BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Otago Witness, Issue 1645, 2 June 1883, Page 10

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

[By Electric Telegraph.— Copyright.] (Reuteu's Telegrams.) London, May 23rd. The Homeward mails via Suez and Brindisi, from Melbourne April 12th, were delivered here to-day. Five men who have been arrested at Liverpool with dynamite in their possession were brought up at the Police Court to-day and committed for trial. London, May 24th. In the House of Commons to-day Lord E. Fit/anaurice, j,Under - secretary for Foreign Affairs, stated, in reply to a question, that the resumption of friendly relations with the Mexican Government was impending. Lord Evelyn Audley, Under-secretary for the Colonies, replying to a question regarding the intentions of the Government in view of the recent fighting which occurred between Cetewayo and certain of the Zulu Kingites, announced that the Government would abstain from interference inZululand at this juncture.

The tutal leserve in the Bank ot England has increased by £600,000 during the week, and is now at £10,400,000. The proportion of the reserve to liabilities is 34 per cent., an advance of 3 per cent, as compared with last Thursday. The Bank rate of discount remains at 4 per cent.

New Zealand securities are at the following quotations :—5: — 5 per cent. 10-40 loan, 106 ; "i per cent. 1889 loan, 104 ; 4$ per cent. 1879-1904 loan, 102^ ; 4 per cent, iuscribbd stock, 101£. The market for Colonial breadstuffs has a downward tendency. Adelaide wheat ex store has fallen Is per quarter, and is now quoted at 495 ; New Zealand do, 45s to 48s ; Adelaide flour ex warehouse, 345. Australian tallow is unchanged at 41s for best beef, and 43s for best mutton.

At the wool sales to-day the catalogue comprised 10,000 bales, making a total of 70,100 offered since the opening of the series. The total quantity withdrawn amounted to 5000 bales. Good competition was expe ienced to-day.

M y 25th. Tbe Daily News in a leading ai-uele this morning, announces that it has reason to believe that in the event of the annexation of New Guinea being decided upon it will be undertaken by the Imperial Government, and will not be left to the Colonies,

In the House of Commons last night, Lord E. Fitzmaurice stated, in reply to a question, that the town of Majunga, in Madagascar, had been bombarded by the French gunboats for six hours before it was surrendered by the Ovalis, and that the defenders had suffered heavy loss.

The total quantity of wheat afloat for Great Britain is 2,190,000 quarters, being 50,000 less than the quantity afloat last Fiiday. The tone of the wool sale to-day was much steadier. The quantity offered amounted to 10.3U0 bales. New Zealand wools are decidedly firmer.

Among the Birthday honours announced in the Gazutte to-day are the following appointments and promotions : — Dr Alfred Robert*, of Sydney, to be a Kniffht Bachelor ; Mr G. W. Dcs Vceux, Governor of Fiji ; Mr Aug. Charles Gregory, C.M.G., of Queensland; and the Hon. Wm, Morgan, late Premier ot South Australia — to be Knight Commanders of the Order of St.- Michael and St. Georgp ; Dr Yon Haast, of New Zealand, and Mr Charles Bright, of Melbourne, Companions of the Order of St. Michael and St. George. Intelligence is to hand from Port-au-Prince that tho rebels entrenched themselves at Mariggave, where they recently blew up the bridge with dynamite, and killed 200 Haytian troops. According to the latest reports the rebels' position is being bombarded by the Haytiau artillery.

Telegrams are to hand announcing that an anti Jewish outbieak occurred at Rostoff, in Russia. Many acts of cruelty have been committed, and the houses »f Jesvs plundered atid burnt. The military authorities are, it is stated, powerless to stop the outbreak. May 27th. The steamship British King, irooi JS T ew Zealand, arrived here yesterday. Major Evelyn Baring, vho is about to proceed to Egypt, goes thither as British Minister in succession to Sir E. JYlaiet.

Latest intelligence from China reports that much excitement prevails there in consequence ot the action of the French hiTonquin, and it is believed that a rupture of diplomatic relations between China and France is imminent.

Paris, May 24th. Dispatches from the commandant of the French expedition to Madagascar have been received reporting that he has captured a military post in the Sakalva country, and occupied the custom-house at Majunga, a town, at the mouth of the Ikupa, a river on the north-west coast of the island. The road to Antananarivo, the capital, has been secured by troops, and great excitement prevails among the natives in consequence of 'the attitude ot the French.

May 2Gth. Dispatches to hand from Cochin China report that the French recently made a sortie against Hamoie, the Auamese capital, but were repulsed with considerable loss, Commodore Rhiore, commanding tho French naval force, being killed. The Anamese subsequently surrounded the French fortress at Haip-hong, and aie now besieging it, .Reinforcements are asked for by the French commandant.

St. Petersburg, May 26th. The Czar has issued a manifesto in one of his coronation proclamations announcing a qualified amnesty to the Polish insurgents who took part in tho revolt of 1863, with partial remission of penalties, and arrears of taxation. No mention is made in the manifesto of constitutional reforms.

Caibo, May 26fch. News is to hand from the Soudan announcng the death of Abdel Kedar Pasha, the commandant of the Egyptian expedition against EL Mahdi,

Moscow, May 23rd. The ceremony of blessing the banners to be used in connection with the approaching coronation ol the Czar took place here to-day.