(Special to Press Association.)

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

(Special to Press Association.)

London, May 23rd. Six ranks of soldiers and citizen guards lined the route of the Imperial procession iv Moscow, and the Czar rode calmly alone. Dv Macfarren has accepted the proffered honour of knighthood iv connection with tho opening of the Royal Academy of Music. Baron i)e Lesseps, of the Suez Canal Company, requests the English Government to Mipporb the project for obtaining the land required tor the construction of a second canal, promifing in return a, reduction of charges, and increased puweis of control to England. 1 May 24th. The first of the new gunboats building for

the Victorian Government will be launched at Newcastle-ou-Tyne on theCfch of June. < Fifty suspected persons have been arrested in Moscow.

The Times states that Mr Baring really succeeds Lord Dufforin in Egypt. The Right Hon. Mr Foster, in addressing the Aborigines Protection Society, insisted that, if New Guinea was annexed, all hostility towards the natives, and slavery under whatever disguise, should be strictly forbidden.

May 25th. In the House of Lords, Earl Granville, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, expressed regret at the French action with regard to Madagascar.

The Egyptian Minister of the Interior has been dismissed from otfice on the ground of bribery.

Archbishop Croke states that he will obey the mandate of the Pope.

Her Majesty the Queen proceeds to Balmoral to-day. The Amock railway-bridge over the Indus has been opened this morning. The Post says that the Queensland and Fijian planters have a right to defend themselves before an impartial commission from the charges brought against them for misusing black labour.

Her Majesty the Queen distributed the fol lowing honours on her birthday -.—Knights of St. Michael and St. George: G. W. Dcs Vceux, Governor of Fiji ; Wm. Morgan, South Australia. Companions of the Order : Sir C. Lilley, Chief Justice of Queensland ; Dr Julius Yon ffaast, of New Zealand. The Government has refused to comply with the request made by the Colonies to reduce the stamp duty payable on Colonial inscribed stock.

Mackay's labour-recruiting in New Guinea has occasioned a bad impression in political circles.

The British King, from Lyttelton, has arrived at Plymouth, with her cargo of frozen meat in excellent condition. i Archbishop Croke, on his return from Rom«, has met with a grand reception through the South of Ireland.

A shipment of Australian hops has arrived in excellent condition, and is favourably received by the trade.

May 26th. The Government have decided to accept the annexation of Southern New Guinea; and to convert it into a Crown Colony. Signors Zararelli and Baccarini retire from the Italian Cabinet, and Signor Depretis has filled their places with Signors Saverilli and Gerala.

Mr Field, the Dublin juryman who was stabbed, has been awarded £3000 as compensation.

The French forces in Madagascar have occupied all the northern ports, and the warships are reported to be shelling unarmed villages. At the wool sales 91,000 bales have been catalogued, and 7000 withdrawn. Coarse meriuo and crossbred wools continue a halfpenny per pound below the March rates; but the price of sound combing qualities is improving.