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Oamaru Mail, Volume XXIV, Issue 7492, 15 April 1899, Page 4

Items.

Anti-Ritualistic demonstraiionsafcPefcerborough show no signs of abatement, and a well-known cathedral sidesman came in for some rough treatment at the hands of a crowd outside.

The National Challeage Trophy, won at Bisley last year by the bcottish Twenty, was formally handed over to the Lord Provost of Edinburgh. There was a procession through the principal streets. In response to Mr Balfour's recent appeal for the endowment of medical education and research Sir Frederick Wills, Bart., has forwarded to the treasurer of Gay's Hospital a donation of LSOOO for the medical school.

The Gosport magistrates lately dismissed a police sammons against a doctor who rode a bicycle on the footpath, on the ground that a medical man: called to an urgent case had a legal right to take the shortest way. In has been ascertained that the fatal illness of the Austrian Archduchess Maria Immaculata arose from blood poisoning brought on by the use of black silk stockings which had been dyed with poisonous chemicals.

In connection with the death of Sir Lambert Playfair, it is interesting to recall that, when serving at Aden, he was instrumental in securing for England the possession of Jhe Island of Perim, at the entrance of the Bed Sea.

The Tsung-li-Yamen refuses to admit to Russia that the conditions of the British loan for the Nor them Railway infringe any agreement made with M. PavlofF. but, says The limes correspondent, if China should give way, and agree to alter the conditions, the question intereating'the Chinese is : w ill England then reckon with Russia, who would have induced China when helpless to break 'her contract, or will ehe hold China responsible as in the well-remembered case when fti- Gerard, the French Minister, induced China to break the Kiang-hung agreement and we punished China, as though she had been the sole party to the breach? Russia is even now applying pressure, and China cannot resist menaces from the side of Manchuria without powerful support. Indeed, Lord Salisbury, it is officially stated, has authorised the British Ambsasador to announce to the Tsnng-li-Yamin that our (■overnment will not tolerite its violation of the arrangements under which JL2,800,000 was lent for the railway, and that the British Government will support China against any other Power which is urging it ito violate its treaty engagements. China has rejected the request of Italy f r Sanmun Bay as a coaling station, but Italy, it is said, will take possession all the same. Keep yonr eye od Clayton, Gardiner aid Co.'a advertisemeni^(over"*"the leader, [ hangea often