ENGLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 1382, 25 May 1878, Page 4

ENGLAND.

The Russian language has been introduced as a subject for examination in the British army. •It is intended to present Major-General Sir James Alexander with a public testimonial, in recognition of hia services in connection with the bringing home or. the Cleopatra Needle. An important fipld of coal has been struck by the Sheepbridge Coal and Iron Company, on the property of Earl Bathurst, at Nether Langwith. ■ Coal was fouud at a depth of 538 yards. At a meeting recently held in the Lambeth Baths, a resolution was passed in the interest of the masous on strike, protesting against the New Law Courts being turned into a common lodging and boarding establishment for the foreign masons.

The first of a series of six lectures, under the auspices of the Working Men's Club and Institute Union, entitled "Science made Easy," was delivered on Saturday evening, the 2nd March, at the City of London College, Leadenhall street, the hall of which was crowded with working men.

The dockyard at Chatham just now presents a spectacle never before witnessed in its history as a naval establishment, there being no fewer than fiva large armour-plated ships, all of the most powerlul character, for both offensive and defensive purposes, now in the dockyard basins, being prepared for sea, in addition to which a sixth equally formidable ironclad ship is on the building Blip, being rapidly constructed. The operative masons at Rothesay came out on strike on the 4th March against a reduction of wages They had been paid at rate of 9Jd per hour, but Jd was taken off at' the commencement of February. The masters intimated a reduction of another id now, and another to take effect after the 16th instant, and against this the men have struck ; and at a meeting held they unanimously agreed to hold out.