BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2203, 21 May 1896, Page 16

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

London, May 11. Sir Juhn Millai:?, pr»,bidsnfc of the Royal Academy, is ill. The Cobden C!ub have passed a resolution »f regret at the death of Sir H. Parkes, May 12. - have been concluded between prominent city financiers and the promoters of a Scheme to connect Sydney with North Sydney by means of a tunnel under the harbour. The proposal is to make a tunnel large enough tor an electric railway line and roadway for vehicular traffic. The capital for the construction of the railway is to be L 350.000, and for the tunnel and roadway L250.G00. Portion of the money is -to be raised in the colony. Colonel Egerfcon commands the Indian cemti&gent at the Soudan. It was reported that the Ostend-Bover mail had been robbed of L.3000, but further Inquiry showed that the money alleged to have been stolen was *>nly delayed, and it was found all right. Mr W. P. Reeves read a paper at the Colonial Institute in which he described in eloquent language the beauties of New Zealand. The Rev. Mr Berry has been elected chairman of the Congregational Union. . The personalty of Prince Henry of Battenberg has been sworn at LI 000. May 14, Mr Doolette, formerly of Adelaide, 4ined with the leaders of the Congregational Union. In the course of the speech-making Mr Spicer urged that the colonies should Conduct the Island missions themselves. The Medical Defence Association has persuaded Dr BuJfcloy, of Mir Chester, who was recently appointed resident phy?ici<sn to the Adelaide Hospital, to resign. Dr Ramsey Stebh has been appointed in his place. The Pneumatic Tyra Company have purchased Singer's Cycle Work* at Coventry for a million sterling. The OoDgrrg'ttional Union baa expressed itself amszsd at the Irish vote on the Voluntary Schools Bill. The Rev. Mr Berry, the newly- elected chairman, asseitod that in future Home Rule would not be placed in the forefront of any programme. - . _. May 15. Mr Donald Larnach'a - death was rather sudden- He caught a slight cold, which turned to pneumonia, and death quickly Jtspervened. May. 16. £he P. and O. Company has declared a : dividend of 5 per cent, on preferred and 7 per cent, on deferred shares. May 17. Baron Hirach's estate has been proved at L 16.000.000. In addition -to five millions,' north of properly devoted to the Improvement of the condition of the Jews, the baroness receives eight millions sterling, [he baron's death was caused by an operation of tracheotomy for 'supposed cancer. There. were 60,000 tenderers for L 4,000,000 &f -stock offered by the Pneumatic Tyre Company, the total amount subscribed being L 9.000.000 The Rev. Hugh Price Hughes condemns the defection of the Irish members on the Voluntary Schools Bill,- -which he -styles a decisive object lesson, showing that the Irish Romanist party are incapable of justice to the English dissenters. The Liberals never ; proposed Home Rule- without providing Ample religious justice for Ulster. M*j 18. A company is being formed to work six groups of mines in the Northern Territory of South Australia. The House of Commons has voted the earn rf £60,000 additional towards the support of Iht naval force in Australia. Paris, May 13. Figaro states that the dispute between Italy and Abyssinia has been brought to a | peaceful end through the influenoe of Russia. { May 16. j A society is being formed here for the ; purpose of insisting that legi-lative action be taken in regard to the declining population of France. The Czar has forwarded a message of condolence to President Future in connection with the recent train accident in Algiers whereby a number of soldiers were killed or Injured. He describes the" men as " brave brothers in arms." ] Preiident Faure wi'l meet the Empress Digmar, mother of the Czar, at Paguy, on"! the German frontier. May 18. The Government is negotiating for a commercial treaty with Japan. - Berlin, May 14. Germany provides 200,000 marks compensation to the German Land Company for transferring Kaiierland in New Guinea to the Imperial Government. * May 15. The Government hay* decided to expend £75,000 marks in reorganising the army. May 17. The German Government are enforcing the aw against Socialists, and 47 members of various political societies have b3tn put on their trial. Vienna, May 14. Dr liueger denies .that lie bas made any compromiaa with the Premier, and says that she next election will prova that he remains An anti-Semite agitator. 1 . St Pjetersbubo. May 13. The Czar JauucHed two powerful warships en the Neva, One is larger than the Ruric. A third, which is a duplicate of the Terrible, is beirg built. May 15. AS. Flourens, the French statesman, had an interview with the Czar, at which ho proposed the construction of a canal to unite the Baltic with the Black Sea. Const aktinople, May 15. Two hundred Armenians have been arrested In the city withia the last few days by order of the Sultan, who fears the existence of a plot oh his life. *- Romk, May 14. With the consent of King Menelek a caravan Vith food supplies has be3H sent to the Italian prisoners in the Shoan districts. ISfteen thousand Italians are returning Jrom Eryt'hrea. "OaIBO, May 16. The Kbalifa is awaiting a supply of re*

[ emits, with whom he intends to largely j reinforce his troops at Dongola, Kassala, and Saafein. He has moved the Berber force to Dongola. Bbussels, May 12, The murder of Madame Henry in Brussels led to the capture, of a band of criminals commanded by Coartois, an ex-polico inspector, who are suspected of many murders and robberies, including the robbery of the Countess of Fhnders's jswels. Hongkong, May 13. The Protestant mission Btation at KoangYiu, near the mouth of the Yang-tse Kiacg, has been looted and burnt. Tbe missionaries escaped with their lives. Shanghai, May 18. 'Information from Corea states that the Kicg is returning ro the palace, and that the Russians are re embarking on board their warships. Capetown, Muy 13. Mr Rhodea's colnmn burnt the Moveae kraal, which contained large stores of grain. A sharp fight took place, in which Mr Rhodes displayed much bravery. Washington, May li. The Foreign Committee of the Senate has asked President Cleveland to continue the inquiry into the land claim? in Fiji, with a view to a settlement with England. May 16. The House of Assembly has carried a recommendation in favour of international gold and silver coinage. Dr Largley, of iho Smithsonian Institute, has invented a machine for flying half a mile at a height of 100 ft. May 17. A cyclone destroyed- the. western part of the town of Bharman, in Texas. One hundred and twenty persons were killed. Ottawa, May 17. The French Canadians in Montreal had their indignation aroused by a reference to M. Lanrier in the course of a speech by Sir Charles Topper, and in order to prevent him continuing they got up a fight with the Premier's supporters. ■