ENGLISH.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1202, 15 March 1895, Page 34

ENGLISH.

London, March. 6. In the Liberator Building Society eases, counsel stated that the House and Land Investment Company had, in 1892, published a balance-sheet which showed that the assets were <£2,400,000, whereas they were really half a million, while the debts exceeded the assets by <£1,600,000. Lord Rosebery is slowly recovering from the influenza. The Chancellor has issued the Order-in-Council protecting New Zealand estates from death duty. The Colonial Office authorities state that a similar order will be issued in respect of the other colonies when the Australian Governments apply and make the necessary legislative alteration. It is announced that the North German Lloyd Company intend to run a line of steamers between Manchester and Australia.

London, March 8. In the House of Commons, Earl Gray stated that when the Imperial Government learnt that the United States Government had withheld the sum of 425,000 dollars in connection with the Behring Sea fishery award, Sir Julian Pauncefote was instructed to make urgent .demands for the payment of the sum. The American Government was willing to pay the amount, but found it an impossible task until the Senate meets in December.

The subject is creating a good deal of excitement in Canada.

The imports for February decreased in value by £5,850,000, and the exports by . £1,700,000. In the House of Commons the Australian Customs Bill was read a second time without opposition. The Daily Chronicle gives currency to a rumour that the Government intend to abandon Cyprus, the military vote for which is to be reduced to £IOO. The Bank of Australasia declares a dividend of 6 per cent, and carries forward £IO,OOO. The Newfoundland Government has refused to accept the conditions which Lord Ripon laid down before he would agree to England guaranteeing a loan to that country. A Royal Commission will be appointed to enquire into the affairs of the colony. The Times estimates that the proposed additions to the Navy will cost a total sum of nearly 20 millions sterling. Sir Chas. Dillce, addressing the Colonial Institute, considered that whether the Pacific cable pay or not, it would be a wise expense in the interest of the defence of the Empire. At the annual dinner of the Colonial Institute, Lord Jersey, the President, congratulated Australasia on Lord Brassey’s appointment to the Governorship of Victoria, which he considered would be a great gain to the cause of a united empire. Lord Brassey would bring to his duties an amount of. earnestness, knowledge and kindly interest which few inen could. He would find his reward in the generous

. nature of the Australians. Adverting to the recent cricket matches, he said he regarded these tours as cementing the Empire. He thanked Lord Ripon for bringing forward the Customs Bill, which was a proof that Great Britain was willing to meet the wishes of the colonies. It seemed hard though that British goods should be treated by the colonies as foreign. Sir Charles Dilke advocated a British cable to the Cape, India and Australia. Lord Brassey, in proposing the toast of “ The Navy,” said the colonies had done all that could be expected towards the defence of the Empire. London, March 9. The Imperial League is being formed to arrange a system of mutual trade relations between Great Britain and the colonies. Sir J. Lubbock, Sir Charles Tapper, Sir W. B. Perceval, the Duke of Devonshire, and the Marquis of Lome support the proposal. In the House of Commons the Chancellor said that Great Britain would continue

to hold Cyprus, though it was considered a useless and squalid possession.

News from British Guiana states that the Venezuela authorities arrested a number of British police on the frontier, about which there is a dispute, but afterwards released them. More recently they expelled the French and Belgian Ministers because they advised the Powers to impose a mixed foreign tribunal on the republic. A plasterer residing at Tooting, suffering from influenza, cut the throats of his wife and seven children. Several cases of suicide induced by influenza are reported. London, March 10. Canada and the Cape are negotiating for complete freetrade with one another. The House of Commons, without a division, adopted a motion by Mr Provand, member for Blackfriars, in favour of a direct assessment on the enhanced value of urban land arising from increase of population and wealth. Mr Shaw-Lefevre, President of the Local Government Board, said the Government would endeavour to ascertain the remedy for the present state of things, as it was undoubtedly an injustice to place the burden of local taxation on the occupiers. The Pall Mall Gazette says it has been decided to proceed at law against some of the promoters of the Australia Gold Mining Company, which was lately denounced as a swindle.

Sir Edward Grey, Under-Secretary to the Foreign Office, in replying in the House of Commons to a complaint as to the increase of slavery, declared that the British principle was not to meddle with purely domestic slavery in protectorates, and that the Government would only liberate slaves in the event of their being found in transit over the mainland or by sea. The Bishop of London and others condemn the action taken up by the Government. London, March 12. The Moderates and Progressives in the London County Council have effected a compromise. Each will elect four aldermen, leaving the ninth to arbitration. The choice lies between the Duke of Norfolk and Sir John Hutton (the present.chairman). The Moderates nominate the Duke for the Chairmanship, and the Progressives Mr Arthur Arnold. Sir W. V. Harcourt, Chancellor of the Exchequer, will deliver the Budget Speech after Easter. Messrs A. J. Mundella, ex-President of the Board of Trade, and Mr G. J. ShawLefevre, President of the Local Government Board, are mentioned as candidates for the Speakership of the House of Commons. The Daily News favours Mr L. H. Courtney, who was Chairman of Committees from 1885 to 1892. Mr Speaker Peel will resign at Easter. The Australian Customs Bill has passed the House of Commons. St. John’s, March 9. Newfoundland delegates proceed to Ottawa shortly to arrange for union with the Dominion. St. John’s, March 11. Six of the largest merchant firms in St. John’s have been forced to close, the banks refusing to accept any compromise. The action of the banks is bitterly resented in the czdony.