BRITISH AND FOREIGN. (Per Press Association.) London, August 20.

Otago Witness, Issue 1918, 24 August 1888, Page 21

BRITISH AND FOREIGN. (Per Press Association.) London, August 20.

Lord Knutsford, in an interview -with the Agents-general, stated that the Government saw no reason to interfere with the decision arrived at by the Chinese Conference at New South Wales. Four thousand five hundred quarters of Adelaide wheat have been sold at 38s 3d ; 10,000 quarters shipped this month from the same port have been disposed of at 38s. A Victorian cargo of 7500 quarters of the September shipment have been sold at 375. August 21. Her Majesty the Queen has left London for Glasgow to open the new Town Hall in that city. The naval manoeuvres are now concluded, and the fleets have dispersed.

The new German -Australian Shipping Company are building six new steamers for that trade. In an article on The Times' charge against Mr Parnell, the Freeman's Journal expresses the opinion that the action about to be brought in Scotland against the proprietors of The Times is quite valid. It goes on to say that the commission should be limited in their inquiry to definite charges against Mr Parnell. It adds that the clearest evidence will be brought forward at the trial to expose the letters as forgeries. The officials who were charged with having illegally carried out the evictions at Kilrush have been acquitted. Mr Gladstone states that the policy of coercion in Ireland continues to have a disastrous effect, and that that country is in a worse state than ever. It is expected that Malietoa, who was deposed from the throne o£ Samoa, will be brought to Germany.

Madeid, August 20. Two English tourists were assaulted near Gibraltar by Spanish beggars, who used their knives against the Englishmen. The Spaniards were arrested, escorted to San Roqne, charged with assault, and remanded, A number of Spanish regiments in the provinces broke into revolution, but order was restored after several ringleaders had been arrested. • CALCUTTA, August 21. The Indian Government have had under their consideration the offers of military as-istance from the Niznn of Hyderabad and other princes, nnrt have now decided to ask them to maintain small but fullyequipped forces, to be used if the necessity should arise. Paris, August 20. The majorities in favour of General Boulanger in the elections amount in the aggregate to 10,000. Stockholm, August 20. r A conference composed of delegates representing all Christian faiths in the world is about to be held here. All civilised Powers will be represented. Cairo, August 21. It is reported that Lupton Bey, who was detained as a prisoner at Khartoum, is dead. He was subjected to severe ill-treat-ment. Cape Town, August 21. Mr Ratz has been nominated for the Presidency of the Orange Free State, in the place of Sir J. H. Brand, deceased.