BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Otago Witness, Issue 1949, 2 July 1891, Page 13

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

(Peb Pbbsb Association.) London, June 23. Six hundred cases of apples, ex steamer Otarama, from New Zealand, has been sold at from 7s 6d to 9s per case. Sir J. Fergnsson, replying to Mr Labouchere in the House of Commons, denied that England took any part in the Triple Alliance. At Chatham a train came into collision with another, and 35 men of the Royal Engineers, who were passengers, were seriously injured. The cruiser Esmeralda, belonging to the Chilian insurgents, landed 50 of her crew at the Island of Lobo^s, and they seized the provisions and murdered the natives who resisted. The Earl of Clonmel is dead. The Russian authorities are preventing the Jews from leaving Warsaw. Hundreds who were stopped on the frontier have returned to their domiciles." ' Servia and Montenegro have signed a commercial convention, and the Russian press are jubilant at the growing friendship between the two countries. Owing to the disclosures .of corrupt practices with regard to timber contracts, Premier Abbott has asked Sir H. Langevin to resign his position in the Canadian Cabinet. The Standard saysJbhat the Government are likely .to extend* the education grant to children under five years. A British squadron is now on a visit to the Bay of Fiume, an Austrian seaport "of the Adriatic, and was received with much enthusiasm. The Austrian admiral and Admiral Hosking each gave banquets in honour of their brother commanders. June 24. The total quantity of wheat and flour afloat for ths United Kingdom is 2,900,000 quarters, and for the continent 2,360,000 * quarters. The American visible supply of wheat is 21,650,000 bushels. The assets of the firm of Murietta and Co. are being revalued. It is uncertain whether fresh assistance is possible; but TheJTimes 'gays in any-event nothing serious will result. Several of the largest shareholders in the National Bank of New Zealand are opposing the directors' proposals, and it is considered probable that they will be rejected at the coming meeting. Mr H. Campbell, M.P. for Fermanagh,, .obtained £250 damages against the Cork Herald for alleging that he rented houses •for Pare ell for immoral purposes. The navy is deficient by 20,000 men. Lord G-. Hamilton stated in the House that arrangements had been made to obtain 12,500 more men before 1894. Mr John Dillon, M.P., will shortly replace Mr Justin M'Carthy in the leadership of the . anti-Parnell party. The balance sheet of the Plan of Campaign has been prepared by the M'Oarthy party. In,thisitis shown that of the total funds] the amount granted to evicted tenants was . £89,000, fees to lawyers and barristers, absorbed £7000, ' and £29,000 was paid for; New. Tipperary. It is alleged that none of the funds are missing. < '• The hostile attitude of the Argentine Chambers against the Government is be-, coming pronounced. Mr Laurier, leader' of the Opposition in the ■ Canadian Parliament, made a vigorous attack on the Premier, Mr Abbott, to-day describing him as the creature of the Pacific Railway Company. .He alleged that the good of the country would, be sacrificed to the interests of that line. The Minister of Justice defended Mr Abbott, whose first act, he said,' had been to efface his personal feelings for the' common good. Mr Laurier's motion against the^Government was defeated by a majority of 20. Russia is organising an exhibition in Athens with the view of developing her commercial relations with Greece to the detriment of British trade. The Government will make a yearly grant - of £300 to- Mrs Quinton, and of £100 per annum to Mr Quinton's mother. A special grant of £1000 is to. be made to Mrs Grim wood for her gallant services after the Residency at Manipur was attacked. The Government propose to introduce a bill providing for Jhe appointment of two judicial agents to deal with the Newfound? land fishery dispute. The delegates who visited London approve of this being done, and the French Government are also favourr able to it. ' : The delegates representing Mr Parnell's party in the United States are disgusted . at the reception they have met with in the United States, and propose returning to England immediately During a conflict among Italians at St. Louis some members of the Mafia stabbed two Italians to death. June 25. Madame Melba has made a great success in " Lucia." It is reported that the condition of Mr Gladstone, who suffered recently frcm asevere attack of influenza, is such as to cause considerable alarm to his friends. The opposition to the proposal o£ the directors of the National Bank of New Zealand to cancel £150,000 oi + ;he capital, and call up 303 per share, is weakening, and it is now believed the largest shareholders support the aotion of the directors. The shares of the bank are, however, affested, and are quoted at a considerable discount. The motion for the second reading of the Education Bill was carried by 321 to 12. The French naval authorities have ordered the mobilising of the fleet. Severe thunderstorms have been experienced throughout Germany, followed by waterspouts and excessive heat. The United States Government are purchasing silver in view of a rise in its price. " June 26. New Zealand long-berried wheat is weak at 425. For cargoes on passage sellers ask 425, buyers offeriug 41s 6d. Sellers off-coast cargoes ask 41s 6d, and buyers are offering 41s. Canterbury muttoD, 4 5-16 d per lb ; Wellington, 3|d ; Canterbury lamb, 4|d. Beef : Forequarters, 3§d ; hindquarters, 4|d. - South Australian wheat, flat at 435 ; and Victorian, quiet at 425.

New Zealand hemp : Wellington, inferior, £19, with no demand; Wellington, fair quality, £21 ss. Best Manila, £32 ss. Mr Gladstone is suffering from a bronchial ! affection, and has been ordered complete rest. It is expected that he will visit Lowestoft. The influenza epidemic is subsiding in the metropolis. During the last eight weeks 40,000 deaths, mainly attributed to the epidemic, have been reported. In the House of Lords to-day Lord Denham proposed the rejection of the Irish Land Purchase Bill. Mr Parnell was to-day quietly married before the registrar to Mrs O'Shea, and it is understood that he has the intention to be married in church later on. Messrs Murietta and Co. have successfully arranged their financial difficulty. The natives of Mozambique are demanding that J. J. Machado, former Governor-General, who has been succeeded by Senhor Andrade, should return to office. The visit of the Empress of Austria to Fiume is considered in Austria to indicate eventual co-operation between Austria, England and Italy for the defence of Constantinople. " A terrific thunderstorm was experienced in. Austria proper. Three. villages were fired by lightning. Severe floods have been experienced in lowa, many houses being swept away. Several of the towns are inundated ; but, owing to telegraph lines being blocked in all direstions, only meagre particulars of the damage have been received. Thirty-five miles of Illinois,railway- are submerged, and some of the bridges have been carried away. An, official at the prison of San Quentin, France, discovered arms and ammunition wit hin the precincts of the prison. Fourteen hundred of the prisoners had plotted a revolt. It has been found that the Canadian wheat crop will exceed the previous estimate of the, Government officers by 26,000,000 bushels. r The House of Commons has appointed a commission to- take into consideration the drink traffic, and to ascertain what effect, prohibition would have on the revenue and people of the Dominion. An insurrection has taken place in the Argentine province of Catamarca. The Provincial Government was overthrown, and] a provincial administration appointed in-,' stead. The insurgents are victorious. So far seven lives have been lost, and many persons were^wounded. ,. . , ■ ; A serious fire is raging at Leith docks. The estate of the late Sir John Macdonald j has been proved at under £17,000. j The Spanish immigrants to the Argentine^ are destitute. Ten thousand are leaving for Cuba. - . ( The German Government propose to institute a State lottery of 8,000,000 marks tq combat the slave trade in Africa. f A committee of the English bar have resolved to discourage sons from practising before their fathers who are judges. » The commission appointed to inquire into the alterations at Westminster Abbey recom; mend that the building should be.enlarged. \ The Victorian grain trophy at the Don-; j castar Agricultural Show is a great success? Universal surprise is expressed at the quality of the grain. The United States Government are prepared -to consider any cases of direct loss inflicted on British traders by the prohibition of sealing in Behring Sea. j The Government of the United States have ordered three United States, warships to rendezvous at Shanghai to prevent the persecution of Christians by Chinese mobs. June 27. • The Czarina and Czarewitch have arranged to visit Paris in August next, and subsequently the Czarina will visit England to see her sister, the Princess of Wales. ■An agent of Baron Hirsch is travelling in Southern Eussia, with a view of studying the established Jewish colonies. The excessive heat which had been experienced after the recerjt thunderstorms continues throughout Germany. A waterspout broke over Soldin province of Brandenburg, destroying the crops Mr Parnell and Mrs O'Shea will be re- ! married in a church towards the end of July, They propose to visit America in . the autumn. Captain Verney, who was convicted for attempting to procure a young woman under the age of 21 years of age for immoral purposes, has been removed, from the position held by him as deputy-lieutenant of Bucking- j ham. \ $fr Gladstone is improving in health. The death is announced of Sir George Macleary, well known in connection with Australian exploration, at the age of 82. Sir j George died at Mentone, in France, where he had gone for the benefit of his health. Lord Brooke threatens to institute proceedings against any persons connecting his wife with the incidents arising out of the Tranby Croft scandal. In the House of Lords to-daj , the motion tabled by Lord Denman to reject the Irish Land Purchase Bill was negatived, and the bill was read a second time. The Radical opposition to the free education proposals of the Government is increasing. Prince Alexander of Battenburg is suffering from gastric ulcer, and his condition is considered critical. Tallow: Medium mutton, 265; do beef, 255. The total quantity of wool catalogued ap to date is 245,000 bales, of which 229,290 have been sold. Prices are unchanged. Colonial barley, 31s 6d ; oats, 265 ; beans, 375. Prices for rabbitskins are Id above those ruling at the April sales. Leather : Best sides, 8d "to B£d ; ox hide, 3£a to 3f d, Antimony, £47 to £49. June 28. King Alexander of Servia will meet the Czar on July 27. The Premier and Regents will accompany the young monarch. Asiatic cholera is prevalent in the city of Aleppo to a serious extent. Serious floods have taken place along the course of the Upper Rhine, The railway line 3 are submerged, and vines destroyed. June 29. The prospects of the Russian harvest are worse, and a famine is feared in certain

provinces, The Government are considering the advisability of prohibiting further export of grain. Twenty-five thousand Welsh tinplate workers are out of employment, stocks being too heavy for the demand. A convention of the Irish National League meets on July 23, under the presidency of Mr Parnell. Smallpox has broken out among the Russian refugees at Charlottenburg, Prussia. The armoury oi the National Guard and Salvation Army barracks at New York were destroyed by fire. The damage is estimated at one million dollars. A social congress is meeting in the City of Vienna for the purpose of establishing bodies similar to English trade unions. Various* nomad tribes are joining the Arabian insurgents at Yemen, The Sultan Is making strenuous efforts to suppress the revolt. June 30. Sir H. Parkes, in an article in the Contemporary Review, predicts that within two years the whole of Australia will be enthusiastic federationists. Mr G. H. Reid, in an article in the Nineteenth Century, argues that the temporary failure of federation will not seriously retard the progress of the colonies. Yielding to pressure from the Sabbatarians, the Emperor of Germany has abandoned his intention of paying- private Sunday visits to the naval exhibition at Chelsea. Wheat has declined Is per quarter. A further outrage by Kurds is reported. They abducted a British girl ) and deposited her at the Turkish Consulate at Sajbolok. The British Consul immediately took steps to secure the release of '. the captive, but owing to his visiting the Turkish Consulate, where she was confined, the Kurds made an attack on it. Tbe British Consul succeeded in effecting his escape, and troops were summoned to quell the disturbance. New Tipperary is offered for sale. Sir H. Fowler's amendment, introducing the principle of local control in the education system, was defeated by a majority*of 101. The Standard urges that commercial treaties with foreign nations should be modified in certain respects to enable Great Britain to place her colonies on a better footing. The infant daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Fife was christened at the Chapel Royal with water from the River Jordan to-day. The Queen and members of the Royal family were present. j A syndicate is being formed in Staffordshire for the purpose of manufacturing iron and steel in Australia. They intend to send out representatives to ascertain the conditions under which ore is obtainable in the colonies. The action brought against Adelina Patti by a Russian manager for breach of contract was decided in her favour. The trial of Ticino insurgents has begun. The Marquis Rudina, Premier of Italy, announced the renewal of the triple alliance in the Senate to-day. The statement was received with applause. . The revolution in Hayti has been put down. President Hippolyte, who was | severely wounded, is still alive. ; A severe earthquake was experienced i yesterday at San Jose, in California. Some damage was done to buildings. •* Mr Parnell intends to fight the Carlow election vigorously. Mr T. Healy, speaking at Bagnalstown, asserted that Mr Parnell merely supported the Irish Land Franchise Bill in order to be able to sell his Irish estates. PABIS, June 26. Ten German workmen attacked and wounded the French Customs officers at Zent. The French Chamber of Deputies has by a large majority rejected the proposals that France should be officially represented at the Anti-slavery Convention in Brussels. June 29. The Government have decided, to introduce a bill in the Chamber of Deputies providing for the payment of a bounty on the cultivation of flax and hemp. Berlin, June 27. The armies of the powers forming the triple alliance (Germany, Austria, and Italy) ; will shortly be provided with steel cuirasses, impenetrable by rifle bullet. Prince Bismairks journal warns the Em- ! p'eror against tooi ntimate a friendship with England, for fear of alienating the friendship of Russia. - The Emperor visits London early next month. The agitation for the repeal of the corn duties is increasing. June 29. The Berlin newspapers are indignant at the remarks in Prince Bismarck's journal warning the Emperor not to have a too intimate friendship with England for fear of alienating Russian friendship, as they consider their tendency will be to humble Germany before Russia. June 30. The Emperor has announced that the triple" alliance has been renewed for six years. Information has been received here that the Turkish troops have suffered further defeat at the hands of Yemen rebels. The Sultan is greatly alarmed in consequence. Vienna, June 25. The EmperOr of Austria, after inspecting the British squadron now on a visit to a bay on the Fiume, on the Adriatic, assured j Admiral Sir Anthony Hoskins, of the flag ship Victoria, that in the event of war he j hoped to have the British on his side. The I Vienna press attach immense significance to the visit of British war ships. Constantinople, June 23. The rebellion in Yemen, notwithstanding the recent defeat of the insurgents, is spreading, as the Sultan has only been able to send 2000 troops to the scene. It is reported that the Yemen insurgents have proclaimed their independence of Turkey. i The Turkish Government are endeavouring to deter the Jews from establishing a colony in Palestine. j St. Petersburg, June 29. j The Czar is much incensed at the Crown : Prince of Denmark (the Czarina's brother) for condemning the treatment which the Jews expelled from Russia were subjected to. j i Anti-semitic riots, attended by bloodshed !

have taken place at Kherson, on the Black Sea. The price of flour is advancing consequent on the bad harvest. The semi-official journal, Novoe Vremya, declares that special measures will be needed to prevent the peasants from starving during the coming winter. June 30. The crops in Central, Western, and most of Southern Russia have failed, and grave fears are entertained of a severe famine. Rome, June 23 During a Socialist liot at Bologna five peasants were killed and 20 wounded. The leader of the rioters was rescued after being arrested. After two days of unparalleled turbulent scenes in the Italian Chamber over interpellations upon the foreign policy, Premier Rudini declared that the Government would pursue a policy of peace, and" firmly maintain existing treaties and alliance with the Central European empires. The speech has produced the impression that the renewal or the Triple Alliance is an accomplished fact. Bucharest, June 30. It is feared tl\e betrothal of the Crown Prince of Roumania to Miss Varesco, a maid of honour to the Qaeen, will prove fatal to the present dynasty. Lisbon, June 27. The bill" submitted to the Cortes authorising the sale of the Portuguese colonies in East Africa has been rejected. Berne, June 23. The State Council of Switzerland have refused an amnesty to the men who revolted at Ticino. Calcutta, June 22 Angao Sena Sinth, brother of the Jubraj, has been sentenced to death for complicity in the Manipur massacre. Mrs Grimwood's pension is to be made the same as that granted to Mrs Quinton — viz., £300 per annum. The sentences of death passed on the colonel and major concerned in the Manipur massacre have been commuted to penal servitude for life. Yokohama, June 23. ' The steamer Jap capsized off tbe coast of Japan, and 50 persons were drowned. She was engaged in the coastal trade. Capetown, June 23. Four hundred and fifty men of the Yorkshire Regiment are encamped at Moefing for the purpose of watching the movements of the Boers. June 29. The Boer Trek to Mashonaland has been abandoned, but it will probably be diverted to Swaziland. New York, June 25. It is probable that the coinage of two million ounces of silver money will be continued in the United States, as the Government is anxious to influence important elections. June 27. • The fear of a Navajo rising is increasing. The Navajos are a tribe of Indians, the famous Shoshones and Apaches, occupying a reservation in New Mexico and Arizonai They number nearly 10,000. „ ; Owing to the improvement in the crops the price of wheat in Mew York has fallen. Owing to the electricity in the air the telegraph wires are unworkable in Paris, and telephonic connection between Paris and London is interrupted. A Treaty of Commerce between^ Spain and the United States has been signed, and comes into operation in September next. Washington, June 30. An American syndicate is raising 50 million dollars to establish a gaminghouse in Mexico on the pattern of Monte Carlo. Ottawa, June 24. The Canadian Government propose to abolish the duly on sugar and to increase the impost on malt, spirits, beer, and tobacco. The effect of these proposals in their entirety will be to remit 2,000,000 dollars of taxation.' Owing to British interference, Canadian fishermen are again entitled to obtain bait for tbe Newfoundland fisheries. June 27. The Parliamentary Committee of Privileges is still engaged taking evidence in connection with the charges of corrupt practices brought against some members of Parliament. At to-day's sitting, a contractor testified that he paid Sir Hector L. Langevin, Minister of Public Works, large sums of money for obtaining him the Quebec harbour contracts. In consequence of the disclosures previously made, Sir Hector Langevin was recently Oalle'd upon by the Premier to resign bis position in the Cabinet. Valparaiso, June 23. Tbe insurgents are making desperate efforts to secure the aid ""of France. They offered the territory of Taona to Peru in return for assistance, but the Peruvian Government peremptorily refused. June 27. Don Claudio Vienna, the present Premier, has been elected to succeed President Balmaceda. Tbe insurgents are organising a final attack on the strongholds of the Government troops. June 30. The ndw Chilian Ministry adhere to the President. The rebel Government nndertakes to pay interest on the national debt.