ENGLISH.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1321, 24 June 1897, Page 12

ENGLISH.

London, June 16

At a meeting' of the Colonial Institute several colonial visitors were present. Sir George Baden-Powell said the financial relations of the Empire were in a chaotic condition, and were lacking in general system. Sergeant Ross, of the Victorian rifle team, shooting at the Queen's Prize ranges at Bisley, secured twentieth place for the Scottish championship. Chief Justice Way, of South Australia, has been elected a Past Grand Warden of the United Grand Lodge of Freemasons of England. His Honor availed himself of the opportunity of his investment with his new rank j to present to the Prince of Wales the joint address .of congratulations to the Queen from the Masonic Grand Lodges of South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and New Zealand.

The British Admiralty has approved the plans for Petersen and Co/s new fast Atlantic steam service between England and Canada.

Sir Edward Bi addon, Premier'of Tasmania, has protested against the double Income tax to which colonials are subject. He said Britain gained only .£IOB,OOO annually under the system of double taxation.

Mr Bryne, Attorney-General of Queensland, strongly endorsed Sir E. Braddon's views.

The Duke of Devonshire, speaking on technical education at a congress, said the higher commercial 1 education of Britain was seriously behind that of the German realschule (real-school)- -a modern German school of two kinds —or the higher grade schools devoted to the teaching of modern languages and commercial education. The system adopted by these German schools was well worth studying. France, he added, also placed such teaching deservedly high. The New South Wales troops will not compete at the Dublin tournament, owing to their entries being made too late. Queensland's new 3 per cent, loan of ,£1,500,000 has been wall received, and its success is assured.

A Keuter cable from Washington states that Senator Sherman and the Hawaiian delegates have signed a treaty- for the annexation of Hawaii by America.

Japan has protested against the annexation as a breach of the treaty between Japan and Hawaii. i A meeting of the A and B debentureholders and shareholders of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company have adopted a scheme for the readjustment of the capital account. Mr Edward Martin, chairman, said he believed the scheme dealt finally with the position, and few, if any, Australian companies had faced the losses as the New iZealand Loan and Mercantile had done. The Company was now free of all incubus. In the absence of drought he was satisfied the Company would have a prosperous future.

London, June 17.

His y Koyal Highness the Prince of Wales, as Grand Master of the Masonic Grand Lodge of England, has conferred on. Bro. the Eight Bev Dr Riley (Bishop of Perth, Western Australia) the rank of Past Grand Chaplain, and on Bro. John Fenwick (District Grand Secretary under the English Constitution in Queensland) that of °Past Grand Assistant Director of Ceremonies. At a meeting of the Colonial Institute, Mr Grimwade, a member of the Victorian Legislative Council, said Victoria was determined to clear off every penny of her obligations. He believed the colony had seen the end of its troubles. The Lord Mayor of London entertained the Judges of the Supreme Court of Judicature at a banquet at the Mansion House. Chief Justice Way, of South Australia, in responding to one of the toasts, said the colonial Bench would endeavour m some measure to follow the great ideals of the English Judges now that judicial federation •bad been effected. His remarks were renoivflrl with cheeriner.

The Orient Steam Navigation Company is building a vast twin-screw steamer. Mr Kichards, the Sydney City Surveyor, recommends the acceptance of a tender for a six-cell destructor, for the destruction of the Sydney refuse. The proposed system is on the most modern principle and giving complete satisfaction in Encland. London, June 18. Despatches received from the Viceroy state that the prospects in the famine districts m India are growing worse. . The Prince ot Wales has conferred the | rank of Past Grand Chaplain of the United Grand Lodge o£ freemasons of England up n DrKennion, Bishop of Bath and Wells, tormerly Bishop of Adelaide. TIT ~ ~ I A banauet was given by the Westralian presidents in London in honour of Sir John and Lady Forrest. There were some 400 ffU Lord Knutsford, who proposed the toast of the guests, alluded to the great services rendered by Sir John Forrest at the Colonial Conference held in London in 1887. 1 The company sang kl For He s a Jolly Good Follow." , . ~ r WrJohn Forrest, replying, said so far as their finances were concerned the outlook iu IWestraliawas excellent Ho desired to see - a, white Australia untainted by Asiatics. * Among those present at the banquet were ,; Lord Loch, Sir George Turner, Mr Kingston, ~'Mr piayford, Mr Eraser and Bishop ltiley, ot Vir John Forrest, replying to Lord Knufcs-'-ford's toast, expressed hisregret at the death of Sir William Jrtobinson, late Governor ot the colony, who - had been a good friend to Westralia. Ho said Westralia was: interested in Imperial concerns, ; and did not feel she was isolated. The colony was proud to iormpart ot the British I Empire, and share the privileges and respon- . sibinties accruing therefrom He sketched I the progress of the goldfields and other 1 industries. Westralia, he said, was not the ■cause of the present depression \n mining ■ shares, as the gold output was increasing. The colony wanted population and capital. I and was desirous of working hand in hand t with the Lbndb'n investors. The Government

had already modified the Is hour conditions in regard io mining. At the New Zealand Loth and Mercantile Company's meeting, Mr Mar bin said the Board had instituted a full enquiry as to the values i of the company's assets, and it was manifest that they must write off a large sum to bring the assets aad liabilities into equilibrium. The effects of the scheme was to provide for a reduction of .£2,500,000 in the debenture and share capital, which would enable them to write down the assets to thexr estimated bedrock values. The scheme would extinguish nearly .£1.000,000 of the shareholders' liability to the debenture-holders, v/L.i'>h ought to have been met by calls, but this serious seep had been avoided aud capital had 7 oeen found to provide for all actual and contingent losses. The fixed interest henceforwara payable to the debenture-holders would be veil within the earning power of the company-. The possibility of a call had been removed, and the company would be placed on a, sound and substantial footing without the shareholders making any further sacrifice- The Board had thought it much the wises it course to resolutely face the most disagreeable questions. <$ The Queensland Government loan of .£1,500,000 for public wor'ss purposes at 3 per cent, has been successfully ."floated. Tenders were received to thu amount of £5,448,000. , „ It is expected that the average proceeds of ' the loan will be about ?>7. Tenderers at .£96 16s 6d will get 5S per cent. The Queensland loan averaged .£97 Is sd. A violent gale is raging: on the frish bea and- the West Const of Engiand. There has been heavy damage to the shipping, and considerable loss of life. Lord Nelson's old warship Foudroyant is among the vessels wrecked. JjONDON, Juno IS.

MrE. T. Hooley, the millionaire, has made arrangements through the Foreign Office to con.-truct railways in China to cost £8,000,000. The late Lady "Wallace some time ago bequeathed to tbo BritisJi nation Hereford hiou3e, with a famous art collection. The bequest is now valued at £4,000,000. Sir George Turner,, during his visit to Manchester, learn 3d that the Associated Shipowners, commonly known as the " shipping ring," are endeavouring to compel the Lund line of steamships to add five-sixteeuths of a penny per ton to their freight rates on Manchester cargoes. Ho proposes to take steps to checkmate this move-in the next contract for carrying Victorian produce. One syndicate tendered for £2,600,000 of the Queensland loan at <£96 13s. Sir George Turner de' sires the cattlebreeders and owners in Australia to make another effort to export live cattle to England. Ho suggests that 3, systematic experiment he made to overcome the difficulty of the long voyage.