SUMMARY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6491, 10 April 1908, Page 1

SUMMARY.

Mr Asquith, who was summoned by King Edward on tho resignation of Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman. had an hour’s interview with his Majesty at Bairritz. It is officially announced that he has been appointed Prime Minister, and also first Lord of the Treasury. His resignation of tho position of Chancellor of tho Exchequer has ■ been accepted. It appears that -tho British Government had intended to conceal Stir H. C. Biuinerraan’s resignation, so as to bo able to make the necessary changes during tho Easter recess. A public announcement and the loss of ten days' Parliamentary work were necessitated by premature revelations. A paper advocating tho general adoption of the .Natal Alien Exclusion Act was read at, a meeting in London by Mr Bichard Jobb. Tho Bight Hon. Alfred Lyttelton uttered a warning as to what might happen if all the races of India united against the Western nations. He doubted whether Groat Britain would bo ablo to support her colonics indefinitely in ‘a policy of Asiatic exclusion. In a letter to “The Times,” Mr Lyttelton said lie intended to convey a doubt, not whether tho self-govormng colonies specially, but whether the Western world could permanently maintain a position of monopoly in the West and equal and free competition in the East. Lord Lansdowne in a speech declared that the Government’s Bills were tainted .with tho spirit of vindictiveness, and were opposed' to the general 'well-being. British imports for March decreased by .{15,625,663 compared with the s-me month. last year. Exports showed a falling-off amounting to .61,823,610, and ro-exports declined by £2,115.000. Lawlessness is increasing in Ireland, and farmers are patrolling nightly to protect their stockThe Brisbane Grammar School won the Prince of W r ales’ Cup in the Schools of Empire Competition. The ratification of the arbitration treaty between the United States and Groat Britain is assured by a favourable report made to the Senate by its Foreign Relations Committee. The treaty has a currency of two years, and has provisions like that between the United States and Franco, with two important additions. The more important one is that Great Britain reserves the right to consult the Government of any. self-governing Dominion before concluding any agreement affecting its interests. The steamer Star of Japan, which was on route for Australian and New Zealand ports, is reported to be badly stranded on a 1-eef off Dakar, in -French Sene gal.’ The crew is safe. It i« estimated that- a quarter of, a million i« at stake. ■During tho election riots at Lisbon six persons were killed outright and four died soon,after. As'it. had got beyond Government con-trol,-the Finnish Diet has been dissolved.Fresh elections will be held : n July.

The remain's of Emanuel Swedenborg have;been removed from Stepney to » Swedish island in the Baltic. The; American Senate has adopted the Army Bill, which involves an increase of twenty; million dollars.

A Fortification Bill, providing for an expenditure of twelve million dolliira, lias also boon passed ! • Chinese merchants at Hongkong have instructed agents in Japan not to place (Orders 'for Japanese goods. Ah - energetic attempt to reduce the consumption of opium is being made by the Chinese Government. .

A, rigorous prohibition has been issued against the ‘use of the drug in colleges, schools and the army,

.The rest of. the'Begays castaways have arrived nt Sydney. • Captain Bishop declared that the einkihg'of his steamer was a mystery which would remain!'unsolved. , Chihf Engineer McGubbin said tnere were. '. peculiar circumstances, which ,he preferred not to mention until the proper time. ’

It is believed that a stowaway on the steamer'perished.

Playing iat Melbourne, the New Zealand bowlers Were defeated by Victoria by 121 to 95.

The .funeral of- Mr David ~ Thomas, vho accompanied the New Zealand team takes place tp-day., , , . ’ Wreaths have been sent by the Viciorians and New Zealanders. Serious drought continues in the Riverina and other parts of New South Wales. Heavy losses of stock are anticipated unless 'rain lalls soon.

Manning, who murdered his wife at Bendigo on February 9th, has been sentenced to death.

The Now, Zealand Rugby professional footballers who recently visited Britain leached Sydney on the return journey yesterday.

. -The Wellington city tramways show a net,profit for. the year of JSS6B, Th , fi ,7 Velli!lstoD City Council passed a resolution last evening that land should be acquired for 'workers’ - horned. The City Council will place .£IOOO 0 n the coming year s estimates for the dcve opment of the Zoo and to. pay the salary of a curator. -

Nothing fresh has occurred in connection with the Blackball strike. It .is stated that Mr Tregear seht a long telegram to' the union on March ltat . the ™«n should dtr^for.^f n !v, ter fo “ t ? rTo n© with the +w tho .privately, and stating that very easy terms would h« given for the payment of the fine. The executive refused to allow the teleT gram to be read Ht a meeting of the union, so a copy was obtained from Mr ,*T* of the men wh“had heard it had boen mnt.

i °f the visit to 4uckboeri fixed! 6 Amcncan fleet taa not yel

A South Canterbury farmer hUs been triTl™™” the Supreme Court fo ho^e°by%hSg, 0f W, ‘ fuUy kil,i "« 8 The magistrate at Auckland dismissed tho charge of criminal asshnlt on a young woman brought against the chief officer of tho Naviia.