BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Otago Witness, Issue 1756, 18 July 1885, Page 10

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

(Reuter's Telegrams.)

London, July 8. In the House of Commons last night Sir Michael Hicks-Beach announced to the House the programme of legislation brought down by the Government, which includes among other things a measure for facilitating the federation of various parts of the Empire.' Mr Gladstone spoke, and announced that the Opposition acquiesced in the proposals of the Government.

An early close of the session is looked forward

to. July 9. At to-day's wool sales 6400 bales were submitted at auction. . Prices were steady, but the demand was not active.

A Royal Commission has been appointed to examine and inquire into the causes of the present depression of trade in -England. In the House of ' Commons to-night Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, Chancellor of the Exchequer, brought down the financial proposals of the new Government. He announced that suspension would be extended to the new sinking fund, and that Treasury bills . to the extent of £4,000,000 had been issued. In other respects he was prepared to adhere to the scheme formulated by Mr Childers in his recent statement when Chancellor. He informed the House that out of the extraordinary vote of £11,000,000, £10,000,000 had already been expended.

The University College, at JAbergstourtch, in Wales, has been completely destroyed by fire. In the House of Commons to-night the Colonial Federation Enabling Bill was read a second time.

The weekly returns of- the Bank of England show the total amount of reserve in notes and bullion to be £17,100,000, a reduction of £300,000 during the week. The proportion of reserve to liabilities is 44 per cent., being 5 per cent, lower than last week.

Wool— The present series of Colonial wool auctions will close to-morrow. The market has been sluggish since the commencement of the sale. 250,000 bales are held over for next sales. Greasy and scoured wools realised £d to Id lower than last sales ;, fine qualities crossbred generally were l^d lower, and low qualities were Id lower.

London, July 11. . The election of a member of Parliament for North Lincolnshire in place of Mr Rowland Winn, who has been elevated to the peerage, took place to-day, and resulted in the return of the Conservative candidate, Mr Atkinson, who defeated Sir Henry Thompson, the Liberal candidate, by a larger majority than that polled by Mr Winn at the last election

The total quantity of wheat afloat for the United Kingdom is 2,350,000 quarters. Prime New Zealand mutton, is. realising an average of 5 Jd to s|d per lb.

m , „ . . London, July 10. The discussion on the Colonial Federation Enabling Bill did not take place when the second reading was moved, but it is reserved until the measure shall have reached the comniittee stage,

Sir R. Herbert, Permanent Under-secretary for the Colonies, has informed the various Colonial Agents-general that the Government intend to move the omission of the proviso allowing any Colony quitting the Federal Union to repeal the Acts referring to itself that may have been passed by the Federal Council during the time that such Colony was a member of the Federal Union.

London, July 13. The Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company's Arawa, from Lyttelton (June 6) arrived at Plymouth yesterday evening. Her cargo of frozen meat is in good condition.

Cairo, July 8. Sir Evelyn Baring, British Minister here, left to-day for London.

Cairo, July 11. Brigadier-general Green, R.E., has proceeded to Assouam on the First Cataract, taking with him half the regiment of the 20th Hussars. General Brackenbury telegraphs a report that the Mahdi is dead, but the rumour is said to lack confirmation.

Madrid, July 12.

The number of cases of cholera reported to the sanitary authorities is on the decrease, and there are hopes that the violence of the epidemic is abating

Washington, July 11.

The monthly returns of the United States Agricultural Bureau just published estimate the coming American wheat crop at 363,000,000 bushels.

Teneriffe, July 10. The New Zealand' Shipping Company's Kaikoura left yesterday for -New Zeajand ports.

(Special to Peess Asso6iation.)

London, July 9.

Four thousand French troops are to be sent to Madagascar, in compliance with the admiral's request for further reinforcements. The Marquis of Salisbury's policy has been favourably commented on by the St. Petersburg and Continental Press.

London, July 9.

The frozen meat from Melbourne by the Orient steamer John Elder is selling at s|d per lb. The meat by the Sorata has arrived in good condition.

The shipment of grapes by the John Elder from Melbourne and Adelaide is bad.

An immense sensation has been caused here by the Pastoral Gazette publishing an article under the guise of a reform of social evils, in consequence of which the paper has been expelled from all clubs and book-stalls. The police are also preventing the sale of the paper containing the offensive article, and the authorities threaten to take proceedings against the proprietor of the Gazette. In retaliation the proprietor of the paper threatens to publish disclosures which would involve Royalty and Cabinet Ministers.

July 11,

It is reported that the New South Wales loan will be placed in the market at a minimum of

The Russian preparations in Asia are causing grave anxiety, and it is feared the difficulty will be resumed in the autumn. The Russian Press claim that Russia is entitled to the territ6ry lying at the foot of the Hindoo-Koosh Mountains in Afghanistan.

The wool sales concluded yesterday. The closing prices range from id to Id below the April closing rates, except for greasy and crossbred sorts, which have recovered slightly. 323,000 bales were catalogued* of which 70,000 were withdrawn.

The wheat market is unchanged, and no business is reported. Forward shipment and offcoast cargoes have been sold at 34s 9d and 35s 3d respectively. The prospect of the Home and Continental harvest is good. Mr Goschen will move for the omission of clause 30 in ths Federation Enabling Bill, and it is understood the Hon. F. Stanley, Secretary of State for the Colonies, will accept the amendment. Lord Derby will urge the retention of the clause, but will not divide the House on the question.

London, July 12. The projected exhibition to be held in Bombay has collapsed.

The German Government have ordered the German station at Bentley Bay, in New Guinea, to be abandoned.

July 13. An Austro-German Zollverein, or commercial league, is projected.

Five leading city financiers have signed a strong protest against the^xcessive borrowing of New South Wales, as over a million of the last loan was unplaced. Mr George Simpson has started for Perth to arrange with the Government of Western Australia for a land grant in aid of a proposed railway between Bunbury and Beverley, on the Albany route.

(Special to tSe Melbourne Age.)

Mr Childers, lately Chancellor of the Exchequer, has been granted a pension of £2000 a year.

A Canadian 4 per cent, loan for £5,000,000 was successfully floated at an average of £101 2s 6d. The minimum was fixed at £99. News hafbeen received that Russian troops on the Afghan frontier are constructing bridges across'the Murghab River. At Penj-deh reinforcements of Russian troops' have also arrived at Sarakhs, a place seized by the Russians some time ago.

The Persians are fortifying their frontier on the Heri Rud River, along the route of the Russian advance

A cannon foundry has been started at Herat A meeting of debenture-holders of the New Agricultural Company (Limited) was lwttd on the 30th June, when they consented to the payment of the debentures coming due being postponed for five years. Assurance has been received from Russia that her intentions are pacific, notwithstanding that she has sent reinforcements to the Afghan frontier. • °

The steamships of the German Lloyds Company intended for the trade between Germany and Australia are expected to sail from Bremen for Sydney within the year. , It is left optional with the company whether the steamers shall call at Bnsbane.

The Chinese authorities are alarmed at the evident designs which Russia has upon Corea and a fleet has been despatched to protect the place.

Russian troops are massing in the vicinity of vladioostock.