TOPICAL TITBITS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1217, 28 June 1895, Page 21

TOPICAL TITBITS.

It is reported that the Russian Govern-, ment is devoting .£20,000,000 sterling t the purchase of Suez Canal sharesIt is officially stated that Mr Gladston has withdrawn his pair on the Welsh Church Bill only, and not upon the general policy of the Government. This comprises one more knock for the London Times.

Fines at the Wellington Free Library during the year amounted to <£l7 145.. .The Standing Committee on Trade has decided that the English Factory Acta could not be made to apply to laundries. The committee of the Christchurch Palette Club has requested Mr Walter Leslie, of the Hansard staff, to act as its representative in connection with the Bill to be introduced incorporating a New Zealand art club for the whole Colony. It is reported that a French squadron has been ordered to Beyrout.

There has been a steady demand during the year at the Wellington Free Library for works of science, travel and history. Premier Reid: "The arguments that have been used against my taxation proposals are such as would be ridiculed by an, infant school."

It is rumoured in Washington that Japan may soon interfere actively in the affairs of the Hawaiian Islands, and consequently the Americans are beginning tot take increasing interest in the latea developments in modern gunnery.

The flower trade of London is estimated to amount to d£sooo a day. A dozen lady typists are now provl ed with quarters at the House of Parliament and M.P.'s can have as much typewriting as they please, but at their own expense.^ A street musician in Vienna, for many years regarded as a poor old man, on beingarrested for drunkenness turned out to be a, woman. She confessed having dressed as a, man for 30 years, having found it easier to get an honest living so than in woman's clothing.

At the Russian town of Reni, at the junction of the Pruth and the Danube, a rich find! was made lately of grold coins of the time of Philip of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great. They are in excellent preservation, and 512 of them have already beer* seized by the poliqe and sent to St. Peters.., burg.