ENGLISH.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1261, 30 April 1896, Page 36

ENGLISH.

London, April 21. Mr Balfour, First Lord of the Treasury, in reply to a question, said it was impossible to force the metric system of money, weights and measures on the people of England.

The Admiralty is recruiting 2000 stokers for the new ships coming o*l the stocks. London, April 22.

Tho P. and 0. Company’s debentures were subscribed two-fold, and allotted to those tenderers over 118.

President Cleveland, in declining an invitation from Birmingham to attend tho celebration of tho birthday of Shakespeare, said he hoped an ennobling sentiment and a high destiny were awaiting tho concerted action of the English-speaking peoples, and that this destiny would never lose its potency. Tho Orient S.S. Company’s balancesheet shows a profit of .£12,058. A dividend has been declared of os per share, and tho Company carries forward £398.

Tho Colonial Institute has decided to memorialise tho Chancellor of the Exchequer, requesting him to abolish tho system of charging double income tax — both in Groat Britain and tho colonics — on tho ground that it restricts investment.

London, April 25. Sir Lyon Playfair and the Marquis of Lome, who wore the judges to decide the best scheme of Imperial Customs union, for which the Statist offered a prize of 1000 guineas, have given their award, dividing tho prize between Messrs W. G. Colmcr, of Kensington, and Ralph Ashstone, of Kent. The British Medical Journal has refused the advertisement of tho Hon T. Playford, Agent-General for South Australia, calling for doctors for the Adelaide Hospital.

The paper, in an article on the subject, reiterates its warnings as to the acceptance of tho vacant posts, further declaring that the Government telegram unfairly states tho situation.

Mr Playford, in a letter to tho Journal, says there are no serious grounds why doctors should not accept the positions. Cardinal Vaughan and the Koman Catholic Bishops generally approve tho Voluntary Schools Bill, but complain that tho Catholic schools are penalised. They urge that tho grants should be increased. Owing to tho prevalence of small-pox in Gloucester business is paralysed. London, April 2G.

Tho Globe is responsible for a statement that a European in tho confidence of a Chinese statesman asserts that Mongolia (tho largo tract of country beyond tho Great Wall), Manchuria (tho province abutting upon tho Russian sea-board territory), and Shing-king (comprising tho Liau-tong Peninsula, on which Port Arthur is situated, and the country at its base), will lie ceded to Russia on condition that China is protected against all enemies. Two of the sons of tho Ameer of Afghanistan— Habibulla Khan, tho eldest, and Nasrullah Khan, who visited England last year—have been decorated with the Order of K.C.M.G.

Mr Donald Smith succeeds Sir Charles Tupper as High Commissioner for Canada in London.

Tho Queen has created a new order of knighthood, to be known as the Royal Victorian Order.

Western Australia is issuing a loan of £750,000 at 3 per cent., with a minimum of 90. Tenders will be opened on 4th May. Graham, of tho Australian cricket team, is suffering from rheumatism, and Trumblo from a cold. Jones slipped and injured his arm oil tho way to England.