BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Otago Witness, Issue 1581, 11 March 1882, Page 10

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

(Rkoter's Special.)

London, Mt,'- C h Ist. _ Consols remain at 100g. Now Zealand securities are unchanged at the following quotations -.—Five per cent. 1040 loan, 105 ; 5 per cent. 1889 loan, 104; 4£ per cent. 1879-1904 loan, 100. Adelaide wheat (ex warehouse), 545 ; New Zealand do, 50s. Adelaide flour (ex warehouse), 408. Australian tallow— best beef, 40s; best mutton, 40s. At the wool sale to-day 11,800 bales wero catalogued. A firm and active demand was again experienced. It has transpired that the Select Committm of the House of Lords has written to Mr Forster, Chief Secretary for Ireland, expressing its willingness not to inquire into the judicial effects of the Land Act. The Government have had the communication under consideration, but have decided that the proposed limitation of the investigations of the Committee is made to meet the views of the Cabinet. March 2nd.

Mr Forster, Irish Secretary, is now visiting the disturbed districts in Ireland to personally inquire into the state of the country, Mr Bradlaugh, who was expelled from the House of Commons on the 21st ult., was to-day re-elected for Northampton over Mr Corbett. Contrary to expectation the election passed off quietly, and no rioting occurred.

March 3rd.

A sculling match has been arranged between Tricket and Hanlon for £500 a side, to take place on the usual Thames course on Monday, Ist May. Consols and New Zealand loans are without quotable change. The breadstuffs market is declining. New Zealand wheat, ex warehouse, had fallen to 495 ; and Adelaide flour, ex warehouse, to 395. Adelaide wheat, ex warehouse, remains at 545. The total quantity of wheat afloat for Great Britain is 3,800,000 quarters (sic). The market for Australian tallow has a downward tendency. Best mutton has declined to 455. Best beef remains at 40s. The total stock of tallow in London, on Ist inst., was 3100 casks.

At the wool sale to-day, 9900 bales were offered. The tone of the market was firm. New South Wales fleeces (crossbred) now rule Jd higher than at the close of last auction. March 4th'; The persons who were recently arrested on a charge of stealing the body of the late Earl of Crawford have been released, owing to the want of evidence against them. An attempt was made yesterday by Mr Simons and Colonel Brine to cross the English Channel in a balloon. When they had got some distance out to sea the balloon descended, and, after floating for some time, it and, its occupants were picked up by a passing vessel and brought to Dover. The statement which was recently current to the effect that Prince Bismarck Had demanded of the Russian Government an explanation of the speech of General Skobeleff >to the_ Servian students in Paris is now'authoritatively denied, ' ■ At the wool auction to-day 10,600 bales were offered, and the tone of the market continued

A debate took place in the House of ' Commons last night on the subject of the Jewish atrocities in Russia. It arose on a motion introduced by Baron de Worms; Conservative member for Greenwich, which' demands that the English Government ' should remonstrate with Russia against the persecution of the Jewish race in that country. Mr Gladstone opposed the motion, stating that any action on the part of England beyond mere' friendly counsel to the Russian Government could have no good effect, but would, on the contrary, only tend to harm the cause of the oppressed Jews. The discussion lasted some time, and the motion was finally withdrawn.

March 6th. j

Consols remain at 100|. The market rate of discount has declined to 4£ per cent. The bank rate is 5. • '" i New Zealand securities are unchanged at the following quotations: — 5 per cent. 10-40 loan, 105 ; 4£ per cent. 1889 loan, 104 ; 4& per cent. 1879-1904 loan, 100. Adelaide wheat, ex store, remains at 545 ; and New Zealand do at 495.

Adelaide flour, ex warehouse, has further declined Is, and is now quoted at 38s. Australian tallow — best beef, 40s ; best mutton, 455. Australian leather— best sides are quoted at lid.

At the wool sale to-day 10,000 bales were offered, making a total of 55,600 catalogued since the opening of the present series. Tho bidding was animated. Information is to hand from Brussels to the effect that the police have arrested a party of men in that city who are charged with being concerned in the robbery of diamonds and other valuables from the Hatton||Garden Postoffice, London, in November last. The mails per Orient steamship Lusitania, which left Melbourne on January 26th, were delivered to-day. In both Houses of Parliament this evening addresses to the Queen were passed expressing gratification at her Majesty's escape from the recent attempt upon her life, Mr W. E. Forster, Chief Secretary for Ireland, addressed a meeting at Tullamore, King's County, to-day. In the course of his speech he reproached Irishmen for yielding to the terrorism which had been prevailing, and added that Government were determined that neither landlords nor tenants should mar the effectiveness of the Irish Land Act. Mr Forster further announced that- the imprisoned suspects would be released when the outrages which still 2»'evailed should have ceased.

Vienna, March 6th'.> Prince Milan 11, of Servia, has assumed tlte title of King. The Royal proclamation was issued to-day, and was received with great'rejoicing.

Ran Francisco, March 6th. > The Chinese Exclusion Bill now before the United States Senate is generally approved of throughout California, and monster meetings are being organised in this city and other towns in the State for the purpose of preparing petitions to Congress in support of the measure and to agitate in other ways in favour of its becoming law.

Constantinople, March Ist. The Porte has sent a note to the Russian Government informing it that the Powers will adjudicate upon its claims to the Roumelian tribute to Turkey towards the payment of the war indemnity. Ottawa (Canada), February Sir Henry Parkes has arrived in this city, and is the guest of the Marquis of Lome.,

Washington, March 6th. Most disastrous floods have occurred in Arkansas and adjoining States in the South owing to the overflow of the Mississippi andjts tributaries, An enormous extent of country was flooded and thousands of. homeq haye

been devastated, and great loss of life and atock resulted. It is estimated that fully 60,000 persons have been rendered destitute, and that in the State of Arkansas alone 20,000 head of cattle have been drowned.

The United States Senate is now discussing a bill for the total exclusion of Chinese from America.