BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2181, 19 December 1895, Page 35

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

London, December 9. The British steamer Principal has been wrecked- at Faroe Islands and 29 persons drowned. New South Wales has purchased the right to use the Galton-Bertillon apparatus for identifying eliminate. The indictment for fraudulent bankruptcy against Jabez Balfour has been dropped. Purkesp, manager of the Woodford Green branch of the London Joint Stock Bank, has confessed to the embezzling of LIB.OQO. The French Government are disarming several warships for the purpose of economy. Cardinal Persico is dead. December 10. The Bt earner Woolloomooloo grounded at I Dunkirk, bnt was floated off and will ba towed to London. Considerable excitement has been caused by the announcement that Charles Galway, a gentleman well known in society, had eloped with his brother's wife. They went to the Grand Hotel, and there both attempted suicide. Mrs Galway eventually succumbed to her injuries, but Galway's attempt failed. A procession of 30,000 marched through the streets of Madrid as a demonstration in favour of municipal reform. The Kaiser has announced that he will give a great fete at Berlin on January 18 to celebrate the proclamation of the German Empire at Versailles. December 11. Truth states that friction has occurred I between Lady Wolseley and Prince Saxe i Weimar, wbich has led to the latter resigaiDg the presidency of the military, tournament. William Gadman baa just been sentenced to seven yeara' hard labour for bigamy. He was fouud to have no less than seven wives and 23 children. December 12. Mr Walter Long, president of the Board of Agriculture, replying to a request from the Chambers of Agriculture said personally he favoured the slaughtering of cattle at the port of disembarking or aboard ship, in order to prevent the dissemination of disease. The department, he said, waa inquiring into ths matter. At present the Government had not come to a decision on the question. At the annual meeting of the F. and O. Company Sir Thomas Sutherland (chairman) said the company would probably expend a large sum of money during the forthcoming year if the mail contracts with Australia ■were renewed. He hoped the Imperial Government would remember that both Fiance and Germany were attempting to cust British companies in the carrying trade to the colonies. Sir Tbomas pointed out that throughout the contract with the P. and O. Company the mails bad been delivered at Adelaide at an average of S3 hours ahead of contract time. He also said that it was impossible for short-period cont racts to be as efficient as those over long terras. December 11. The Duchess of York has given birth to a son. Both mother and infant are doing well. Harding, the sculler, has paid the deposit for a match for the championship of the world with Stanbury, of Sydney, the present holder of the championship. Parliament has been summoned for the despatch of business on February 11. A Protection Oonferenca, presided over by the Right Hon. J. Lowther, approved of Mr Chamberlain'B circular which advocated preference treatment to the colonies. December 15. The Ashantees on the Gold Coast have been expelled by floods, which destroyed the bridges. Nevertheless the advance proceeds. Tbe Government are arming tribes hostile to King Prempeh. The Spanish Ministry have resigned owing to charges of corruption. The will of the late Sir Samuel Wilson has been lodged with the Master in Equity. It amounts to L 719,000. Tbe New Zealand and River Plate Company declare a dividend of 5 per cent., and carrj forward L5lOO. While shooting at Sir Edward Lawson's the Prince of Wales received a spark in the eye, but the iujury 1b not seriou?. Tbe Goldfields Finance Developing Company, with a capital of L 200,000, is announced in London for the purpose of operating ir Africa and Australia. English merchants are sending an expedition to explore the provinces of Szechuan »nd Nuianan, which are contiguous to Burmah Other movements for developing trade witt China are also going on, an expedition fron Tonquln having reached new districts anc opened fresh market*.

■■"*■■"■••■ ■ ■ ■ ™ j Paris, December 11. . In the Chamber of Deputies, during ths debate on the Nigar disputes, the Colonial Minister said that the offensive period of thf French colonial policy was past, and would. b$ now followed by a period of peace, without extending her foreign possessions. The Chamber of Deputies deoided to Intro* duce tinned meat among the supplies to the navy. Thio will not operate until the beginning of 1897, and the meat muat be wholly of French production. December 12. The Chamber of Deputies, by a majority of 165, rejeoted the Socialist proposal for abolishing the Embassy at the Vatican. M. Barthelot declared that the Concordat prevented it. Berlin, December 10. The German Military Budget shows an expenditure of one million marks above that of 1891, and the Naval Estimates 20 million* above the same period. . Washington, Deoember 10. The Senate has instructed the Foreign Committee to inquire into the liability to Great Britain for seizures in the Behring Sea, December 11. The House has direoted the Foreign Committee to examine the speechei delivered in England by Mr Bayard, ambassador to Great Britain,... as thej were supposed to reflect on the domestic policy of the United States. Several members of the Houbo proposed that be should be impeached. December 14. . Leading American journals censure the remarks of Mr Bayard, Ambassador in England, in the reports of which he is alleged to have attacked the domestic polioy of the United States, and- demand that he be re* called. Ottawa., December 12. Mr N. C. Wallace, the Canadian Controller of Customs, has resigned. He objects to Catholics being 1 allowed to maintain separate schools. The Times thinks his secession will render the Government's course ol aotion difficult. Shanghai, December 15. China has reoccupied Fort Arthur, which was oaptured by the Japanese daring the recent war and held until a certain part ot the indemnity had been paid. Brussels, December 14. The Minister for War has resigned, owing to the Government having shelved * proposal for universal conscription. TAmatavb, December 14. The mob destroyed the British mission station at Beamaninandro. The missionary and his family escaped. A Strong antiforeign feeling has been aroused in Madagascar. The Europeans in' the outlying districts have been ordered to the capital. ■ » j I