BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Otago Witness, Issue 1847, 15 April 1887, Page 9

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

(Rbuteb's Telegrams.) London, April 7. Crowded meetings were held last evening in different parts of the metropolis to protest against the adoption of coercive measures for Ireland. Gatherings were addressed by ■Mr John Morley and other Radical leaders, and resolutions were passed against the Irish Crimes Bill. The death is announced of Colonel Sir William Owen Lanyon, formerly Governor of the Transvaal, aged 45. Adelaide wheat is at 36s 6d. New Zealand wheat —lowest quotations 335, best qualities 37s 6d. Adelaide flour, 255. Australian beef tallow, 23s 6d; mutton tallow, 25s 6d. The weekly returns of the Bank of England show a reserve in notes and bullion of £15,200,000, being £1,500,000 less than last week. The proportion of reserve to liabilities is 46 per cent. The total quantity of wheat afloat for the United Kingdom is 1,800,000 quarters. "The total amount withdrawn from the colonial wool sales is 9000 bales. April 10. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's s.s. Parramatta, from Melbourne (February 28), arrived at Plymouth yesterday. April 11. It is announced that Colonel King Harman has been- appointed Parliamentary Under-secretary for Ireland. The demonstration against the Irish Crimes Bill took place to-day in Hyde Park, fully 100,000 persons being present, but the majority were indifferent to the objects of the demonstration, being merely sightseers. Gatherings of the people were addressed in different places by Mr Herbert Gladstone, Mr Michael Davitt, Mr Sexton, M.P., and Mr Labouchere, M.P. The demonstration was of an orderly character, no police interference being necessary. Afterwards a long procession left the park, and while proceeding down Piccadilly Mr Gladstone made his appearance at a window and was loudly cheered by the people and the processionists. New Yobk, April 10. The Fisheries Union of Gloucester, Massachusetts, having suggested in a communication addressed to the President of the United States that the reprisals law be only partially enforced, President Cleveland replied that reprisals if enforced would be intended to assert the national honour and protect the nation—not particular interests. St. Pktebsbuug, April 12. A man named Gillaits, with bombs in his possession, was arrested on Wednesday last in a street of this city through which the Emperor and Empress were about to pass. Cairo, April 10. intelligence is to hand from Dongola that heavy righting has taken place near there between the friendly Kababish tribe and the Dervishes. The latter suffered severe defeat, and it is expected that they will shortly evacuate Dongola and retire on Khartoum. San Fbancisco, April 10. The Union s.s. Alameda left yesterday afternoon for Auckland. Calcutta, April 7. Intelligence is to hand from Candaharthat the Ghilzaies, who are in revolt against the Ameer, now hold the country in the vicinity of Ghuznee, and thus command the road between Cabul and Candahar. The Ameer, however, is said to be confident that be has sufficient force at his command to suppress the rising. Sir West Ridgeway, chief Afghan boundary commissioner, started to-day for St. Petersburg to negotiate with the Russian Government with regard to the delimitation of the Russo-Afghan frontier. Airil9. News from Afghanistan states that the rebellion in that country is spreading. (Per Merchant Shipping Underwriters' Association). —London, April 10. Armed: Steamer Triumph, from Lyttelton ; steamer Elderslie, from Qamaru. Apr 10. The British representative at Cabul, who has been on a visit to this city, purposes interviewing the Viceroy and returning to his post at Cabul, owing to the disorderly state of Afghanistan. (Special to Press Association.) London, April 6. Prince Alexander of Battenberg refuses to be re-elected unless he is supported by some of the Great Powers. Mr Downer, Premier of South Australia, has accepted the honour of knighthood, and the same honour will probably be offered to the Hon. D. Gillies, Premier of Victoria. Mr Downer returns to Australia in the Paramatta. The Hon. James Lorimei'j Minister of Defence for Victoria, has received a favourable offer for the establishment of a cartridge factory in Viotoria. Fifteen of the 5-inch guns ordered by the Victorian Government are now ready, and will be shipped to Australia next month. The steamship companies ask that an annual subsidy of £85,000 for a term of eight years be granted to them for the carriage of mails to Australia, and that colonial ports should forego light dues andharbour charges. The Canadian Pacific Company offer the Postal Conference a fortnightly service of 34£ days between England and Brisbane, via Vancouver, Honolulu, and Fiji, for a subsidy under £80,000. MrKaraveloff has been released on bail. Twenty Moonlighters have been arrested in County Kerry. t It is reported that England will bombard the Haytian ports unless the Fortugas islands dispute is settled. The directors of the Mount Morgan West Mining Company intend to appeal against the decision of Justice Kay. April 7. The number of bales catalogued at the sales was 137,000, of which 8500 were withdrawn, leaving 110,000 for auction after the Easter holidays. Over half the sales have been for export. The previous firmness

of rates has been sustained, and inferior , merinos have recovered.The wheat market is active, but prices are unchanged. Australian cargoes are quoted from 35s to 365, but buyers offer, 6d less. New Zealand mutton is realising from 4d to 5d per lb ; lambs, from 5d to 7d. April 8. Anxiety is felt that a rebellion in Afghan istan is imminent ; also that an attack will be made by Turkestan on Herat. The whole country is believed to be in a disturbed state. The Russians are manifesting great activity in Central Asia, and the Rtissian press are urging that the present affords a good opportunity for further advances towards India, and with that end in view suggest the immediate occupation of/Herat. Professor John Tyndall, who on Professor Faraday's death succeeded him as superintendent of the Royal Institution of Great Britain, has retired from that position. , A serious" fire broke out in the . Aldershot camp to-day, and despite. the strenuous exertions of the military fire brigades,, the infantry quarter3*were completely destroyed. . The Rimutaka left Plymouth this afternoon for Wellington. April 10. Mr Deakin has declined the honour of knighthood. The captain of the Ada Melmore has been fined £50 for not carrying lights at sea. April 11. Before the arrest of the man Gillaits with bombs, the Czar stopped to receive a petition. The petitioner was also seized on suspicion of being an accomplice. Obituary : Major-general Newdigate. It is reported that the King of Sweden and M. Oscar Dickson, an influential Gottenburg gentleman, are asking M. Nordensjold to organise an Antarctic expedition. Austria has refused to assist at the Paris Exhibition, and it is believed that Germany and Russia will imitate her example. ■»