

Paris, February 23. The Marquis of Dufferin, addressing the British Chamber of Commerce in Paris. 1 said the relations between England and ! France were never more friendly than they were at the present time. There was no reason for anybody to quarrel about Africa, which he considered a doubtful commercial El Dorado. Alarming reports have reached here regarding the fate of Colonel MonteiFs expedition in the Kong district, Africa. Some 300 of the force are said to have been massacred, while the retreat of the survivors is barred. News has been received that the Black Flags captured the French Envoy in Tonquin, killing 13 of the guard. The French, in a later engagement with the pirates, lost 35 men killed and wounded. Berlin, February 23. The Commercial Congress has passed a resolution condemning the motion adopted by the Eeichstag in favour of bi-metallism, adding that it is imperative in the interests of the German nation not to meddle with the currency at present in force. The Budget Committee, despite protests on the part of the Government, reduced the Estimates for keeping the fleet in commission by 800,000 marks. Berlin, February 24. The Budget Committee of the Eeichstag has agreed to a vote of 7,000,000 marks to begin the construction of four new cruisers, but has rejected a similar proposal in regard to torpedo vessels. Madrid, February 25. The Moorish Ambassador at Madrid has signed an agreement with Spain in respect to the questions which have been in dispute between the two countries for some time past.