BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2263, 15 July 1897, Page 17

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

London, July 5. ' The survivors of the Aden wreck stat< that the native crew behaved splendidly. At the Hurlingham Gun Club meeting Mi Donald M'lntosb, the Victorian crack shot won LIOO and a LSO cup. At a gun clut meeting Mr Hawker, of Adelaide, won t similar amount and a trophy. j Percy Cavill, of Sydney, won the Half-mile Amateur Swimming Championship of England in 16min 26sec. Stratton, of Christohurcb, also competed, but finished badly, J. Hellings, of Sydney, won the 100 yds Obampionahip, defeating seven others easily in 70sec. The race for the Mile Amateur Swimming Championship of England, which was one oi the competitions arranged in connection with the Jubilee celebrations, took place in the West India docks in the presence of a large assemblage, including the Duke and Duchess of York. Jarvis won easily, defeating J. A. Tyers, the Manchester amateui Champion, and 19 others. ' ■ Nuttall, the English professional champion, has expressed his willingness to swim Ernie Cavill, of Sydney, for the world's championship and any stake over distances oi 500 and 1000 yards, the contest to take place In September. July 6. In the House of Commons Mr Chamberlain, replying to a question by Mr W. Hazell, member for Leicester, said he hoped the Colonial Solicitors Bill would be passed during the current, session. Mr Justice Hawkins sentenced two vicious blackmailers to penal servitude for life, and three others to 10 years' penal servitude. At the military tournament at Crystal Palace Trooper Harkus (New South Wales Lancers) took first prize in the Victoria Cross Eace. The Canadian troops have sailed on their return to Canada. The business of David and William Murray, merchants, of Finsbury street, London, is being converted into a limited liability company, with a capital of L 400.000 in shares and LIOO.OOO in 4£ per cent, debenture stock. The present partners will remain directors. The orediters of the Federal Bank of Australia and the City of Melbourne Bank have unanimously approved of a scheme to transfer their assets to the assets companies for gradual realisation. A conference between the Eoyal Geographical Society and the Agentsgeneral of the colonies, Sir Clements Harkham (president of the society) occupying the chair, discussed the proposed Antarctic expedition. An offer was made on behalf of the society to contribute LSOOO towards the venture if each ">f the Australasian colonies contributed a tlmilar amount. The Duke of Argyle, Sir Joseph Hooker f the eminent botanist), and Vice>admiral Sir George Nares (the arctic explorer) favour the expedition. The Agentsgeneral of New South Wales and Victoria are consulting their respective Governments with reference to the society's proposal. July 7. The creditors of the Mercantile Bank of Australia and English and Australian Mortgage Bank have adopted a scheme for the transfer of their assets to an assets company for gradual realisation. The Queensland National Bank is suing the P. and O. Company to recover LSOO (? L 5000) for the loss sustained in the robbery of the box of sovereigns from the steamer Oceana while lying in Sydney in January last. Mr Justice Mathew, hearing the case on a preliminary issue, ruled that the ordinary warranty included obligation that the bullion room on a vessel should be capable of resisting thieves. A meeting of shareholders of the London Bank of Australia unanimously approved- of the rearrangement scheme. The depositors' poll showed 1788 votes, of the value of L 1.237,983, in favour of the scheme and" 91 votes, of the value of L 198.710, against it. ' The name of Lady Thurston, widow of Sir John Thurston, late Governor of Fiji and Commissioner of the Western Pacific, haß been placed on the Civil List, the amount of her pension being Ll5O per annum. Lady Broome, widow of Sir Napier Broome, formerly Governor of Western Australia, receives a pension of LIOO per annum. Amy Sherwin sailed on July 6 with a concert company for Australia. The death is announced of Sir John Bennett, Sheriff of London. July 8. In the House of Commons Mr Curzon stated that, as the result of the mission to Abyssinia, a treaty between Great Britain and Abyssinia waß signed on May 14. The Victorian rifle team are making excellent practice at the Bisley ranges, where they have averaged over 90 points. The meeting begins on Tuesday next. The Lancet newspaper states that the zepqrted deterioration of the Queen's eyeeight has been grossly exaggerated, and that it does not prevent the performance of her duties. Mr Attridge, war correspondent of the London Daily Chronicle, has recovered LIOOO damages from Mr Knight, The Times war correspondent, for impugning his (Attridge's) courage at the Battle of Ferker at the Soudan. ' The British imports for June increased by L 1.092,000, and the exports decreased by L 1,470,000, 470,000 as compared with the June returns for the previous year. July 10. A force of Nige?, police, under the command of Lieutenant Carroll, a Queenslander, defeated 500 of the King of Benin's force and captured the town where the King had taken refuge, but the latter twice effected his escape. Lieutenant Fitzgerald, of the attacking force, was killed. July 11. F. Marchant, the well-known Kent Cricketer, has committed suicide by taking poison. He had been brooding over bis sweetheart breaking off their engagement. Sir J. Forrest received a deputation from tha West Australian Chamber of Mines. Replying to the representations of the deputation, he promised that the Government would supply the chamber with official information respecting the mineß. He regarded tbt suggested modifications of tha mining

regulation! as fairly reasonable, and agreed that insecurity of tenure was disastrous to the development of mining. He bad no sympathy with jumpers. The West Australian Parliament was likely to approve of { amalgamation cases, and the Government would probably propose a much better , tenure. Companies expending L 30.000 upon their property deserved an indefeasible title. It would, however, be premature to remove the import duties on all mining materials and machinery. Paris, July 7, The French Chambers voted President Faure the sum of L2OO (sic) for hii approaohing visit to the Czar. Floods in tbe South of France have caused damage estimated at 200 million francs, while 300 people have been drowned. July 8. M. Meilhac, the French playwright, is dead. [M. Henri Meilhac was a native of Paris, where he was born in 1832. When he was 23 years of J age his first dramatic efforts, " Satauia " and ; " Garde Toi, Je Me Garde," were produced at the i Palais Royal, but without much success. In 1860, ; in collaboration with M. Ludovic Hale'vy, he wrote " L'Etincelle" and " Une Heure Avant L'Ouverture," both played at the Vaudeville, and in 1861, with M. Arthur Delavigne, " La Vertu de Celimene," produced at the Gymnaae. In conjunction with the above-mentioned authors M. , Meilhac has produced a large number of plays, the chief amongst them being " La Belle Hele'ne," j "Barbt- Bleu," "La (jrande Duchesse de G6rol- i stein," "Frou Frou" (1870). "Tricnche et Cacolet" - (1872), "Toto Chez Tata" (1873), "La Cygale" (1877) " Le Mari de la Debutante " (1879), and " La koussotte " (1881). He h«s also written, for the "Revue de Paris," "Les Paiiens," a comedy in verse, and several articles in ''La Vie Parisienne" under the pseudonym of Xvan Baskoff. Among hie most recent comedies, written without collaboration, may be mentioned " D^coreV' a brilliant success, 1S8S ; "Margot," accepted by the < 'ome'die Francaine in 1890; and "Brevet Supd- , rieur," 1892. He was decorated with the Legion ' : of Honour in 1869, promoted to be an officer in ' • 1884, and elected to the Academy, in succession to Labiche, in 1888.] ,' July 9, t A sansational tragedy has occurred in Paris. Four workwomen dined together, drinking and smoking copiously, and then I suffocated themselves by means of fumes j from charcoal stoves. They left a message stating that they died without regret. . St. Pbtebsbukg, July 10. Koraliff, one of the leaders of the living burial movement in Russia, has been interred ' in a convent. Calcutta, July 5. ( Following on the recent attack upon a ; I British expedition by the Mulioks in Tochi I Valley, Afghanistan, another tribal attack | has been made upon Indian coolies ! engaged in public works near Tochi. The escort guarding the coolies captured 50 armed tribesmen amongst the trees and ravines, July 8. ! Further outrages are reported from Tochi, . in Afghanistan. Tribesmen shot two sentries ' belonging to the escort that was guarding | the coolies at the public works. Washington, July 8. The Senate passed the Tariff Bill by 38 , to 28. July 9. A Joint Committee of Congress is consider1 ing the new tariff, the chief points of differ1 ence being in regard to tbe duties on sugar, wool, and hides. Ottawa, July 5. The Canadian Government; have formally accorded the products of New South Wales , the right to enter the Dominion under the lower scale of customs duties provided in the I preference clauses of the new Tariff Bill. I July 8. i The bar*h manner in which the Aliens | Laws are being enforced in the United States | is being keenly resented in Canada.