BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Otago Witness, Issue 1973, 12 September 1889, Page 9

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

(Pee Press Association.)

London, September 3. The murder of a gentleman touring in the neighbourhood of Goatfell Mountain, Island of Arran, has created considerable excitement throughout Scotland for weeks past. Lauri, the murderer, has been captured just as he was in the act of committing suicide. The value of the hop crops is estimated at £1,300,000. The yield is of excellent quality. New Zealand prime mutton 6d per lb. The Australian and New Zealand Mortgage Company have declared a dividend of 5 per cent. Hanlan, during the course of an interview, expressed himself in favour of Searle. The latter is favourite at 11 to 10, but betting is limited in extent. Experts favour Searle's chance. Both men are in excellent health. Thousands go down to watch them practise every day.

September 4. Searle, who is exhibiting great staying powers, is confident that, he will win the 3culling championship. During the sham naval manoeuvres to-day, a 38-ton gun on board H.M.S. Ajax, coastguard vessel, burdt. The trial of Dr Cronin's murderers is blocked through challenges having exhausted the jury lists. Slavin has challenged Jem Smith for the championship of England and £200 aside. Slavin and Goode have arranged to fight 12 rounds with the gloves for £200 aside in October. The quantity of wheat and flour afloat for the United Kingdom is 1,800,000 bushels, and for the Continent 336,000 bushels. The English wheat is steady, the Continental inactive, and the American firm. The Antwerp wool sales have closed. For superior and medium River Plate wool prices remained firm, but for inferior sorts and lambs' wool prices were weak. One thousand bales of Australian wool sold at prices fully equal to those obtained at the London sales in July. Altogether 18,000 bales were offered, of which 12,400 were sold.

September 5. Edward Laman Blanchard, dramatist, aged C 9. A train carrying the Shah of Persia on Russian railways came into collision with another train. The carriage occupied by his Majesty was seriously injured, but he was extricated through the window without injury. The Czar is expected to visit Berlin in a month. Searle is practising starting, having found O'Connor is quickest at ge.tting away. An Australian colonist has backed Searle at £1000 to £800. Smith is willing to meet Slavin under British rules for £1000 aside. New Zealand mutton s§d per lb ; beef (forequarters), 3|d ; hindquarters, 4£d. Sir Hercules Robinson has succeeded Mr Murray (? Siv Penrose Julyan) as director of the Bank of New Zealand. The cargo of sawn kauri timber by the barque Belinda, from Kaipara, is selling at Glasgow at an average of 2s 8d per cubic foot. The Queen Charlotte Sound Gold Mining Company of New Zealand was announced in Juue last, with a capital of £136,000, has not iloatei. The New Zealand Antimony Company will obtain additional capital and work the mine themselves. Mr Crane, a Sydney sportsman, has backed Searle for £1500 at 3to 2 (on). Mr Thompson, the well-known bookmaker, is also offering 10 to 8 on the Clarence man. Affairs at Honolulu, which have been somewhat disordered since the embryo revolution last month, are now pacific. September 6. Fifteen hundred pounds to £1000 has twice been laid on Searle winning the Championship. Six to 4is stili inquired for, but the best offer is now sto 4. The final deposit has been made by both men. The Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company declared a dividend of 5 per cent. The Right Hon. Henry Chaplin, M.P. for Sleaford, who in the early part of last month was appointed Minister of Agriculture, takes a seat in the Cabinet. The Maurile Wood Colliery, Edinburgh, has caught fire, and 60 miners have been entombed. Little hope is entertained of rescuing the men alive. It is reported that a mutiny has taken place on board H.M.S. Acorn, now lying at San Francisco, and that there have been many desertions. The total amount of reserve in the Bank of England is £12,092,000. The proportion of reserve to liabilities is 41 per cent. Australian wheat is quoted at 40s (quiet). New Zealand long-berried (ex store), 38s 6d, business very restricted. Copper, £42 10s (quiet) ; tin, £91 ss. Sugar: German beet, 14s; Java do, 17s

Tallow : Best mutton, 28s 6d ; beef, 275.

September 7. The Trade Congress has approved o£ the Eight Hours Bill for miners, and have adopted the principal of land nationalisation. They have also carried a resolution in favour of payment of members of Parliament. All the men entombed, estimated at. 60, iv the Maurice Wood Colliery, Edinburgh, were suffocated. H.M.S. Espiegle has hoisted the British flag on Humphrey Island, Keirson Island, and Manileke Group, on the route of the Pacific cable. It is stated that a man named Pearce, a plasterer, and native of Brixham, Lower Devon, whose address is at present unknown, is entitled to a sum of £1,400,000 by the death of a clergyman in Sydney. Peter Jackson and Jem Smith, pugilists, are arranging a fight. The Trade Congress has by a large majority negatived a proposal in favour of a compulsory eight hours system. Burns, the Socialist, announces that he will contest, the Dundee constituency at the next election. New Zealand herap of average quality is quoted at £27. Tallow : Mutton (medium quality), 24s 3d ; beef (medium), 21s 3d. The English wheat market is lifeless, and the Continental stead" y, wßile the American is changing for the worse.

New Zealand Shipping Company's shares, £5 ; Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company, £5 ss.

September 8. The Marquie of Hartington, speaking in Yorkshire, said that if the result of the next general election was the return of a Home Rule majority, the Unionists would compel the country to reconsider the question, and would use every resource the constitution allowed to prevent so great a change being hurriedly made.

The Trades Congress have unanimously rejected a motion calling for a return' showing how the votes ot '.separate trades were cast upon the eight hours principle, which was rejected last week by a large majority.

Lord Scott, who succeeds Admiral Fairfax in command of the Australian station, sails on -October 3 'w\nA)KiAi The police made a raid on the NeweaswS Club and arrested 47 of the inmates.

September 9.

Twenty-seven bodies have been recovered from the Mauricewood colliery, nearEdinbureh. The Rev. Mr Spurgeon is in failing health A man named Brodie swam Niagara Rapids and escaped unhurt.

Mr Gladstone. has been entertained at a banquet in Paris, where he is at present on a visit. f

September 10.

Owing to pressure from England and Italy the Sultan of Turkey has consented to the appointment of a special Council to inquire into and alleviate the complaints from Armenia.

Paeis, September 5

Much apathy is shown in the general elections, and for many seats no candidates have been announced. The elections are fixed for September 22,

September 7.

Desperate efforts are being made to prevent the return of General Boulanger, yet the Government declare that he is ineligible for election unless be sets the verdict aside by returning. The Prefects have been secretly directed to prevent the victory of Boulanger's followers.

September 5

(-eneral Boulanger has written to M. Tirard claiming to be tried by court martial.

September 7

After creating a special court to secure Boulanger's being declared an outlaw, the Government have been compelled, although he is absent, to accept his nomination for a seat at the forthcoming general election, also to permit placards favouring his views being posted. The result has created a deal of excitement, and has led to dissensions in the Cabinet. M. Tirard, the Premier, and M. Constano, Minister of the Interior, disputed the right of Boulanger to contest a seat.

September 7.

Boulanger's programme is entire Freetrade, abolition of bank monopoly, and State aid to industry These reforms include the colonies, with a view to revive navigation.

The French vignerons, assisted by the papers, are attacking the Australian vintages.

Vienna, September 10

The Wiener Allegmane Zeitung states that the Czar has notified the Emperor of Germany of the existence of an agreement between Russia and France. Pekin, September 6. Construction of a railway from Pekin to Hankow has been sanctioned.

Sofia, September 6.

The Bulgarian troops have formed an entrenched camp at Dragoman, a town on the border of Servia.

Constantinople, September 7. The Porte will regard a Servian attack on Bulgaria as a casns belli.

Ottawa, September 7.

The Government of the Dominion claims £200,000 damages for the seizure of sealers in Behring Sea.

New Yoek, September 7. M. Legitime (ex-President of Hayti) has arrived here.

Zanzibae, September 5. The German expedition under Dr Peters proved a failure, and is returning. September 7. Captain Wissman is about to set out with a force of 2000 men to punish Mpwapa.