ENGLISH.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1352, 27 January 1898, Page 33

ENGLISH.

London, January 18. Sir Andrew Clark, Agent-General for Victoria, is pressing the War Office to take Victorian fodder for use in the Soudan campaign. Lieutenant John F. Parry Las been appointed Commander of H.M.S. Dart, surveying vessel on the Australian station. Mr Chamberlain at Liverpool said he * hoped the forthcoming international conference to deal with the abolition of the sugar bounties would prove successful. If it failed countervailing duties would have to be imposed. This would involve serious treaty questions, and interfere with trade. *lt has been decided that a very large grant would have to be made to the West Indian sugar growers to enable them to meet the crisis until the Powers recognised the impolicy of the existing system. In the civil action brought by Mr Jay, a money-lender, to recover several thousand pounds from bir Tatton Sykes, of Sledmere, Yorkshire, on promissory notes alleged to have been signed by Sir Tatton, the jury found that Sir Tatton did not sign the notes, and gave a verdict in hia favour. The documents were impounded. Speaking at Liverpool Mr Chamberlain said closer relations with the Colonies was essential, and Great Britain was prepared to meet the Colonies half way without any assurance of immediate pecuniary gain. Looking to the future the reward would be in the shape of the transformation of Great Britain's position of " splendid isolation " into British alliances. i. London, January 19. The Court of Appeal has given its decision in the case of the Queensland National Bank v. the P. and O. Company. This was an action in which the Bank sought to recover from the defendant company damages for the loss of <£sooo in sovereigns, stolen from the steamer Oceana in transit from Sydney. The Conrt dismissed the defendant's appeal. The directors of the Union Bank of Australia have declared a dividend at the rate of 5 per cent, per annum. London, January 20. Mr Chamberlain, speaking at Liverpool, said, looking into the future, it was impossible that the tima would be long delayed when the many British Colonies would emulate the wealth and populations of the greatest European nations. Sir Michael IKuk- B>aca, Chancellor of the Exchequer, speaking at Bristol, said he expected the financial year to close with a large surplus It was. he added, intended to increase the number of biuejicktis. 'he Government was watching the foieign Powers' naval prolamines, and intended to keep ahead of them. Sir Michael further pointed out that as » consequence of the strike in the engineering grades fully £1,500,000 which the Government proposed to use in strengthening the. Navy* remains unexpended so far. Barry, the English sculler, has issued a . challenge to the world for a race over the Thames champion course. The British Treasury authorities have agreed to pay the cost of the erecting of the colossal bronze equestrian statue, representing "Force,"/bequeathed to the nation by the late Mr G. F.. Watts, E.A. Replying to Lord Onslow's allegation that New Zealand Socialism is undermining good government, Lord Carrington declared that the facts did not justify the statement. Trade, continued His Lordship, was progressing, capital had cheapened, and there was a good surplus shown. Mr Chamberlain declares that after the

speeches made by Mr Campbell-Bannerman and Mr Asquith, the union of the two sec- ( tions of the Unionist Party may be regarded as completed. London, January 22. The by-election for St. Stephen's Green, Dublin, rendered vacant by the election of Mr W. Kenny, Liberal-Unionist, to the Irish Judicial Bench, has resulted in the return of Mr Campbell, a Unionist, who

defeated Count Plunkett, the Nationalist candidate, by 138 votes. When the result was announced, Count Plunkett, in the course of a speech, assarted that unparalleled forgery and frauds had carried the election. He challenged the accuracy of the majority, and expressed his determination to secure a fair trial of strength. [Count Plunkett was defeated at the last general election by Mr Kenny by a majority of f.sß.]' The .Russian Embassador at Constantinople has suggested to the Sultan that he himself should propose Prince George of Greece as Governor of Crete, and that Russia would support the nomination. The Incorporated London Chamber of Mines is raising £ 30,000 for the purpose of the proposed Mining Exhibition of 1899. The probable applications for space are estimated at 120,000 square feet. 'J he Chamber invites the co-operation of the Colonial Governments. ■ A number of New Soxith Wales companies in London are agitating for the holding of a public meeting for the purpose of securing an amendment of the Mining. Acts, especially with regard to security of tenure. A grocer at Pontypridd has been fined .£5 for selling Irish butter containing •9 per cent, of boraoic acid. London, January 23 Mr D. P. Barton, who was recently appointed Solicitor-General for Ireland, in succession to Mr Kenny, has '- been reelected for Mid-Armagh. The new Central London Underground Railway Company has ordered 32 electric locomotives from a New York firm. Delegates representing members of friendly societies have asked for a prohibition against the compulsory insurance of workmen in recentlyrestablished employees' benefit societies. . ~r The Earl and Countess of Dysart have sailed for Australia. Mr Gladstone is weak in health and much depressed, owing to chronic facial neuralgia. y