BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Otago Witness, Issue 1866, 26 August 1887, Page 13

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

(REUTEK'S TELEGRAMS.) London, August 18. The drought which has prevailed for some time past has broken up, torrents' of rain having fallen throughout the' country. Yesterday a tremendous thunderstorm was experienced ill Lohdon and many other places.

Lord Rosebery " yesterday addressed a meeting of manufacturers and others at Manchester with a view to promote the Melbourne Exhibition: His Lordship said it was difficult to overrate the advantages which adequate representation would bring to British trade, and expressed a hope that the exhibition would assist in fostering art in the colonies.

In the House of Commons to-day Sir Henry Holland, Secretary of State for the Colonies, replying to a question, stated that British sovereignty would be proclaimed over the territory of New Guinea now under a protectorate as soon as the New Guinea Bill proposed by Queensland and adopted by the conference held in London this year had passed the colonial Legislatures. Sir Henry Holland further stated thai questions relating to pioneer settlers and the trade of New Guinea would be reserved until the sovereignty has been proclaimed, when they would be referred to the Administrator.

In answer to another question, the Secretary for the Colonies said the sanction of the Commons to a contribution for an Australasian naval force was not necessary, but he deprecated any refusal of such a vote, as it would surprise and dissatisfy the colonies.

August 19. In his replies to questions in the House of Commons vi.- ojcuty, (Sir H. Holland stated that the sanction of Parliament to the declaration of British sovereignty over New Guinea was not necessary ; and in reference to the proposed increase of the Australian naval squadron he said the authority of Parliament would be required for the Imperial contribution (not that such was not necessary as previously reported), but, he added, the Government was bound in good faith to uphold the naval scheme for Australia.

August 20. Colonial breadstuffs remain at the following quotations : — Adelaide wheat, ex store, 31s 6d ; New Zealand, 33s to 3(35 ; Adelaide Hour, ex store, 245. The total quantity of wheat afloat for the . United Kingdom is 1,260,000 quarters, and for the Continent 500,000. Australian tallow : Average quality beef is at 235, and mutton 23s (3d.

New Zealand frozen mutton remains at -id for prime quality. Hop crop accounts are now more satisfactory, the recent rains having proved beneficial to fche vines.

August 22. The mails per P. and O. steamship Parramatta (Melbourne, July 13) wore delivered to-day via Brindisi.

In the House of Commons to-day Mr Labouchere asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action the Government had taken relative to French colonists who had been sent to the New Hebrides since the occupation of that group by 'French troops. In reply, Sir James Fergusson said nothing had been done to prevent the subjects of either England or France settling the New Hebrides.

Calcutta, August 22. news from Afghanistan reports that 2000 Ghilzais ha.ye fled from before the Ameer's troops to Pishia, and a largo number of others to Zhob, and have at both places sought British protection. It is believed at Simla that the rebellion against the Ameer has now been completely crushed.

Berlin, August 19. The Emperor William is suffering from severe cold and' rheumatism. •

August 22. An official bulletin has been issued an-

——^^ -• •> - . — ■ I nbunciiig- tn&U tntf "Btxpeio* William is recovering from 1 tihe cold! afid the rheumatic sttfack which 1 he has been stiffening from. Ne\* York,. August' 18, Hanlan ha# sailed for Australia, Before leaving he stated that it was probable he would take up his reKrcteflce in that GounMjr/ (SpeoiaiS to Pjress Association.; London, August 17. The New York Herald 1 ,- *» an' article on the Hawaiian difficulty, points otfS that America regards Honolulu much as England does Malta, and warns England that American rights are paramount there. The House of Assembly at Cape Colony and the Legislative Council at Natal have by large majorities refused to pass votes in did of tlie Imperial Institute. Mt' Gladstone has publicly declared that he is favourable to the construction of the Channel tunnel. In the match against Middlesex, Shrewsbury scored 2f67 runs. Messrs* & Smfflh (Sussex) and L, Docker (Derbyshire), bffib amateurs, have agreed io join Shaw's cridket team. An unsuccessful attempt hila freerr made to' destroy by dynamite the raihVay" teJdge 4 adr'OSS 1 tfte river Foyle, at Lifford, Countj Donegal. The Standard urges the formation of a Unionist-Liberal and Conservative Ministry.

The American Government halve, seized four British vessels on the coast of Alas&a.

The New Zealand Antimony Company has' been registered. In his speech at Manchester, Lord Rosebery Specially dwelt on the fondness of Australian's for art; an<2 declared that a manifestation 1 61" British goodwill and fellowship would result fn incalculable good in the present and ifflfflessuxable benefit in the 1 f utiire, The Messageries Company's new contract expires in 1903\ The Crown Prince of Germany 18 fStaffermg from a cold.

Mr H. M. Stanley reports that be arrived at Yambuya on June 19, all well.

August 18. A despatch fee'eiveef by the French Foreign Office from 1 ZJa'toibuf states that Mr H. M. Stanley has beefl ffeSef ted by his escort of natives and murdered It is thought the report is merely an echo oi £hfi forged rumour of his death circulated a short time ago.

The wheat market is quiet. New Zealand off-coast cargo has been sold at 29s 9d.

Mr Gladstone has written a letter in which he states that the election of Mr Brunner, Home Ruler, for the Norwich division of Cheshire is an evidence that the English people intend to concede Home Rule to Ireland.

A fatal accident is reported from Scarborough. Mr Guy Broome, son of Sir F. Napier Broome, Governor of Western Australia, accompanied by the Rev. Arthur Newcome, were bathing, when both gentlemen got into danger owing to the roughness of the' seft. Mr Broome succeeded in getting ashore safely, but Mr Newcome was drowned.

The P. and O. Company will place their large new steamers at the disposal of the Government in war time for an annual retainer of £3000 each. They will also supply seven other vessels without a retainer. The rains which have fallen have improved the hop crop. August 19. The United Ireland states that promises have been made to landlords of many concessions if they assist in the proposals to adopt Home Rule.

Brightwell and Edwards, who were arranging a sculling match, have been unable to agree to terms.

It has been decided to devote £70,000 of the women's jubilee offering towards improving the provision for nursing women and girls.

Mr Straker, partner in Brown and Co., Newcastle, has guaranteed the money to pay for the completed sections of the Midland railway, Western Australia, and also the capital to proceed with the work.

August 20. The wheat market is dull, and prices in all positions weak. The weather is unsettled. The yield of the English hop crops is above the average.

The eclipse of the sun yesterday clouded the whole of Europe.

Mr H. Matthews has refused to remit the sentences passed on the captain and crew of the ship Lady Douglas for the murder of a seaman on the voyage from Australia. August 21. The Government have decided not to deport the Rev, Shirley Baker from Tonga, but in future to closely watch his actions.

Mr James Higginson, in a letter published in Le Temps, says the New Hebrides was always regarded as a dependency of New Caledonia, and the French elemeni also absorbed English interests since 1882, when French troops saved the European population from being massacred and falling into the hands of cannibals. The English missionaries inculcate hatred and maintain factious agitation with Australia. Sir James Higginson advocates that England should protect Banks and Santa Cruz groups, leaving France to annex the New Hebrides on engaging to cease the deportation of recidivistes to the Pacific.

Lord Loftus, ex-Governor of New South Wales, has been declared a bankrupt.

'Sir R. N. Fowler, Sir W. M'Arthur, and Mr Baden Powell have requested Sir Henry Holland to watch events in Tonga, and, if necessary, to deport the disturbers of the peace.

An off-coast cargo of wheat, per Mountain Laurel, has been sold for 33s 3d. The ship Dumbarton has been ordered to Dublin, 31s 6d being declined for her cargo.

August 22. The Emperor William is recovering from his recent indisposition.

M. Stambuloff has declined to join the Bulgarian Ministry. ■

The P. and O. Steamship Company are arranging excursion trips to Australia on special terms. TJie return saloon fare has been fixed at lOOgs.

The new treaty between China and France secures the latter' nation a fe\? special privileges, ' .