BRITISH AND FOREIGN. (Per Press Association.)

Otago Witness, Issue 1894, 9 March 1888, Page 13

BRITISH AND FOREIGN. (Per Press Association.)

London, February 29.

Intelligence has been received here from the west, coast of Africa that the German •warship Albatross has arrived at Cameroons, having on board Malietoa, the ex-king of Samoa, who was deposed by the Germans, and that King Taruasese has been enthroned in his stead. A syndicate of experts has been formed here to control the sale of rubies from the Uount M'Donnell mines in Scuth Australia, and instructions have been sent to Adelaide to purchase 10,000 shares in the company. Mr Jasper Pyne, M.P. for Waterford, has been sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment ■for inciting resistance to the sheriff. Notice of appeal has been given.

March 1.

The citron of a member to represent DcpLford constituency in the House of Com2iions, .rendered vacant by the resignation of Ilx W. J. Evelyn,, .took place to-day, when Mr Darling (Conaqrsv;^l,ivcs) defeated Mr Wilfrid Blunt by 434:5 votes to -1070. The election ■was a very disorderly one. Several Conservative members who were present were .stoned. The weekly return of the Bank of England to-day shows the reserve in notes and bullion to be £15,800,000, being an increase of £200,000 on last week. The proportion of reserve to liabilities is 45 per cent. The quantity of wheat afloat ior the United Kingdom is 1,790,000 quarters, and •for the Continent 250,000 quarters.

March 2.

Three hundred and forty million francs' worth of new Panama Canal bonds have been issued in Parris. Shares in the London Produce Clearing House are at an enormous premium. The house will deal largely with Australian leather. . _

France requires about 16.000 ft and Lancashire just under 50,000 ft at the Melbourne Exhibition. Five thousand five hundred quarters of Australian wheat (February shipment) have been sold at 33s (id, and 8000 quarters (March shipment) at .'J.'Js 'id. New Zealand lWn bui ! cr is at 90s ; Australian, 80s ; sail iaitter, 50*. UOs, and Uss. The South Eokcter (?j Gold Mining Cora pany, Auckland, Nc,/ Zealand, with a capital of £75,000, has been registered. The Oroya's frozen meat, is selling at 4d. The quantity of Australian wheat afloat is 0300 quarters. January cargoes are held at 34s 2rl Bishop MoorhousQ, speaking at Manchester, said that the Victorian plains, if properly irrigated, would support a population of 3,000,000, and exposed the opinion that it' such a scheme of colonisation were carried out, it would result in mutual advantage to tJic Imperial and Colonial GoYerninents. The press generally considers the sentence passed on M. Wilson excessive.

March 3.

It is announced that England will annex Christmas Islands, Fanning Islands, and the Penrhyn Group in the Pacific. Tallow : Mutton, 275 ; beef, 24s Gd. The wheat market is improving. Cahfornian is at 31s; Australian (ex warehouse), :555. Oit-coast cargoes are all disposed of. New Zealand flour, 22s 7 Ad. The copper syndicate have entered into an affraesemenfc with the English smelters to KionW the output of copper for three years. March 4.

The ANy'Hcan bishops are making strong ■molests against the practice which is grow'■nur ax) among i.he aristocracy of devoting the Sabbath abioet entirely to amusement. Among" the .richer .classes, theatrical enteraainme'aU, jugglery exhibitions, boxing and stenms matches, and even dancing occupy Ahe greater part of the day. The bishops .•are appealing to the clergy throughout the <United Kingdom to use their influence to remedy this growing evil, and to secure and

maintain the proper observance of the Sabbath day. In view of the determination expressed by the House of Commons that no proposal can be entertained bearing on the right of the public to hold meetings in Trafalgar square, a monster meeting is being organised for the purpose of asserting the right of the public to meet there. Mr Cowen, recently appointed musical director for the Melbourne Exhibition, leaves Naples on May 21. He will take with him a large quantity of new music for production during the exhibition. j March 5. Admiral Right Hon. Sir Astley Cooper Key, G.C.8., is dead, aged G7 ; also the Duke of i Rutland, aged 73, and Mr Frank Ash Yeo, | M.P. for Wesfc Gower, Glamorganshire. j March 6. The betting on the University boat race is 9 to 4 on the Cambridge crew. Pakis, March 1.

Destructive avalanches have occurred in the Alps and Pyrenees, and a number of villages have been engulfed. Thirty persons were killed by the avalanches at the towns of Sparone and Pajares. M. Wilson has been found guilty of trafficking in the sale of decorations, and has been sentenced to pay 53,000fr, two years' imprisonment, and deprivation of all civil rights for five years after the expiration of the term of imprisonment.

March 2.

At the trial of those implicated in the War Office scandals, M. Kibandeau was sentenced to eight months, M. Dv Bredie to four months, and Madame Ratazzi was acquitted. Sofia, March 5. The Radicals have gained a majority in the elections in Servia.

Calcutta, March 5.

The commander of the British expedition which was despatched to Sikkim for the purpose of dispersing the Thibetan raiders has issued an ultimatum to the effect that if the raiders do not evacuate Singtu by the 15th inst. they will be expelled. Berlin, March 5.

The Emperor is indisposed, and has taken to his bed. His illness is caused by a severe cold.

Beiine, March 5.

There have been some heavy avalanches in the Alps during the past few days. It is reported that several villages have been submerged, and that 200 persons have been killed.

Rome, March *3.

A body of rioters caused a disturbance by pillaging a number of shops and stoning the occupants. The troops were called out and charged and dispersed the mob. . Rome, March 4.

The Pope, in an address to the Sacred College on the relations existing between the Vatican and the Quirinal, said that his position had become unbearable.

March 5.

Information has been received here that an avalancho has engulphed the Hospice at the Great St. Bernard, a mountain pass of the Appennine Alps between Piedmont in Italy and Calais in Switzerland. No loss of life is reported.

Washington, March 1.

The Democrats have drafted for introduction into Congress a measure providing for the reduction of duties now imposed on wools imported into United States ports.

March 2.

The Government are taking steps to stop the organised emigration of Gorman convicts to this country.

Massowah, February 28

The Negus has summoned all his subjects to extirpate Italians, and a battle between Italian and Abyssinian troops is imminent. March 1.

The Negus, at the head of 80,000 men, is hourly expected to make an attack on the Italian troops under Lieutenant ■ general Nadi San Marzano, commander-in-chief.

New York, March 2.

The American Tariff Bill which has been introduced in the House of Kepresentatives provides for the reduction of the tariff by ;55,000,000d0l on woollens and 11.000.000d0l on sugar. After the Ist July next all wools are to be admitted free of duty to the United States. The bill also provides that flax hemp shall be admitted free of duty. It is generally considered probable that the bill will prove acceptable to the House of Representatives, but it is doubtful if the Senate will pass it.

March 4.

Mr Chamberlain was cordially received here and entertained at a farewell banquet, in the course of his speech he warned the opponents of the Fisheries Treaty of the danger of trifling with questions of national sentiment. He "declared that the result of the commission had been to preserve the national honour and interests of all countries concerned. Mr Chamberlain has sailed for London.

Philadelphia, March 2.

Mr Chamberlain, who arrived in this city on a visib to-day, was enthusiastically received, over 3000 English residents meeting him at the railway station. An address of welcome was presented to him, and in acknowledging it he said that it pained him to notice that Great Britain was alluded to by the press of the United States as if her people were foreigners.

Cairo, March 3.

A large body of dervishes attacked the troops at Suakin to-day. The fighting, which occupied four hours, was very severe, but eventually the dervishes retreated, leaving hundreds of their number dead on the field. Colonel Tapp and five men were killed in the engagement and 14 others wounded. The gunboats Dolphin and Albacore, which are attached to the Mediterranean fleet, are shelling the enemy.

(Bpecial to Pkess association.) London, February 20.

The, recently formed Western Australian ruby syndicate will introduce stones to the Home markets forthwith. Lord Wolseley, speaking at the annual volunteer dinner last evening, warmly praised the appearance of the New South Wales contingent which saw active service during the Soudan campaign, which he said was splendid and a credit to the colony, Their equipment, said Lord Wolseley, was thorough and complete.

March 1. Intelligence has been received here that

a tomb has recently been unearthed at Raida, a seaport town built on the remains of the ancient city of Sidon, in Syria, and , that there is indisputable evidence that the remains contained in the tomb are those of Alexander the Great, who died near Babylon, B.C. 323. March 2. At a meeting of shareholders of the N.Z. Mortgage Investment Company a committee was appointed to formulate a scheme of reorganisation. March 4. The "British Medical Journal," in an article discussing M. Pasteur's scheme of exterminating rabbits by means of chicken cholera, considers that it would destroy the birds, and that consequently insects and snakes would be largely increased. M. Wilson, who was recently convicted and sentenced to a term of imprisonment on a charge of complicity in disposing of decorations, has appealed against the decision of the court. Paeis, March 1. M. Flourens, French Minister of Justice, in the course of a speech in the Chamber of Deputies last evening, said that the islands of the New Hebrides group were barren, and that the climate was unhealthy. He said the Government regarded the group as a source of responsibility and great annoyance. Madame Bbathe, an Australian vocalist, whose debut at Brussels recently was pronounced such a brilliant success, will shortly appear at Covent Garden Theatre. New Yokk, February 29. The Union Square Theatre and Morton House have been destroyed by ii re. It is stated here that the Venezuelan Government have despatched 500 troops to oppose the British occupation at Curoni River.

SAN Fkancisco, February 29. The boiler of a ferry boat on the Manyio river exploded yesterday when the vessel was off the town of Vallejo, Upper California. The vessel was blown to pieces, and 70 persons who were on board either killed outright or terribly maimed.