ENGLISH.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1222, 2 August 1895, Page 34

ENGLISH.

London, July 24. The balance-sheet of the Union Bank of Australia shows a profit of =£51,592. The deposits amount to <£17,055,964 ; public securities and cash items to £5,224,034 ; advances, bills receivable and discounted, to £15,669,067. The report of the directors states that a careful investigation has been made of the bank’s business, and although a more hopeful feeling exists with regard to colonial affairs, they have deemed it necessary to make large reserves for doubtful dependencies. Reports from Shanghai state that Japan demands an addition of £7,500,000 to the indemnity for withdrawing from the Liaotong Peninsula. The Timas states that the Japanese have delayed arranging with the Chinese the terms of the commercial treaty until the elections are completed, in the hope of securing British support against Russia. At a meeting at Edinburgh of the debenture - holders in the Australian Deposit and Mortgage Company the proposed scheme of rearrangement was favourable received. A committee was appointed to consider details and the meeting adjourned for a fortnight. London, July 25. Joshua’s Boomerang Brandy has been awarded a gold medal at Amsterdam. Oscar Wilde has been made bankrupt at the instance of the Marquis of Queensberry, who claims £6OO, costs of the libel action. Japan has requested China to pay the indemnity in London. This is regarded as an indication that Japan proposes to give large orders for war material in England. London, July 26. Japan intends to spend eight millions sterling on the construction of ironclads in England. Mr Joseph Chamberlain writes to a correspondent that his chief object in accepting the position of Secretary of State for the Colonies was to endeavour to devise a scheme to bring the colonies and the Mother Country closer together. The Appeal Court has confirmed the decision of Mr Justice Mathew, of the Queen’s Bench Division, in the case of the steamer Maori King, that the bill of lading did not exempt the shipowner’s from liability in the event of the break-down of a vessel’s refrigerating machinery. The London message of June 12th, referring to the declaration of a dividend of 15s in the estate of the Bank of Adelaide, should have read “Bank of South Australia,” the name of the Bank having been altered in transmission.

The capital of the Colonial Produce Distribution Company has been oversubscribed, and .£385,000 was offered for j 6100,000 4£ per cent, debentures, and J 8185,000 for 6 per cenb. cumulative preference shares.

London, July 27,

Nelson Bros., reviewing the year's butter trade, state that supplies for the provinces are insufficient, though the quality is highly esteemed. The new company, they say, intend to increase the supply and endeavour to secure a lasting foothold in Manchester and Liverpool, where direct trade is necessary. They recommend shipments to Great Britain throughout the entire year on a larger scale and declare that the average prices will amply compensate for any probable losses in May and June. London, July 29. Leonard Harper leaves for Now Zealand in custody on August Bth. At the hearing of the case counsel for the prosecution stated that the accused was anxious to return.

London, July 27,

In commenting on the New South Wales election, the Advertiser says that owing to ita all-powerful rampant democracy, that colony is fast approaching a condition of affairs when the possession of property will be treated as a crime, as the Labour Party virtually controls the Legislative Assembly. July 28.

The Kaiser arrives in England on Saturday. He will visit the Lake district, and afterwards attend a review at Aldershot.

Herr Neumayer, of Hamburg, will read a paper at the Geographical Congress tomorrow referring to the nature of the ice cap at the South Pole. He suggests three meridian routes as the best adapted for the purpose of enquiry—either the meridian of gome part of New Zealand, that near Cape Horn, or that of Kerguelen Island. Mr Lane, the promoter of the New Australia venture, writes to the Daily Chronicle that the Cosmo Colony, Paraguay, after some years' struggle, is succeeding. A block of 25,000 acres has been divided into 90 acre sections, which are producing enough for the wants of the settlers, none of whom have withdrawn. The Times says that during the last six months the private deposits in the Bank of Ed gland have increased by .£8,000,000. Great Britain now retains £50,000,000 every year which was formerly employed abroad.

It is reported that prior to leaving office Lord Ripon sanctioned a scheme for federating the Malay States, except Johore, under a Resident-General.

London, July 29. New South Wales stocks have risen i, and those of the other colonies i to f.