BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Otago Witness, Issue 1834, 14 January 1887, Page 9

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

(Reuteb's Telegrams.) .

London, January 5. ' Rear-admiral Henry Fairfax has been apcointed to succeed Admiral Tryon in the Command of the Australian naval station. Consols are £ higher at 100£. Colonial Government securities are - unchanged. There has been a further ■ advance in the nrice of colonial breadstuffs. Adelaide wheat is 6d higher at 395. New Zealand wheat (best qualities) has advanced 6d, and } 3 qoot«d at 38s; lower qualities being la higher — nalnely, at 34b. The reply of the Foreign Office to the circular note issued by the Porte last month urging the powers to come to some understandingon the Bulgarian question and recommencing Prince Nicholas of Mingrelia as succ&^aor to Prince Alexander has been published. The Foreign Secretary, Earl Iddlesleigh, states that' England is unable to recommend the candidature of Prince Nicholas, but is prepared to negotiate with the Powers for the » jfctlement of the Bulgariandifficulty, through the medium of a general conference or by the exchange of views. His Lordship urges that diplomatic negotiations between the Powers should precede the choice of a Prince for Bulgaria.

London, January 6.

The Government promise to reconsider the question of the administration of New Guinea at the earliest possible opportunity.

London, January 7. Colonial breadstnffs are unohanged. The total quantity of wheat afloat for the United Kingdom is 1,970,000 quarters, an increase of 160,000 quarters daring the week. New Zealand mutton, prime quality, is selling at 4£d to if d.

January 9.

The Daily News published an article, denying the statement made by the Standard that Mr Gladstone was inclined to modify his Home Rule for Ireland scheme with a view to conciiate the Unionist Liberals.

At the trial of Mr John Dillon, whioh is now proceeding at Dublin, General Sir Kedvers Bnller and Sir Michael Hicks Beach gave evidence in Bupporfc of the charge of ■jonßpiracy for which defendant is being tried

January 10. In recent communications between England, France, and Turkey regarding the settlement of the Egyptian question, ' the French and Ottoman Governments have been less persistent in their representations re the British evacuation. The reduction in the British forces in Egypt will be commenced in February, and will be concluded before the end of March.

It is announced from Vienna that the relations between Austria and Russia are now daily improving. Prince George of Leuohtenberg, an officer i i the Russian army, is now mentioned as a probable candidate for the throne of Bulgaria ii place of Nicholas of Mingrelia. Mr John Dillon has' entered an action against the Inspector of Police for .malicious prosecution and for assault committed at Longhrea. Damages are laid at £2000. Nkw York, January 5.

A serious railway collision occurred near Tiffin, Ohio, between goods and passenger trains, resulting in the loss of fully 22 lives. Bevoral cars caught lire and 12 passengers were burnt to death. Many others were seriously injured.

Rangoon, January G.

1 Nowh from Upper Burmah reports the continued successes of t ho British force under Sir Frederick Roberts. Several prominent rebel ohiofs have been captured.

(Special to Pbess Association.)

London, January 5. Lord Cairns is leaving for Sydney in the Cuzco.

The French vintage is estimated to yield ."u"l, 000,000 gallons of wine.

The Guardian disbelieves that the reredos to bo placed in tho English Church,* Sydney, is a grievance, and it upholds the action of Bishop Barry in obtaining it. '

Mr Hudson, a wine expert, reporting on the wines produced in New South Wales, states they are of goodbui uneven quality. London, January 6. The Xew Zealand Shipping Company's sioamers will call at Hobart for the future.

The increased deficit of New South Wales is disturbing the minds of investors.

The Marchioness of Queensberry has petitioned for a divorce.

London, January 7. Best New Zealand frozen mutton is selling at 4sd. A Melbourne shipment is realising 4^3, and Sydney M less. Mr Buchanan, "in a letter to The Times, predicts a speedy revival of prosperity in New South Wales.

Forty thousand sovereigns have beon withdrawn for Australia, and move will probably follow. v '

The annual meeting of the Australasian Mortgage and Agency Company, Limited will be held on the 20th inst. The report recommends the declaration of a dividend of 8 per cent, and a bonus of 2 per cent. The reserve fund has been raised to £65,000. The British collection of pictures for the Adelaide Jubilee Exhibition includes 65 large oil paintings, 53 water-colour, and many photographs. The selection has been approved Sir P. Leighton, president of the Koyal Academy, and Sir John Gilbert, president of the Society of Painters in wateroolours.

Westgarth's ciroular expresses the opinion that if the Victorian loan is launched on the market at the present time it will not be received so favourably as the previous loan. Messrs Thomson, Shannon, and Co,, warehousemen, Wellington, offer their creditors \ss in the pound, payable over a period of 20 months. Thu offer will probably be accepted.

London, January 9. The tone of the wheat market is quieter, but lato prices have been steadily mainained. Two Australian cargoes of 3000 and 2000 charters respectively, have been sold at Sis 3d. American shipments are increasing,

and in consequenoe New York prices are weaker. , . Mr J. Buchanan, of .New South Wale 3, is lecturing on the emigration and labour question. In speaking of the unemployed in Sydney he said many were loafers who did not want work, and he contended that there was room in Australia for 100 million people. He referred to the thousands of pounds remitted from New iSouth Wales to England to bring out friends. The principles of fair trade would, he argued, be acceptable to the colonies. Mr iP. J. Norton, of the Trades and Labour Council, Sydney, reproached Mr Buchanan with inconsistency, and he ridiouled the statement that the colonies would accept the principles of fair trade. He stated that the unemployed at present in Australia numbered 40,000,- of whom 6000 were in the vicinity o Sydney. Eight . emigrants who had returned from Australia declaring they were starved in Australia, attempted to address the assemblage, but were refused, and one was ejected from the platform. The meeting broke up in disorder. The Abyssinia will bo the last emigrant ship r to Sydney, and she takes over 100 domestic servants.

The navy and marine pensioners at Portsmouth have been invited by the Imperial Government to volnnteerfor active service.

The Queen's Jubilee will be celebrated in India on February '16.

London, January 10. The Mount LeystonGold Mining Company, Charters Towers, has been registered, with a capital of £150,000.

Tenders for the Brunswick (Victoria) municipal loan of £28,000 at 5 per cent, will be opened on the 20ch inst. The minimum has been fixed at £104.

The conference of colonial statesmen will probably meet at the end of March.

Latest news from Burmah states that the country' has virtually been pacified.

Prir.ce Bismarck's speech on the German army scheme is being anxiously awaited.

Mr Qoschen contests the Exchange Division, Liverpool.