BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Otago Witness, Issue 1893, 2 March 1888, Page 12

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

(Per Peess Association.) London, February 21,

The frozen meat by the Orient is, selling % 3£d, and that by the Doric at 4^d per lb. The West Australian Land Company' 3 capital of a quarter of a million has been subscribed. Lord Knutsford will decide what steps shall be taken to assist the Wesleyans in Toug a after consulting with Sir C. H. B. Mitchell, the ex-Governor, who is expected to arrive in London in April next en route for the Leeward Islands.

February 23,

Italy, Spain, and Switzerland will not be represented at the Melbourne Exhibition. The Manchester exhibitors are very back ward in their preparations. There will be 300 French exhibitors. M. Berger, the direotor of the Paris Exposition, has had aa unofficial interview with Sir Graham Berry, in which he stated that France does not exhibit at Melbourne unless Victoria will reciprocate and exhibit at Paris. At the annual banquet of the Chamber of Commerce, the Right Hon. Mr Anthony Mundella urged that the manufacturing districts should be largely represented at the Melbourne Exhibition, in order to counteract the foreign display. The' quantity of wheat afloat for the United Kingdom is 1,630,000 quarters, and for the Continent 170,000 quarters. The market rate of discount is 1| per cent. A thousand quarters of Australian wheat have been sold at 30s.

The Rev. Father Kennedy, of Cork, has been sentenced to two months' imprisonment for attending a meeting of a branch of the Land League which had been suppressed. February 24,

Tenders for the Christchurch municipal loan of £25,000 at 5 per cent., with a minimum of 102, were opened to-day. The total amount tendered for was £96,000, the average being £107 2s Bd. The prospectus of the London Produce Clearing House has been issued. The leading financiers are the prime movers in the affair. The capital is £1,000,000. The Standard, in an article referring to the company, expresses the opinion that it is simply established to facilitate gambling in dealings with sugar and coffee.

Sir Henry Holland, who has been raised to the peerage, will take the title of Lord Knutsford (not Lord Whitby as first announced).

It is stated that the United States Government are inclined to interpose in the Venezuelan difficulty.

Lord Aberdeen, who recently made a tour of the Australian colonies and New Zealand, delivered a lecture on the subject of his travels. His lordship referred in highly eulogistic terms to his progress throughout Australia, and prophesied a brilliant future for the colonies. He, however, adversely criticised Australia as a field for emigration.

It is reported that Mr F. Larkworthy, managing director of the Bank of New Zealand here, contemplates retiring from the service of the bank.

The election for the Doncaster seat in the House of Commons vice Mr Walters Shirley, resigned, took place yesterday, and resulted in the return of Mr Fitzwilliam (a Unionist), who defeated Mr Balfour (a Home Euler) ! by 211 votes. New Zealand wheat : Longberry is realising 33s Gd to 345. The highest price quoted for New Zealand butter is il2s, and the lowest 30s. Cheese is quoted at from 34s to 50s. Corrugated iron remains firm at £16 103 per ton. The bill introduced in the House of Coramons by Mr Parnell authorises judges to reduce the rents of tenants or to postpone the time under which payment may be made. It also extends the period of redemption io three months in the case of tenants who may have been evicted. Two 6-in guns recently constructed by Sir William Armstrong for the Victorian Government have passed a successful test, and will be shipped to Melbourne in about five weeks. Mr J. Christopher Flynn, M.P. for Cork North, has been sentenced to three weeks' imprisonment for inciting tenants to refuse payment o£ rents. February 2G. ( Mr Alexander Campbell Mackenzie, King's Scholar at the Royal Academy of Music and a well-known composer, succeeds the late Sir George Alexander Macf arren as President of the Royal Academy of Music. The English wheat market is heavy, the Continental steady, and the American doll. Australian ex warehouse is] at 34s 9d ; New Zealand, 33s 6d. Tallow is steady. Best mutton, 275 ; beef, 24s 6d ; Russian, 255. Hides, 3£d per lb ; leather, extra heavy, lOd. In consequence of continued heavy frosts, the stewards of the Waterloo Coursing Club have been compelled to further postpone the Waterloo Cup meeting. They have to' vited fresh entries, and the draw is no« fixed for Monday. February 27. In the House of Commons Mr Arnold White, M.P., invited Mr Gladstone to say that he condemned the Plan of Campaign Mr Gladstone replied that the Plan of Campaign was perhaps an evil, but it was an evil that had the effect of averting a g^ l6l evil. White wheat is firm, and red 6d dearer Coast cargoes are well forward, but are steadily held. „ ; The Rev. R. Vernon, vice-president of A* Hallows College, Dublin, has visited o» Holiness Pope Leo XIII, and bas w» created Canon of the Church of Rome w ia the title of Monsignor. Monsignor Vernon d* 3 been appointed rector of Manly S em ®Jr{ ! Sydney, founded by his Eminence Cardn»J Moran and just completed at a cost o £80,000. He will leave almost immediate to take up the duties assigned him as W 1 j cipal of the seminary. ..-. ,a ! Mr Cowen, recently appointed ffinS Jj7 conductor at the Melbourne Centennial J» hibition, has expressed a desire to write «" exhibition cantata himself. , i The soope of, the proposed London IW»«

Clearing House will probably include operations in wheat, tallow, and silver. Paris, February 24. ! The Secret Service Bill, contrary to general I gpectations, passed its secend reading in Ike Chamber of Deputies last evening. The jjajority in favour of the second reading of (he bill was, however, a very narrow one, and it was only secured after a threat from the premier (M. Tirard) that the Government ffould resign if the bill was negatived on its second reading. February 25. The Chamber of Deputies has passed a measure directing reprisals to Italy in the event of the Commercial Treaty not being signed by the end of this month. ' jl. Pasteur, who is competing for the valuable reward offered by the New South Wales Government for a remedy for the extermination of rabbits, has decided that should he be successful in securing such regard he will hand it over to the Hydrophobe Institution. Berlin, February 22. Prince Bismarck has submitted a Regency to the Emperor. February 27. The Emperor, Prince Bismarck, and Prince William continue to hold conferences daily on the subject of the Crown Prince's health. The German doctors report that they have D o\v indisputable proof of the presence of a malignant cancer in the throat of the Crown prince. MASSOWAH, February 22. A smart outpost engagement took place at Eaaiti last evening between the Italians and a body of Abyssinians. No casualties are reported at present, but details of the eneacement are not yet to hand. 6 February 26. The Negus, at the head cf a strong army, is now encamped at Godofellsi, a town about |0 miles to the south-east of Asmor. Washington, February 22. The Fisheries Treaty provides for the appointment of a mixed commission for the delimitation of the Canadian and Newfoundland waters. The Republican senators will oppose the ratification of the treaty, chiefly on the ground that a tonnage tax is imposed on American vessels trading in American waters. February 23. President Cleveland, in a message to the Senate on the Fisheries Treaty, said that the settlement arrived at was a just and honourable one. February 24. The Mixed Commission appointed under the Fisheries Treaty recently concluded is to undertake the delimitation of the threemile limit in Canadian and Newfoundland waters which America renounced by tho convention of 1818. The interpretation of certain points in the " remuneration clause " affecting international rights, which has been ! in dispute ever since the convention of 1818 was concluded, will be referred to arbitration. San Remo, February 27. Professor Kussmaul, the Strasburg specialist, arrived here to-day, and has been in close attendance upon the Crown Prince since the hour of his arrival. It is understood that the considers the Crown Prince to be in an extremely serious condition. German doctors, with the assistance of the microscope, have discovered cancerous matter in the expectoration from the throat of the Crown Prince. Professor Kussmaul, after examination, pronounces the lungs of the Crown Prince to be free from disease, though the general condition of the Prince's health is bad. February 28. Professor Kussmaul considers that the Crown Prince is in a critical condition, and has confirmed the opinion expressed by the German doctors that cancer is at the root of the disease from which he is suffering. Constantinople, February 27. A fresh incident is reported to have occurred at the French Consulate, Damascus, but no particulars are to hand. It is understood that the Porte has given an assurance that the matter shall be settled to the satisfaction of France. Rome, February 27. The village of Valtmeta has been completely buried by an avalanche. Twentyfour persons were killed. Calcutta, February 26. The Indian Government have warned the Thibetans to evacuate Silkim immediately ; but it is feared that an expedition to that State will be necessary in consequence of the laiders having been reinforced. Suakin, February 26, News has been received that a force of natives have attacked the' military post at Wady Haifa, the second cataract of the Nile, and captured a lieutenant and two men. St. Petersburg, February 26. There is renewed disorder amongst the university students at Moscow. ' Panama, February 27. The Nicaragua Canal Bill has been agreed to by the Senate. The bill provides for the construction of a ship canal across the Isthmus of Nicaragua, from the Bay of Guatemala on the Atlantic side to Port Realejo on the Pacific side. The total length of the projected canal is £78 miles. (Special to Press Association.) London, February 22. The Colville Gold Mining Company (New Zealand) has been registered with a capital of £7500. The condition .of the Crown Prince has improved since last reports, and he is low in much better general health. At a meeting of the Associated Chambers °f Commerce, held to-day, a motion affirming jhe desirableness of changing the fiscal regions between England and her colonies in °rder to increase the trade of the empire Wa s negatived. A proposal to reduce the amount of postage to the colonies was agreed to at the same meeting. Mr 11. C. Graham, M.P., and Burns the Socialist leader, addressed a large meeting j&lled with the object of bringing about a f^ion of the Home Rule and Radical Interests. Mr C. S. Parke, member for Pe »th, Mr Davitt, and Mr O'Brien, M.P., w We present. The meeting was disorderly a &d ended abruptly. Yielding to the representations made by the New York Society for the Prevention of wuelty to the Young, who asked that the Performance of Hoffman, the musical prodigy, sll Quld be restricted, as he was being over-

worked, the boy's parents have determined to withdraw him from the platform for some years ; but, being poor, they complain of the | pecuniary sacrifice they are making. ! February 23. Mr Abbey, to whom Josef Hoffman, the musical prodigy, was under engagement, has brought an action for breach of contract against the parents of the child, and has seized the clothes and instruments belonging to the latter. A great deal of public indignation has been aroused at the action of Abbey. The cyclone which devastated Illinois on Sunday has rendered fully 1000 persons homeless. Cardinal Newman, on the occasion of the completion of his eighty - seventh year, officiated at two services held in the Catholic Cathedral. His Eminence has received congratulatory greetings from Catholics in all parts of the world. A man has been arrested at Coleraine, in Londonderry, for having in his possession a large quantity^'of dynamite. The copper syndicate have purchased the Burra copper mines. The weakness in prices at the closing sales of the wool auctions is attributed to the political disquietude in Europe, and also to many of the outside markets being now supplied direct from the colonies. Yielding to the persuasion of Prince Bismarck, and owing to the latest bulletins reporting an improvement in the health of the Crown Prince, the Emperor has decided to abandon his proposed visit to San Remo. The New York Herald and Times express satisfaction with the terms of the Fisheries Treaty, but the Tribune opposes its ratification on general grounds. Lord Randolph Churchill, speaking at Oxford last night, said that in his opinion granting Home Rule to Ireland would be a desperate and insane policy. Referring to the European situation, he said he feared that they were on the brink of a great rupture of the peace of Europe. The Italian troops in Abyssinia who marched on Ghinda and Asmara in the early part of January arrived at the former place only to find that it had been evacuated by the enemy. February 24. Lord Randolph Churchill, in his speech at Oxford, predicted a rupture between the Gladstonians and Parncllites before Parliament was dissolved; and also that on the day on which Ireland was granted Home Rule England will cease to be a nation. The football match between the Oxford and Cambridge Universities was played yesterday, and resulted in a win for the former. Christine Neilson, the well-known actress, has intimated her intention of retiring from the stage. Lord Lonsdale has left on a visit to the Arctic regions for bear shooting. The Crown Princess has sent a telegram from San Remo to her Majesty the Queen that the Crown Prince has greatly improved in condition, and that he has been able to make his appearance in the balcony of the villa in which he is residing. Tho message adds that there is every hope of tho Prince recovering from his present illness. February 26. The Economist, in an article on the operations of the shipping ring, expresses an opinion that they are driving trade away from London, and that the Continent is being strongly favoured. Emm Bey has communicated with the Hon. Mr Stanhope, Secretary for War, that he expected Mr Stanley with his relief party would reach him during November. Mr Chamberlain has been offered the honour of Grand Cross of the Bath, and it is considered probable that he will receive _ a baronetcy in recognition of his success in arranging an amicable settlement of the Canadian fisheries dispute. The statement that Mr Larkworthy, the London manager of the Bank of New Zealand, is about to retire is denied. February 27. Under the new procedure rules in the House of Commons it has been further proposed that no business of a controversial character shall be introduced after midnight. A melee occurred at Anglesea, where the police were endeavouring to collect the tithes. Severe fighting took place between the police and the residents, and several were injured. Berlin, February 27. Prince Hohenlohe to-day attempted to commit suicide at St. Petersburg by shooting himself. The attempt was not successful, I though it has not been ascertained to what extent the Prince is injured. Mozambique, February 26. Intelligence has been received here that a terrible outrage has been committed by a strong, well-armed body of Arabs, who i attacked and overpowered a number of native villages on the south-western shore of Lake Nyassa. The natives were attacked suddenly, and many were struck down and mercilessly slaughtered on the spot. Others fled to the water and sought a hiding place in the reeds which fringe the shores of the lake. The work of massacre and rapine being over in the villages, the Arab marauders turned their attention to the fugitives hiding in the rushes. Being unable to reach them from the land, the Arabs set fire to the reeds, and the unhappy villagers had to choose between being burned to death or devoured by crocodiles, which infest the waters of the lake, on the one hand, and running the gauntlet between spears of their enemies on the other hand. Many were seized by alligators and drawn beneath the waters, whilst those who fled from these monsters and flames were ruthlessly speared by Arabs as they left the water. Inflamed by passion, the Arabs next turned their attention to the different missions established by the Free Church of Scotland along the shores of the lake, known collectively as the Livingstonia Mission. The houses were attacked and plundered, but it is stated that the Europeans engaged in mission work escaped without suffering bodily harm. Hongkong, February 21. Further details are to hand respecting the earthquake which wrecked the city of Yunnan, capital of the province. At the same time it appears that the particular shock which wrecked the city also ruined the whole province. The work of destruction was completed in a few minutes. Immediately after the shock flames burst out in the capital and in villages throughout the pro- :

vince. Hundreds of the inhabitants were j injured by the falling buildings, and others were helplessly burned to death. Whole families were buried beneath the ruins of their homes. In some cases houses were lifted by the shock and were carried some distance away, being deposited intact. Paris, February 27. M. Pasteur's latest experiments have proved completely successful. Under the chicken cholera rabbits lived one day only, fowls lived two days, whilst sheep and lambs were not in any way affected. M. Pasteur is now convinced of the superiority of his scheme ior the extermination of rabbits, and is determined to spare no trouble or expense to have it properly submitted to the authorities of New South Wales with a view to securing tho reward of £25,000 offered by the Government of that colony. Three delegates from M. Pasteur who fully understand the scheme will leave for Australia by the s.s. Cuzco. New York, February 28. An extensive strike of enginemen has taken place on the Chicago and Quincey lines. 5500 miles of lines are affected, and traffic is paralysed. o