BRITISH AND FOREIGN. (Per Press Association,)

Otago Witness, Issue 1891, 1 May 1890, Page 14

BRITISH AND FOREIGN. (Per Press Association,)

London, April 22. In his monthly circular, Mr F. O. Licht, the sugar expert, states that for seven months there is an increase in the production of beet sugar to the extent of 807,000 tons, and he estimates the total European production during the present season will show a surplus of 844,000 tons. An Australian cargo of wheat sold at 355. Sir J. M'Kenna, vice-president of the National League, has resigned, stating that the league no longer exists, and that the American members will not submit to the leadership of assassins. Mr A. Bright supported the Government on the Land Purchase Bill. He mentioned that his father had latterly been a firm I believer in the Ashbourne Act. The Liberals are reported to dislike Mr ParneU's proposals, and several intend to vote for the Government. Mr Dillon states that the appearance of general comfort in the Australasian colonies is unequalled elsewhere. The American League has written to Mr Dillon, requesting him to induce Mr Parnell to consent to a convention being summoned, otherwise it is feared the movement will decay. It is hoped one million will be subscribed for the Western Australian Midland railway by the middle of May. £750,000 is already underwritten. The report that Mr W. O'Brien was about to marry a Parisian heiress is contradicted. The bill making provision for the great exhibition in Chicago has passed the Senate. It is the intention of the German Government to entrust a special bureau with the task of supplying the press with official communiques, and hopes are expressed that the confidence reposed in the papers will not be betrayed. The Kaiser's letters, which Prince Bismarck is represented as refusing to return, referred to the regency which it was at one time proposed to set up during the lifetime of the the late Emperor. Schmidt, the officer who is alleged to have betrayed the plans of Cronstadt to Plessen, a German officer, has been shot. He asserted that he was innocent, and had been instructed to entrap the German attaches. Sir J. M'Donald announced in the Canadian Dominion Parliament that the departure of the commission to Australia would be deferred until the question of federation was settled. April 23. New Zealand preserved boiled beef, 4|d. Hides, declining, 3d to 3§d. Tallow : Beef, 23s 6d ; mutton, 24s 6d. In the course of an interview to-day Mr Dillon, one of the Irish delegates to Australia, stated that the colonies, knowing the benefits of autonomy, sympathise with Ireland in her endeavour to obtain a similar privilege. He further mentioned that Imperial federation was more talked about in Great Britain than in the colonies. Germany has decided to send reinforcements to Major Wissman at Zanzibar. The Emperor's visit to Prince Bismarck at Friedrichsruhe is for the purpose of obtaining the letters written by him respecting the setting up of a regency. On the receipt of the news that the Portuguese had evacuated the Shire district the populace in Lisbon became very excited and furious, but there was no disturbance. The Russian Ambassador at Valentia has complained to the Government of the remarks made on the Czar by Anarchists, and also of their denouncing the treatment of prisoners at Siberia. Prince Bismarck, replying to a deputation to-day, reasserted that he was dismissed from office, and excitedly denounced Herr yon Boelticher, Minister of the Interior, whom he accused of intriguing with courtiers to prejudice the Emperor against him. The ex-Chancellor also accused Dr Windthorst of entrapping. him with reference to the union of Ministerial and Clerical parties. Prince Bismarck added that he differed altogether with the labour policy of the Emperor, and was confident it would lead to an increase of the Social Democrats. Ten cases of New Zealand apples, ex P. and O. Company's s.s. Oceana, have been sold at 8s per case. A shipment of pears rotted on the voyage. Two wheat cargoes, of the March and April shipments, have been sold at 35s and 31s 9d respectively. The total quantity of wheat and Hour afloat for the United Kingdom is 2,600,000 quarters, and for the Continent, 072,000 quarters. The American visible supply is 24,512,000 bushels. Mr Michael Davitt disapproves of Mr Parnell's scheme for dealing with Irish lands, and it finds no favour with the Home Rule presrf. April 24. Mr Robert Giffen, the statistician and financial authority, informs the Colonising Committee of the House of Commons that an immense emigration scheme propounded for Australia is really visionary. Quotations for frozen mutton aud beef are unchanged. A few carcases of lamb by the lonic were condemned. Many of the carcases of mutton were spotted, some badly, while a few were condemned. ■In his speech at Bradford Mr Cecil Raikes, Postmaster-general, referred to Mr Henniker Heaton as a fly on a wheel, and seeking notoriety in connection with a popular cry, and added that his (Mr Heaton's) foolish agitation for a fun her reduction of postal rates to one penny would prevent the colo nies accepting Chancellor Goschen's present proposals. The Protestantand Roman Catholic bishops of Prussia have appealed to the clergy to repress Socialism. Germany remains neutral in the eight hours labour demonstration, but will protect woikers against any action of non-workers. During the procedure of his trial for libel to-day at New York, O'Donovan Rossa declared that anything was justifiable to secure reliel from the British yoke. Russia has accepted payment of the Bulgarian indemnity. Further inquiries confirm the suspicion that Schmidt betrayed the plans of the fortresses at Cronstadt. The report that he keen shot proves to be incorrect, he hav-

ing been committed to penal servitude in Siberia. It is asserted that he disclosed the plans of Cronstadt to a British in addition to the German attache. Woodruffe, the waggoner- who confessed to complicity in the murder of Dr Oronin and implicated Alexander Sullivan, head of the National League of America, who, he alleged, shadowed the murdered man, has been discharged from custody. He has made a confession that the allegations against Sullivan were without foundation. April 25. In Tiis evidence before the Colonisation Committee to-day, Mr Archer, Agent-general for Queensland, said the only waste lands in Queensland were those where Europeans, owing to the intense heat, found it impossible to work. The Government of the colony favoured the reception of desirable immigrants, but he was not in a position to say whether the Government would allow of mortgaging lands to secure advances made to immigrants. The colony was capable of receiving hundreds of thousands. In his evidence before the Colonisation Committee to-day Sir Saul Samuel said New South Wales would not assent to or sanction any immigration scheme unless she had the selection and control of immigrants. He admitted there were a number of unemployed in the colony. Replying to a pressing question, he said he doubted if the colony i would place the Imperial Government in the same position as private individuals in respect to the selection of land and the settling of immigrants. Personally he was opposed to a colonising scheme. Sir Arthur Blythe, Agent-general for South Australia, thought a company conducting a large emigration scheme might succeed. New Zealand hemp: Good to medium quality quoted at £22 15s to £23. The frozen "mutton by the steamer Star of Victoria from New Zealand has arrived in good condition. Her shipment of beef has been stored though the market is rising. New Zealand hindquarters are quoted at 5d per lb. It is reported that Colonel Sir Francis De Winton has been appointed Governor of British East Africa, and that he starts for Mombassa immediately. A company is equipping an expedition for the equatorial provinces. In a libel action, G. A. Sala versus Harry Furniss, the distinguished caricature artist of Punch, plaintiff was awarded £5 damages. April 26. On and after Ist May colonial book post rates will be Id per ounce. Mr Cecil Eaikes, Postmaster-general, has promised the Agentsgeneral to forward written copies of the proposed reductions to all the Governments concerned. After a reception extending over a week in Brussels, Mr Stanley has arrived in England. Both at Dover and on his arrival here he was greeted with enthusiasm. At Moscow five girls, who had identified themselves with the cause of Nihilism, committed suicide in order to avoid arrest. Information has been received here to the effect that the Governor cf the Bahama Islands has set apart 150,000 acres of land in those islands for the cultivation of sisal fibre. Mr Dillon says the time of the Government will probably come when members will direct the tenants to repudiate their indebtedness. April 27. An interview took place to-day between the Agents-general of the Australasian cdlonies and Mr Cecil Raikes, Postmaster-general, with reference to the proposed reduction in colonial postal rates. Mr Raikes informed the agents that a reduction on post card rates would shortly be made. He was uncertain yet whether the English Government would reduce the rate for outward letters if the colonial Governments declined to make a corresponding reduction in letters forwarded from the colonies to England. Sir Francis Dillon Bell explained that New Zealand was independent of Australia regarding her mail service, and she was not affected by the Brindisi route. The English wheat market is heavy and inactive, the Continental is inclined to buoyancy, and the American is advancing forward. Business in Australasian shipments show an advance in values. For New Zealand cargoes on passage sellers ask 355; buyers offer 34s 6d. Adelaide wheat is quoted at 395, with restricted business ; Victorian, 38s— nominal. Tallow shows a rise of 6d per cwt. Lyons, one of the members of the Australian Eleven, while exercising on a trapeze on board ship, sustained a rather nasty fall. He struck the gratings and strained the muscles of his legs. Heavy gales were met with in the Bay of Biscay, during which Jones and Trott were slightly injured.j ured. In the match which the team played at Gibraltar, Turner took nine wickets at a cost of 15 I runs. The eleven commence practice on Tuesday. The death is announced of the Earl of Glasgow. He was born in 1825, and succeeded to the title in 18G9. He had a seat as Lord Ross in the House of Lords. Sir Arthur Blythe and Baron de Worms were among those who welcomed Stanley on his arrival, and Baroness Burdelt-Coutts presented him with a bouquet. Stanley has gone to Sandringham on a visit to the Prince of Wales. On Saturday Signor Jean Succi, the Italian faster, completed his fast of 40 days. He lost 341b in weight during his fast. The London School Board have decided to furnish the schools under their management with pianos. Lord Salisbury, in a letter to the Federation League, states that he is anxious that England and the colonies should co-operate in the matter of defence and other common interests. At the inquiry into the circumstances connected with the explosion in the Morfa colliery, a verdict was returned that the accident was due to a shot firing, and no blame is attached to anyone. During the debate on the Irish Land Purchase Bill, Mr Dillon declared that it was impossible for the State to cope with boycotting or the enlarged Plan of Campaign. The Scotch local authorities desire to share spirits and beer duties allocated to them with the education authorities When Succi had completed his fast, the first nourishment he partook of was a little bouillon. He has promised to reveal the secret of the elixir which, it is said, has

enabled him to complete his undertaking with so much success. The court has allowed the New Zealand Alt'ord Estate Company to write off £24,000 of capital. Major Serpa Pinto, who recently returned from the Shire district, Africa, has been appointed aide-de-camp to King Carlos, and was presented with a sword of honour in recognition of his services while in Africa. The United States Congress has voted 150,000d0l for the relief of sufferers by the late heavy floods in Mississippi. The Panslavists in Bosnia are organising deputations to wait on the Sultan and the ' Czar with the view of inducing them to insist upon the military evacuation of Herzegovina by Austria. Prince Ferdinand of Bulgaria is determined to suppress the evidence which would tend to implicate Russia in the conspiracy which was formed by Major Paintza to dethrone him (Ferdinand). La Paix, a Paris newspaper, reasserts that Emperor William is submitting proposals for a rapprochement with President Carnot. The Senegal sharpshooters have been despatched to reinforce the French troops in Dahomey. It is probable that an expedition to effect the subjugation of Dahomey will leave France shortly. April 28. At the annual dinner of the Civil Service Club, Lord Wolseley ridiculed the idea of the British Navy being defeated and Great Britain compelled to surrender in the event of her being engaged in a war. He declared that it would be impossible for an ecemy to blockade the British ports and prevent the introduction of supplies. A meeting of Australian colonists and merchants will be held next month, when resolutions in support of colonial federation will be submitted. Wheat is Is dearer on the week. An Australian cargo has been sold at 35s 10£ d. The committee of the Mining Exhibition, to be held at the Crystal Palace in the summer, is anxious for Victoria to exhibit, and are willing to extend the time for the receipt of exhibits until July. Before the Colonisation Committee to-day Sir F. D. Bell stated that a private company had a better prospect of successfully conducting an emigration scheme than the Imperial Government. The King of Dahomey complains that the French troops attacked him without first declaring war. He states that he will not harm the French prisoners whom he captured in January last, but that he will hold them as hostages until peace is declared between his country and France. A diplomatic rupture between Italy and Brazil is expected, owing to the action of the latter in stopping immigration. April 29. Messrs Swan Bros., iron brokers, of Glasgow, have suspended payment. The appointment of Sir Francis De Winton as Governor of British East Africa is confirmed. Paris, April 23. Information has been received of an engagement between' the French and Dahomeyans, in which, after a two hours' fight, the French were defeated and retreated to Porto Novo. The enemy pursued them half way. The French loss was 50 wounded, but the Dahomeyans suffered severely. The King publicly commended his troops for their gallant behaviour. The French claim to have defeated the Dahomeyans in the recent engagement, and state that the latter lost 500 killed. The goldfields of Madagascar are to be thrown open to all comers on condition that miners pay a state royalty of 27 grammes of gold. April 28. Condin, an Italian spy, has been sentenced to five years' imprisonment and ordered to pay a fine of 5000 francs for sketching French fortresses. At the municipal elections in Paris the supporters of General Boulanger signally failed. Berlin, April 24. It is reported that the Emperor has summarily removed nine generals in command of regiments without assigning any reason. The miners' strike in Silesia has collapsed. Emperor William learning that Socialist riots are expected on May 1 intends to suppress all meetings, and will arrest persons taking part in gatherings in the street. The town of Biala on the Vistula, in Galicia, was sacked by 4000 rioters. The military being called out, an engagement took place between them and the rioters, and 11 of the latter were shot dead. April 27. Prince Bismarck did not attend the Prussian House of Lords. He complains that his remarks to the deputation on the 23rd inst., when he was reported to have excitedly denounced Herr yon Boetticher (whom he accused of intriguing with courtiers to prejudice the Emperor against him), were distorted. In an interview to-day he condemned the repression of the holiday to Government employes on occasions of labour demonstrations, but said he was certain that the celebrations on the Ist May would pass without any disorder or trouble. The German Minister of Works intends to dismiss any Government employes who absent themselves from work in order to take part in labour celebrations on May 1. Large numbers of employers have decided that those workmen who are absent at the demonstration on May 1 shall not be taken on until the 9th, thus depriving them of a week's work. Socialism is spreading to the lower German officials. It has been decided that the troops remain in barracks on the Ist May. They will take no part in the celebrations. Vienna, April 27. The Austrian Government has advised all municipal authorities to court-martial all persons accused of riotous behaviour during the labour celebrations of May 1, ai d to shoot those who are found guilty. Belgrade, April 23. The Czar has presented Servia with 40,000 rifles and three batteries of artillery. The Skuptschina held a secret meeting to discuss the Militia Bill, at which M. Ristick painted the situation in the darkest colours. It was absolutely necessary, he declared, for Servia to be ready for immediate action, and the Government must obtain votes sufficient to equip 130,000 militia.

Zanzibar, April 26. The expedition ' under command of Emm Pasha has started for Lake Tanganpika. 1 April 27. Emm Pasha is to be accompanied on his expedition to Central Africa by 600 porters, 5 officers, and a body of Nubian soldiers. Clerk, who has reached here from the Equatorial Provinces, asserts that Emm's followers revolted because Emm desired to surrender the Equatorial .Provinces to the Mahdi and his people. WASHINGTON April 23. The Chicago Exhibition Bill has passed Congress. The Committee of Ways and Means has reported in favour of imposing duties on worsteds, similar to those on woollen goods. The Indianapolis masters have conceded the terms demanded by the men. New York, April 23. . The trial of O'Donovan Rossa for libelling Patrick Cassidy has commenced here. Rossa declares that Cassidy is a British spy. April 27. The carpenters in Boston are striking for the hours of labour to be reduced to eight per day. New Orleans, April 26. At Imperie the floods have been very severe, and 5000 people have been rendered destitute. .April 28. The floods in Louisiana have destroyed one-fifth of the sugar crop. The damage is I estimated at one million sterling. Chicago, April 26. The strikes which are being arranged to take place here on the Ist May will affect 22,000 firms employing an aggregate of 200,000 men and 24,000 women. The leaders of the agitation are becoming alarmed at the dimensions the strike is likely to assume and seek to limit it to carpenters. «