BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Otago Witness, Issue 1933, 25 February 1892, Page 34

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

(Peii Pnisss Association.) London, February 18. Mount Vesuvius is in eruption. The coal-heavers have all resumed work. A rural labourers' league has been formed in England. A manifesto is being issued by malcontents in Poland urging a revolution. The late Mr W. H. Smith's personality has been proved at under L 1,700,000. A receiving order has been granted against Benzon, the " Jubilee plunger." Ten thousand pounds in gold was found in a grave in Portaferry, County Down, Ireland. A desperate attempt to wreck a train by which President Montt, of Chili, was travelling failed. The Pope urges the French Government to foster the interests of the labouring population. Sir Henry James has introduced in the House of Commons a bill providing for a criminal court of appeal. His colleagues are urging Mr Gladstone not to return for a fortnight, owing to the severity of the weather. The drink bill of Great Britain for the year amounted to L 141,250,000, being an average of L 3 15s per head of the population. It is reported that the veto upon the immigration of Chinese into Canada will be removed and a poll tax of LIOO enforced. Owing to the failure of the crops in East Prussia, a famine in that district is imminent. The Dunedin Art Gallery agent has secured numerous and valuable collections for the local gallery. Influenza is still raging in London. Two hundred and sixteen deaths were reported during last week. Pamphlets have been seized in Poland directed against the Government and landlords. Some excitement has been caused thereby. A proposal made in the French Chamber of Deputies to repeal the duties on articles of food, on the ground that they are strangling the working classes, was negatived. i Louis Bonaparte has been committed for trial at Paris for the misappropriation of diamonds valued at L 20.000, which are said to belong to his reputed wife. The total quantity of wheat and flour afloat for the United Kingdom is 2,900,000 quarters, and for the Continent 1,108,000 quarters. Owing to the machinations of grain operators at Berlin it is expected that a "corner" in Russian rye will be effected in April, and prices are advancing by leaps. Mr Chamberlain, speaking in Devonshire, advised the country to insist that the Irish party should not be allowed to block the prosecution of reforms in England. It is stated that the sale of eucalyptus medicines has increased 200 per cent, since the influenza began its ravages, but the chemists are accused of adulterating them. General Booth, speaking at Exeter Hall, said that Australia would soon become equal to America, but it requires a strong Government, the infusion of morality and religion, more people who will work, regular immigration, and systematic settlement of the people on the land. General Booth maintains that his oversea scheme has proved that poverty is avoidable. He justified the payment of the travelling expenses incurred by his tour through the colonies. Before he decided in which colony he would commence operations in connection with his oversea scheme he would confer with Sir John Gorst and Mr H. Chaplin (the Minister of Agriculture). He stated his belief that the objections of the colonies were restricted to certain points, and that they would ultimately give way. A heavy fall of snow was experienced throughout Northern Europe, and in many places railway traffic is blocked. There have been several fresh outbreaks of foot and mouth disease in the vicinity of London recently. February 18. The English cattle markets are being reopened. Sir A. C. Campbell, Bart., M.P. for West Renfrew, is dead. Belgium has adopted the referendum system by a small majority. The Inman line of steamers is refusing passages for the Russian Jews to America. Pneumonia is ravaging the cattle ranches of North-western Canada. The elections in Japan- have been stopped by rioting. Many persons were killed. Lord Roberts will retain the Indian Com-mandership-in-chief for another year. Two hundred anarchists are awaiting trial in Cadiz. They will be arraigned in three sections. General Booth is making preparations to establish a colony at Port Elizabeth, in South Africa. The weather in England is the coldest experienced for 30 years. It is also severe on the Continent. It is reported that riots have taken place at Ceara, a maritime province in Northern Brazil. The Governor has been expelled. Mr Harrier, the meteorologist, has started the theory that the influenza is due to the Krnkatoa eruption, dust from which, after a lapse of seven years, is falling again. Owing to the objections of the Imperial authorities, the restrictions on Chinese immigration in Canada have been removed, but the poll tax has been increased to 500dol. Attacks are being made on the German policy in East Africa, which is said to cause the utmost friction with the natives and discord in the army. The conduct of the officials is impeached. Sir W. V. Harcourt, speaking at Whitechapel, said the Irish parties and Liberals were practically unanimous in condemning Mr Balfour's Local Government Bill for Ireland as a sham. Mr Balfour, in a speech at the Con* stitutional Club, said the Irish demands were dangerous and impossible. He did not believe that Mr Gladstone had a scheme for Home Rule in existence yet. A cargo of Australian wheat (January shipment) has been sold at 41s. New Zealand long-berried wheat firm at 43s 9d,

Frozen mutton : Canterbury, 4f d ; Wellington, 4£d ; Canterbury lamb, 6£d ; beef, hindquarters, 4|d. Six hundred bales of New Zealand hemp were sold at a slightly easier price. Fair to medium quality is quoted at L 22 per ton. South Australian wheat firmer at 445 ; Victorian steady at 43s 6d. For Australian wheat on passage sellers ask 40s 9d, and buyers offer Is less. Consignees complain that butter shipped as first-class is really second quality, and that there is a great scarcity of choice qualities. The balance of the factory shipment ex Aorangi has been disposed of from 110s to 115s, and the Oratava's from 10Sa to 112s. Portion of that ox Maori was heated before Bhipping. Owing to the frost and scarcity of Danish butter, prices have risen 4s. The British Commodore, bound lo Sydney,

has been reinsured at a premium of GOgs. It is feared she has been lost. Tho American visible supply of wheat is 64,800,000 bushels. The Earl of Glasgow, the new Governor of New Zealand, sails for Melbourne by the Austral. February 20. Lord Stafford has died of influenza. Four hundred children died of smallpox at Saratov, Russia, in 10 days. The rioting in Japan has subsided, and the elections are now going on quietly. Tho smallpox is spreading in Bombay. Twenty-five deaths are reported in a week. The Earl and Countess Zetland have given L2OOO to Phelp's Hospital in Ireland. The elections iv Hawaii have resulted m favour of the Government, who secured a majority of seats. . The Spanish Government intend to inflict the same punishment for dynamite outrages as for murder. Sir C. Dilke has challenged Mr Stead, editor of the Review of Reviews, to contest a seat for i Parliament with him. ( The Government astronomer at Madras states that the sun spots will be concurrent with rainfall. i Mr Deacon, an American gentleman, muling a young French attache in his wife's bedroom at Nice, shot him dead. He has been arrested on the capital charge. Articles have been signed for a double sculling race between Hanlan and O'Connor and Teenier and Ilosmer for L2OO a-side. The race will be rowed in the United States in June. William Perry and Co., merchants, of Sydney, are calling a meeting of their creditors Their liabilities are put down at L 120.000, and it is supposed that a surplus of LIO,OOO will result. The St. James' Gazette says that the negotiations respecting Captain Younghusbaud's arrest in the Pamir by a Russian expedition are likely to result in the Russian Government offering an apology. It i.« pointed out that if the Australian Governments will assist either with money or bonds the new International Company, just formed to develop the Pacific trade, an excellent opportunity will be afforded of settling the New Hebrides difficulty. Severe snowstorms and gales have been experienced in the South of England, many telegraph lines being razed to the ground. The news from the Continent states that 4ft of snow has fallen in the Valley of the Rhine. The Government tailoring contract has been sublet to an East End firm, paying Jews 35s per week. It is alleged that in disposing of the contract the law has been evaded, and the question will be ventilated in Parliament. The Dundee linen mills are shortening the time owing to tho stagnation of trade. The pig iron market is flat at 40s. New Zealand cheese is quoted at 545. Mr John Hollingshead, director of several large variety theatre companies in London, the provinces, and abroad, has been declared bankrupt. February 21. A violent thunderstorm experienced in Spain has done much damage to property. The Pope's Encyclical states that the growth of religion in France is co-equal with the grandeur of its military and political institutions. Severe hurricanes attended the heavy fall of snow experienced. The snow has blocked railway traffic in England and Ireland. It is alleged that corruption has been discovered in the marine branch of the Canadian service. Tallow is unchanged. The English wheat market shows a general advance of 6d, while the Continental and American markets are advancing. For Australian wheat on the passage sellers are asking 41s 3d, but buyers refuse to give more than 40s 3d. Admiral Tryon fell overboard while engaged in raising H.M.S. Victoria, which went ashore on the Greek coast, but was rescued. The Observer says that colonial stocks are being steadily absorbed in small amounts for purposes of legitimate investment. The North German Lloyd's Shipping Company have decided not to pay a dividend for the past year, and to withdraw two million marks from the reserve fund. Five hundred Cochins attacked Sodon, in Upper Bunnah, but were repulsed with, a loss , to the British troops of five killed and 14 wounded. Sodon is now besieged. Ten Sepoys were killed on their way to that place. Mr Deacon, who shot a young French attache" at Nice, is well known in Parisian and American society. The intrigue between his wife and the attache is supposed to have been going on for two years. Deacon was admitted to bail on easy terms. The Pall Mall Gazette publishes an interview with Mr R. B. Wise, ex- Attorney-general of New South Wales, who gives it as his opinion that the labour movement in the colonies is the safety valve for the dangerous element, and therefore really a source of security. He considers that the Protectionist movement in his own colony is due to an accidental majority and to the treachery of certain members. Her Majesty the Queen has awarded the second class Albert medal to Hennessy, the coxswain of the Sandgate lifeboat, which rescued several of the sailors of the ship Benvenue when she stranded off Sandgate in November last. The presentation was made by the Queen at Osborne. The Economist disputes the correctness of the figures adduced by Mr H. H. Hayter, Government Statist of Victoria, with regard to the private wealth of that colony, and contends that the excess of private wealth over liabilities is under 40 millions sterling. The journal goes on to say that the fact of the colony curtailing its imports and expanding its markets is a good sign. The number of wills proved during the financial year is unprecedented: The influenza epidemic is responsible for the great increase, Mr Wise, of New South Wales, told the Pall Mall Gazette interviewer that the concession of Home Rule to Ireland would be a message of peace to the whole English-speaking world, and declared that it was now impossible for an open opponent of Irish Home Rule to be elected for a seat in the New South Wales Parliament. He referred in eulogistic terms to the Australian cablegrams which appeared in the London Times, and expressed the opinion that a further reduction in cable rates would have the effect of promoting the union of the empire. Commenting on Sir Samuel Griffith's manifesto with regard to the Queensland sugar trade, the National Observer says that Sir Samuel's change of views on the subject of black labour has taken place at an opportune time. The paper characterises the Queensland workman as horribly selfish, insincere, and brutal, February 22. Tho committee of the Wesleyan Conference recommend that power be obtained to extend tho term of ministerial residence in each circuit beyond three years. The Tory party bavft L 50.000 in hand with which to conduct the London County Council

elections. The Liberals are responding to the exertions of the other party. The Egyptian Government show a surplus of L 1,300,000, derived from the conversion of the debt. The second daughter of the Duke of Connaught is suffering from an attack of pneumonia. | Severe ga^es have been raging in the channel i during the last few days, and many wrecks, attended with loss of life, have occurred. Investors are alarmed that the issue of Treasury bonds will increase instead of relieve the necessities of borrowers, and a report which is current to the effect that the New South Wales Government is prepared with a fresh issue on the first opportunity has irritated the market. , Summonses have been issued against Mr H. Bottomley (secretary) and Sir H. A. Isaacs (director of the Hansard Publishing Union) for defrauding the company of L 30,000. Another director will be included in the charge. Members of the Congregational churches throughout England are holding a week of selfdenial, hoping by this means to obtain sufficient funds to maintain an additional hundred missionaries. The mail steamer Kaiser Wilhelm is ashore near the mouth of tho Scheldt river in Belgium. Bishop Selwyn states that Sir |S. Griffith's reversal of policy is a startling move. He hopes that the Queensland Government will themselves undertake the work of recruiting, since the labour agents always proved unable to stop abuses. The bishop adds that the supply of coloured labour is limited, as, when recruiting was carried on before, very young boys were constantly taken against the wishes of their parents The Rev. Cheok Hong Chong, of Victoria, who has been conducting a crusade in Great Britain against the opium traffic, has been very successful. . The ship Fratell sank off Penzance during a gale, and it is supposed that all hands were lost. One body has been washed ashore. A large Italian and Spanish pilgrimage will be made to the Vatican during the jubilee. A gang of robbers ransacked a train at Rochester (U.S.) and shot the conductor. They escaped by means of a spare engine ; but some of the railway employes pursued them for some miles on another engine, and after shots had been exchanged effected the capture of the desperadoes. The Times condemns the colonies for privately increasing their national debt by means of Treasury bills, and urges the various Governments in need of money to place loans on the market at a higher rate of interest than offered in the past. In the course of a speech the Emperor of Austria said Austria was on friendly terms with the other Great Powers. The Vatican favours the proposal that M. Ribot should undertake the task of forming a ' new Ministry for France. Mr Low, formerly Berlin correspondent of The Times, sued Mr Walter, the manager, for £1000 damages for breach of contract. A verdict was given for defendant. The Nihilists are fomenting an agitation among the peasants in Russia. A steamer with a cargo of provisions subscribed by the citizens of Philadelphia, U.S., for the starving peasants in Russia, has sailed for a Russian port. The unemployed in Vienna and Rome are raising an agitation. Emm Pasha writes bitterly complaining of Captain JLingard's conduct towards him. It is reported that funds are being raised in France, Germany, and the United States for the purpose of fitting out an expedition to send to the assistance of Emiu Pasha. Paris, February 18. The bill introduced by the Premier threatening religious orders hsvs been defeated by a majority of 102, in consequence of which the Ministry has resigned. February 19. In the Chamber of Deputies M. Hubbard, a Radical member, moved urgency, with the view of stamping M. Freycinet's bill dealing with religious societies as a direct attack on the church. M. Clemenceau supported the motion, and Premier Freycinet opposed it, the latter disavowing that the measure was intended as an attack on the church. Amid great confusion the vote was taken on the motion urging the Government to continue a Republican policy, which was rejected by 304 to 212. The Chamber then adjourned till Monday. M. Freycinet will probably be reinstated. It is stated that it would not be possible in the present position of parties to form a new Government. February 21. The resignation of M. de Freycinet as Premier has been accepted. The Anarchists in the city, who had intended to remain peaceful on May Day, have now decided to hold a tumultous celebration on that clay in view of the retirement of the Ministry of which M. Constans is a member. Februaiy 22. President Carnot has written to the Pope thanking him for his Encyclical letter, and offering to lend his assistance to secure religious peace in Franco. February 23. Mrs Deacon denies that she was guilty of j improper conduct with the French attache whom her husband shot dead, and is applying for a divorce. Berlin, February 21. An Emigration Bill containing stringent provisions bus been submitted to the Reichstug. A clause is inserted in which various societies are forbidden to assist intended emigrants. Vienna, February 2L The personal income tax which has beeii introduced into the Roichsralh is estimated to yield L 2,000,000., 000, 000. February 22. Three Czechs have been arrested on suspicion of being concerned in tho dynamite attempt to wreck the train in which the Emperor was travelling in Reichenburg last Sofia, February 23. Madame Kraveltoff and two other ladies were tried in this city for petitioning foreign consuls to hasten the trial of their respective husbands for the murder of M. Bettcher, late Minister of Finance, in March last. The women were acquitted, o Rome, February 21. ' His Holiness the Pope, in an Encyclical to the French bishops, deplores the vastness of the plot concocted by some men in France against Christianity. It repels as an odious calumny that the church seeks political domination by the State, and urges on France the acceptance of £he Republic, but Catholics must unite m combating abuses of legislation. Madrid, Februiry 22. The Spanish Government, in a note to the Great Powers, invite them to negotiate for commercial treaties with Spain. Calcutta, February 18. The Indian Government will shortly apply for a loan of five million pounds, February 22, The rebels surround Sodon, It is understood that the trouble is due to CliinoßC intrlgues,

Cai'ktown, February 22. The million loan issued by the Cape Government has been over-subscribed locally. Washington, February 18. The refusal of the Secretary of State to resume negotiations for a treaty with Canada unless the Dominion was allowed to discriminate as to the tariff between the United States and Great Britain caused the failure of the conference here, at which the Hon. J. S. D. Thompson, Canadian Minister of Justice, was taking part. February 22. The United States Sewite has reimposed the Anti-Chinese Act for a further period of 10 years. New York. February 22. A negro who outraged a woman in Arkansas was soaked in kerosene and burnt to death in the presence of 6000 people. The unhappy victim was compelled to apply the match to himself. San Francisco, February 20. News has been received that the Tamerlane, a Hawaiian whaler, has been wrecked, and the captain and 17 of the crew drowned. Ottawa, February 18. Mr Edward B.lake, Q..0., who from 1880 to 1887 led tfye Liberal party in the Dominion Parliament, is repurted, to he willing \a rcs,um,e the leadership on condition tljat cp.in.m.prcial union with the United States, is adopted instead of unrestricted reciprocity. Two of the judges of the Royal Commission set up to investigate the Baie Chaleur railway scaudal condemn the Hons. Mercier and Langelier, Premier and President of the Councit respectively, of complicity, but tho> other judges applied to acquit all accused except for carelessness. Buenos Ayres, February 22. The elections in the Argentine Republic are proceeding iv a peaceful manner.