CABLEGRAMS. BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2086, 15 February 1894, Page 36

CABLEGRAMS.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Press Association— By Telegraph— Copyright. London, February 6. The meeting of shareholders in the English, Scottish, and Australian Chartered Bank has fixed February 14; as the date for obtaining approval of a bill authorising the bank to pay the creditors' interest accrued during tfie terms of the suspension. At a meeting of the London and Australasian Debenture Corporation Board, Sir James Fergussou, chairman of the board, said it bad been decided to repay the terminable debentures, and to issue L 200.000 of perpetual £ per cents, for the purpose. Wool is very firm at last rates. A shipment of butter by the Arawa was sold in Vancouver at an average price of 14d P er lD< -„ ,_ * February 7. The French have seized the town of Ca valla, on the coast of. Guinea, West Africa, and the people of Liberia, an independent negro republic, are incensed at the step. Lord Ripon has received cDnfirmatory reports regarding the French attack on the Britibh frontier police in Sierra Leone, but no details of the affair are giveo. The Colonial Office is not ceitain as to the position of :he frontier. H M.S. Crescent, which it is oinoially announced will replace the Oilando as the flagship of the Australian station, takes out new crews for the Ringarooma and Katocmba. The total quantity of wheat and flour afloat for the United Kingdom is 2,752,000 quarters, and for the Continent 924,000 quarters. Indian rupee paper is quoted at 59 per 100 rupees, which is the lowest price since the Mutiny. Terrific pales are raging on the coast. Dunscombe Hall, in Yorkshire, was totally destroyed by fire. '*■* ' The imports into the United Kingdom for the past month showed an increase of L 5.300.000, and the exports an increase of L 126.000. . On Monday, Mr R. Reid, Victorian Minister for Defence, will receive a deputation of. solonistP, now resident in London, who will explain the difficulties in regard to the distribution of colonial butter, and suggest a scheme to secure better prices. Two cargoes of Australian wheat, January and February shipments, have been sold at2Gs. , Brigadier-general Kitchener, Siraar ot the Egyptian Army, and Mr Justice Scot t, judicial adviser to. the Khedive, have been created K.O.M G's. Mr Gladstone returns from Biarruz on Saturday. Mr Cecil Rhodes has decided not to visit England for the present. Mr Reid, the Victorian Minister for Defence, who is on his way to the Canadian Tariff Conference, has asked the War Office to establish meat depots for the Indian army at Colombo, Calcutta, and Bombay. The officials are considering the suggestion. In the House of Lords, in Committee on the Parish Councils Bill, Lord Salisbury proposed an amendment with a view of dis-, franchising labourers who compounded for their rates. The Duke of Devonshire withdrew his support, whereupon Lord Salisbury abandoned the amendment. Merlino, the Italian Anarchist leader, has been sentenced to two years' imprisonment. The courts of Malta have disagreed as to the validity of Protestant marriages, 3000 of which have been celebrated since the beginning of the century, and the point bas been referred to the Privy Council for decision. The Democrats, and also the Finance Committee of the United States Senate, are opposed to hearing merchants in connection with the reduction of the U.S. wool duties. The system of paying bonuses to immigrants has been abolished iti*Oanada. Mr R. H. Glyn, president of the Bank of New Zealand, at a meeting of the directors, said he thought it was their duty to a-tist in the reconstruction of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company. Any action taken with regard to the company had not prejudiced the position of the bank. February 8. Canon Scott declares that the position of the Anglican Church is a byword, owing to a selfish disregard of the interest of the people. Mr George Clarke, addressing a meeting of bankers, said the debt of the Australasian colonies amounted to 200 millions sterling, which was larger compared with population than the debt of any other solvent nation in the world. Tenders for the City of Sydney loan ot L 300,000 at 4 \er cant, at par were opened to-day. TheamouottendetedwasLl,2oo,ooo, at an average of about LlO2 143. One tender was for the whole amount. The Liberal Federation are arranging to hold a great meeting at Ponsmouth for the purpose of dealing with the attitude of the House of Lords and demanding precedence for the Newcastle Programme. February 9. Lord Rosebery replying to the representations made by Mr Robert Reid, of Victoria, said that personally he was in favour of a Pacific cable, but he was still considering the question of differential duties. He was willing to assist Mr Reid in the coinage question, and would also give what assistance he could in bis other missions. The Admiralty has given instructions for the immediate building of a number of •torpedo destroyers at Newcastle yards. The Calcutta correspondent of The Times says the feeling in financial circles in Calcutta is something approaching a panic, and the Bank of Bengal bas raised the discount rate to 9 per cent. The Khedive has appointed Maher Pasha, late Under- secretary for War, Governor of the Suez Canal. The Paris paper Le Temps says that in revenge for the occupation of Timbuctoo the Arabs massacred the entire French torce. The Democrats and Finance Commiftee of the United States Senate propose to reduce the free list, and to retain the duty on coal and iron. The London and North- Western DLtrict Bank be£ suspended payment. February 10 The barque Racehorse, with grain from

Australia, has been wrecked at Calais. The crew are safe. The rate of exchange to Australia has been reduced £ pei cent. The trial of Sheridan, in Dublin, on a charge of being in possession of explosives, resulted in the jury disagreeing, and they have retired until Monday. The Australian Mutual Shipping Company has declared a dividend of 6 per cent, per annum. Mr Gladßtoce was accorded a great Radical welcome on his return from Biarritz. A sensation has been caused in London by the reported discovery of " Jack the Ripper," author of the Whitechapel murders, in an English lunatic asylum. Mr Thomas Salt, presiding at a meeting of the New Zealand Midland Railway Company, said the directors had not declined the Government terms, and with vigorous efforts would raise the £1,250,000 necessary to complete the east and west route. February 11. Tallow : Medium mutton, 25s Gd ; beef, 245. The English wheat market is lifeless, the Continental is depressed, and the American is declining. A weak cargo of Victorian wheat sold at 253. Butter is unchanged. Indian rupee paper is quoted at LSB 8s per 1000 rupees. Mr Button, editor of a Socialist paper published in Paris, has been sentenced to two years' imprisonment for the authorship of an article threatening President Oarnot's life in the event of Vaillant being executed. iSir G. Carbonp, Crown Advocate at Malta, replying to the Privy Council, says that the Pope is unable to see his way to validate mixed marriages, included in the dispute between the British authorities and the Vatican. Lord Rosebery advised Mr Reid, Victorian Commissioner, to arrange a basis reciprocal with Canada, and be would then be prepared to again discuss his proposals with regard to a Pacific cable and other matters. The football match between England and Ireland resulted in a win for England. Lord Coleridge (Lord Chief Justice of England) is stated to be retiring, and Sir Charles Russell is mentioned as his successor. The Statist gays that the fall in silver is due to the imports into India prior to resuming the import duty. v February 12. The wheat cargo from the Cape of Good Hope has been sold at about 253 9d per quarter. Princess Ina, daughter of Princess Beatrice of Battenberg, was thrown on her head today while ou"; riding at Osborne. Her injuries are of a rather serious nature. Mr Justice Williams has ordered Sir H. Isaacs and Messrs L9thbridge and Kegan P.iul, directors, to repay LI S 000 to the liquidators of the Anglo- Australian Printing Company. Captain H. B. Graham is appointed to the command of H M.S. Wallaroo, Captain S. A. Johnson to the Rinparooma, Captain Julius A. Baker to the Katoomba, aod Captain Robert W. Craigs to the Crescent. Wheat has been 6d lower during the week. Piincea Ina has regained consciousness, and is slowly recovering from the effects of her accident. As an experiment the Admiralty have decided to draft 50 junior officers and 900 men out of the reserve into the navy in order to supply a deficiency. Roberts, the billiard champion, allows Memmott (of Melbourne) half the points in a spot barred game of billiards of 20,000 up. The correspondent of the Standard at Constantinople says that the Turks are trying to goad the Armenians into rebellion. Obi v ry: Sir Harry Vtrney, aged 93; and Maxime Ducamp, founder of the Revue de Paris. Mr Wilson, of the Investors' Review, writing in the Chronicle, alleges that New Zealand surpluses only exist on paper. He contends that in three 3'ears the colony has slyly increased its debt by a million and a-half. Sir W. B. Perceval, replying to the Financial News's attack on the New Zealand sui pluses, states that the increased debt of the colony is owing to the conversion, which would result in a saving of L 30.000 annually. Italy is negotiating for a commercial treaty with France. The Upper House of Nova Scotia have sent a petition to the Queen asking her Majesty not to grant the request of the House of Assembly for the abolition of the Council. Governor Tegucigalpa, in Honduras, repulsed the insurgent force that was besieging the town, with the loss of 100 men. A hurricane was experienced over the greater portion of Great Britain. At Dudley, in Worcestershire, a number of factories were wrecked. At Eist Oaistor, in Norfolk, churches were unroofed and a steamer was swatnp--d. Lifeboats were sent to the assistance of the latter, and rescued 75 of those on board. Paris, February 7. The feeling is growing in France that the Protection policy is likely to imperil friendship with Russia. February 8. News from the We3t Coast of Africa states that the French commander recognised the claims of the Republic of Liberia, and withdrew his men from the town of Cavalla. The French Government have is-^e3 an order that canned provisions are to be exclusively used in the army in future. Febrnary 9. The French Government have given for the construction of 19 new torpedo boats of a modern type. The work is to be taken in hand immediately. M. Pasteur has offered an Australian syndicate the sole rights for Australia to his process for curing anthrax in sheep for L 15.000. February 10. Baron Sonbsrgrau has been arrested here charged with obtaining 3-1,000,000 francs from the Societe Immeubles to cover the rash speculations of the Binque Descomfce. News has been received of the massacre of French troops in Timbuctoo. The troops were fcurpris-ed while at-leep in camp at Dongoi, and the Tuare^s overturned the stacked arms, thus preventing the soldiers from firing. Captain Bonnier and eight

other officers, 10 non-commissioned officers, and 64 native soldiers are missing. The Tuaregs threaten to attack Timbuctoo, which Capfain Phillips holds with 300 rifles and six cannon. He has only a limited supply of food. February 11. In the Chamber of Deputies the Premier, replying to a question as to the massacre of French troops on the West Coast of Africa, declared that the Government had no intention of evacuating Timbuctoo, which is threatened by the Tnaregs. Reinforcements, he said, were advancing rapidly to assist Captain Phillip?, and if necessary further assistance would be sent from Algeria. FJebrnary 12. The Banque d'Escompte have snspended payment, with liabilities of 54,000,000 francs (L 2.160.000). Besides M. Loubeyrau, who i 8 a director of this company, M. Clerc, the manager of the Societe Immeubles, has also been arrested. February 13. The Rheims Chamber of Commerce inform M. Meline that the woollen industry is greatly injured by Protection, and that many of the factories are ruined and will have to be sold. A young Anarchist named Breton, in revenge for Vaillant's execution, entered the Cafe Le Zaire Terminus Hotel, Paris, and threw a bomb. The explosion killed one person and injured IS others The perpetrator made desperate efforts to escape, and severely wounded a polic?man atd a woman with a revolver before he was captured. The mob endeavoured to lynch the prisoner, who declares that further outrages have been arranged. Berlin, February 7. Under the new commercial treaty, Russia makes a large reduction in the duties on wool and numerous manufactures, while Germany reduces iheduty ol R i-sian cereals from 7£ to 3£ marks. The treafcy is to be in force for 10 years. Under the new commercial treaty Russia reduces the duty on German minerals and texiles 50 per cent. The commercial concessions made by Russia to Germany will also apply to EDg land under the terms of the favoured nation clause. February Twenty - five rebel soldiers have bepn hanged in the Cameroona. The German press demand the recall of the Governor. The feelirjg in Germany in favour of a commercial treaty with Russia is increasing, and the agrarian opposition in the Reichstag proved unavailing. St. Peteksburg, February 6. A Jewish family comprising 12 members were wilfully poisoned at Minsk. Several persons have been arrested on suspicion. February 8. Five thousand workmen on the ironworks at Nijitagel resisted the collection of arrears of taxes. The soldiers were called out to enforce the collection, and a serious conflict cccurred, many on both sides being killed. Febraary 10 Leading commercial paople are highly pleased at the prospect of a commercial treaty with Germany. Constantinople, February 13. Several deaths from cholera are reported here. CAIRO, February 13. At the instance of Colonel Kitchener the Khedive has promoted several English officers in his service in Egypt. Rome, Febrnary 9. The relations between the Czar and Pope are strained in consequence of the persecution of Russian Catholics. Tehekan, February 10. The Shah visits St. Petersburg in June, and thence makes a tour of Europe. Madrid, February 6. Tne Sul f an of Morocco received Marshal Campos, the Spanish commander at Fez, and made a public speech admitting the moderation shown by the Spaniards in dealing with the Riffs at Melilla. February 10. The Sultan of Morocco pleads inability to pay the indemnity demanded by Spain for an attack by Riffs at Melilla. Amsterdam, February 7. One of the men arrested in connection with the extensive forgery of Dutch notes committed suicide in prison. Berne, February 7. The Swiss Federal Council has approved of the Simplon tunel. Calcutta, February 7. Serious rioting has occurred between the Mahommedaus and Hindoos at Zeola, in Bombay province. Several temples and mosques were destroyed, and many casualties are reported. The troops were Cilled out to restore order. Cap « TOWN, February G. The result of the general elections gives Mr Cecil Rhodes, the present Premier, a majority of 24 members in the House of Assembly. February 8 Two AF;ic%n trader.*, DiWson and Taylor have started to find Lobengula, and offer him terms on behalf of the Chartered Company. It is reported that all his followers have deserted him. The Kaikonra has arrived here. The fire which occurred on the voyage to Teneriffe broke out in No. 5 hold. The portion of the cargo for Auckland and Lyttelton is damaged. Six bundjre^ packages will be returned to Wellington, while the remainder will be forwarded to the colony by the Kaikoura and Ruapehu. Washington, Febraary 9. The Senate has adopted the Federal Election Bill, which is intended as a safeguard against corruption. February 7. The House of Representatives reported an amendment recognising the Government of Hawaii, and declaring in favour of the ultimate annexation of the group. A motion censuring Stevens, the American representative at Honolulu, was shelved for the present. The House of Representa f ives pis-ed a resolution censuring Mr J. L. S event;, United States representative is Hiwata, and declaring that the annexation of the or the establishment of a protectorate was uncalled-for and inexpedient. This resolution waß carried by a two to one majority. February 9. The Democratic Finance Committee of

the Senate are preparing radical changes in the tariff with the view to securing revenue. February 13. A severe snowstorm is being experienced in the Western States. Traffic is blooked, and a large number of cattle have been lost.^ President Cleveland declines to forcibly overthrow the Provisional Government in Hawaii. New York, February 6. A despatch from Rio de Janeiro states that Admiral de Gama has notified his intention of blockading the harbour in order to make the position secure for the belligerents. Febrnary 8. The warship Kersage, which sank the Confederate steamer Alabama during the Civil War in 1864, foundered in the Caribbean Sea. All on board were saved. Ottawa, February 7. The plebiscite taken in the province of Ontario showed a proportion of 17 to 11 in favour of prohibition. Toronto, February 10. Gaudaur and Han lan have accepted the challenge of Sullivan and Harding for a double sculling match on the Thames. Halifax, February 9. The House of Assembly in Nova Scotia has addressed a pe'ition lo the Queen asking for power to abolish the Legislative Council. Buenos Aybes, Febinary 10. The Argentine press oppose the extradition of Jabez B ilfour to England. February 12. The Argentine Government have ordered Jabez Balfour to be removed out of the court, but he is to be retained in custody pending the arrival of legal documents and detectives. Valparaiso, February 9. Santiago, the capital of Chili, is in a state of siege. Many friends of the late President Bal&iaceda have been arrested.