ENGLISH.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1204, 29 March 1895, Page 28

ENGLISH.

juondon, maron iy. In the House of Commons Mr Bryce, President of the Board of Trade, said, in reply to a question, that he declined to enter into negotiations with foreign countries with a view to prevent the payment of subsidies where the tariffs injured the colonies. A Bill introduced by the Government to provide temporary out-door relief in Ireland, and at the same time preserve the political rights of those receiving assistance, was read a first time in the House of Commons by a majority of 120 votes. The Times admits that Mr Montague Nelson, chairman of Nelson Bros., has strong claims to be selected as the Conservative candidate for the Warwick and Leamington sea t, which is to be vacated by Mr Speaker Peel, but advises him to retire from the contest in order to avoid a J division in the party. The Duke of Devonshire, the Marquis of Salisbury and Mr Balfour support the candidature of the Speaker’s son, Mr George Peel. The Odessa correspondent of the Times ' telegraphs that the ice - breakers have proved that it is possible to keep" Vladivostock open during the winter, and that a Russian cruiser has entered the port and landed troops and guns as an experiment. London. March 20. In response to the pressure of his colleagues, who feared that his absence would weaken the Cabinet, Mr Campbell-Banner-man has declined to be nominated for the Speakership. It is now doubtful if the new Speaker will be chosen without a contest. The death roll of the influenza epidemic in London during the past week numbers upwards of 350 persons. The Australian Customs Bill has been read a second time in the House of Lords. Speaking on the Australian Customs Bill in the House of Lords, Lord Ripon said it would remove the disabilities which prevented the Australian colonies from entering into reciprocal treaties with Canada and Cape Colony. In the present state of the law, New Zealand alone was permitted to enter into agreements of this nature. It is stated that the capital required by the Komata Reefs Goldmining Company of New Zealand, which was only placed on the market a few days ago, has been subscribed. A dinner given for the purpose of illustrating Tallennan’s system of utilising and boiling joints of beef and mutton for cheap and appetising meals, served hot in private houses, was tried in a London hotel yesterday. The Agents-General, a number of shipowners, squatters, and commercial men, and also Mr Weddel, were present. The Agents-General praised the excellent quality of the dinner, but said there was no hope of their Governments assisting the scheme except by their sympathy. Sir Westby Perceval advised the exercise of caution, as it would not do to pauperise or offend the working men. Although a large capital is required to float the scheme, several private gentlemen have promised to assist in the formation of a syndicate to try the system under Mr Weddel’s direction. Mr Fitz william Wentworth has offered to contribute 5000 sheep and take the payment in shares. London, March 21 The Times says that the section of the Egyptian press which is under French protection is causing grave danger to the peace of the country owing to the frequent assertion that Slatin Bey, who escaped from Omdurman, is an English spy. / The Privy Council has reserved judgment in the New Zealand case of Johnstone v. Oldham. The special correspondent of the Daily News in Armenia telegraphs that the Turks obtained the largest number of victims by forming a relief camp for the purpose, so they said, of feeding those who yielded to the authorities. When a large multitude was thus as-

sembled; squads of soldiers were ordered to kill a few hundred of the unhappywretches every night. This continued for ten days, by which time the gathering was wiped out. Previous to the slaughter immense trenches were dug in readiness to receive the bodies of the victims. London, March 22. Mr William Henry "Wills, Liberal, has been elected to represent Bristol East in the House of Commons, vice Sir Joseph D. "Weston, deceased. He was returned by a majority of 132 over the Independent candidate. £The deceased member Was also a Liberal. ¥he latter Was returned Unopposed at the last general election, in a constituency of iLdGKJ. Mr Wills has won after a contested election by a majdr'ity of ±32 over' the Independent candidate. It id a harrow victory for the Government.] In the House of Commons, Sir E. Grey said the Government declined to interfere in Mataafa's case, as there was every reason to believe the rebel chief was a being well treated. The balance-sheet of the Australian and New Zealand Mortgage Agency Company for the year shows a profit of .£SIOO. A dividend of 5 per cent, is recommended, and .£3OOO carried forward to the next year. , The Hon H. H. Asquith, speaking on the Welsh Church Disestablishment Bill, said the people passionately desired to remove the glaring injustice to the Church and its members. It is understood that the Government will not appoint a member of the House of Commons to succeed the late Sir Eobert Duff. Sir Henry Loch, Governor of Cape Colony, is mentioned as a probable successor

Campbell, an Australian parachutist, made an ascent at Worthing and dropped into the sea, but was rescued by a boat from the shore.

Replying to a question in the House of Commons Sir E. Grey said that the Government would not permit the French to use British territory as a base of their operations against Madagascar. In the House of Commons the resolution moved by Mr Allen, regarding the payment of members, was passed by a majority of 18. Sir W. Vernon Harcourt, Chancellor of the Exchequer, supported the motion, while MrGoschen, Chancellor in the Salisbury Government, opposed it. In the House of Lords the Australian Customs Bill was read a third time. London, March 23. In the House of Lords, Lord Brassey submitted a scheme for increasing the naval reserve seamen to 50,000. ■ Earl Spencer, First Lord of the Admiralty, in reply, said the scheme would be too costly and its success doubtful. At a later period the Government would submit its own scheme. Guilford Tunnel collapsed, and an empty train was buried. A stable and a number of horses on the surface were engulphed. The Scottish newspapers generally favour the proposal of the City of Melbourne Bank to reduce the rate of interest to depositors. Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, speaking on the Welsh Church Disestablishment Bill, said the Australian Governments never touched the grants of land to the Church, which were virtually State endowments, but while the Church in the Australian cities was reasonably well off, in the country districts it was half-starved. The debate on the second reading was adjourned, the statement previously cabled that the motion was carried without division being an error. _".".:" London, March 25. A terrific gale is raging in London and also in the Southern and Midland Counties. Peterboro Cathedral and many provincial been damaged.

Numerous casualties are reported. Sir William Harcourt has stated that ■when the proper time arrives, and the finances permit it, the Government will try to give effect to the resolution just carried by the House of Commons in favour of payment of members. The particulars of a case which is creating some sensation in high circles are published. Mr Whistler, the well-inown artist, challenged Mr George Moore to fight a duel, the latter having acted as intermediary between himsalf and Sir William Eden, Bavt., in a dispute arising out of the price charged for painting Lady Eden's portrait. The French Courts mulcted Whistler in heavy damages in the action in reference to the portrait. Moore did not reply to the challenge, whereupon Whistler denounced him as a runaway. A section of the anti-Parnellites threaten to oppose the Government unless Sir W. V. Harcourt, in his new Budget, removes the extra sixpence per gallon on spirits. The annual report of the London and Australasian Debenture Corporation Board shows that the loss for the year was .£9IOO, after absorbing the reserve. The sum of .£llOO was lost in Greta colliery shares, and .£SOOO in the Anglo-Aus-tralian Investment and Finance Company's debentures. The directors propose to reduce the price of shares to .£4, with £2 paid up, and then divide each into four shares cf £1 each, with 10s paid up. The ship Loch Katrine, 1200 tons, which left Geelong on the 6th December for London, ran ashore in the Thames, and is in a dangerous position. The accident happened owing to the tug becoming disabled through being jambed between the ship and a wharf. The Marquis of Queensberry, who was recently arrested on warrant on a charge of libelling Oscar Wilde, and who was committed for trial, pleaded justification for the alleged libel when the ease game before the higher Court, i

The Recorder directed that a true Mli should be returned.

Messrs Anderson, Anderson and Co., joint managers of the Orient Steam Navigation Company, are a-sking shippers to deposit 20 per cent, on accbu'rit: of the general average of the Oroya's cargo. Many of the shippers refuse to comply, on the ground that the demand ought to have been made in Australia. The Hon Mr Ward is satisfied that the attitude of the City towards New Zealand finance is friendly. Mr Ward addresses the Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, and dines with the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Post-master-General during the week. He has also arranged to see Mr Preece, the wellknown electrician, regarding the plans for a cable vessel.Mr Ward will have an interview with Lord Ripdn on Wednesday. He has arranged to leave for Paris during Easter. He has satisfied himself that an excellent feeling prevails in the city with regard to New Zealand. The storm which has been raging in England destroyed the Hippodrome at Earlscourt.

Several persons have been killed by falling chimneys. Many roads in the Midland Counties are blocked by fallen timber. The gale unroofed warehouses, and otherwise caused considerable damage in Southern England. Six vessels were wrecked, but in the majority of cases the crews reached the shore safely.