BRITISH AND FOREIGN. (Per Press Association.)

Otago Witness, Issue 1894, 9 March 1888, Page 21

BRITISH AND FOREIGN. (Per Press Association.)

London, March 7.

Sir James F. Garrick, Agent-general for Queensland, is urging upon the Imperial Government that a sovereignty over the New Hebrides should be proclaimed. Lord Nutsford (Sir Henry Holland), Secretary of State for the Colonies, has replied that shortly an entire protectorate will bej>roclaimed. Sir F. D. Bell, the Agent-general for New Zealand, has received over 50 applications for the chief comrnissionership of the railway board, which at the late session in New Zealand it was decided should take control of the New Zealand railways. The selection will be made shortly. The Postal department have arranged that the colonial mails via San Francisco shall be despatched from here on Saturdays in future instead of Wednesdays as heretofore, thus saving three days owing to the faster service in the Atlantic.

Mr Pearson, who brought Home the South Australian rubies, states that a powerful syndicate have offered to purchase the M'Donnell Company ruby mines in Australia. The company offer £200,000—onehalf of the amount to be paid in cash, and the remainder in shares. The decision of the company is awaited. San Remo, March 6. The latest bulletins regarding the state of the Crown Prince are more favourable.

The Crown Prince is now slightly better, and has been allowed to walk in the gardens, this being the first time he has been out since the operation was performed upon him. Constantinople, March 7.

The Porte has sent a note to Prince Ferdinand that his election to the Bulgarian throne is illegal.

Mozambique, March 5.

Intelligence has reached here of a disastrous hurricane which has been experienced in Madagascar. The gale was felt with extreme violence on the east coast of the island, and the town of Tamative, which is the chief commercial port of Madagascar, was laid in ruins. Eleven vessels were wrecked in the harbour or on the adjacent reefs. The extent of the casualties is not yet known, but at Tamative 20 persons were killed by falling debris.