BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2273, 23 September 1897, Page 17

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

London, September 13

The Waibi Gold Mining Company of New Zeslind proposes to increase its capital by 1*160,000.

Her Majesty the Queen has presented the Emperor of Germany with a magnifiosnfc album of Jubilee photographs.

The Times, commenting on the action of tbe directors of the Bank of England in having: yielded to the suggestion from tbe United States that the bank should hold one-fifth of their reserves in silver, says that bankers «nh«sitatißgiy condemn the weakening of the reserve. It is reported that tbe change in question is conditional upon France and the United Skates establishing bimetallism, coupled with a Government guarantee to the bank against any loss.

Cardinal Vaughan (Archbishop of Westminster) asd Monsignor Peraud (the Pope's Noccioto England) conducted a thanksgiving service at Brompton Oratory yesterday in cdmm«Kseration of the landing of St. Augustiae in England. A letter from tfee Pope was rood, in which his Holiness declared that the Roman Catholics of England aloae had the honour of being disciples of St. Augustine.

September 14.

la a letter to The Times, Mr Heary R. . Grwnfell, one of the directors of ths Bank of S&gfood, expresses a doubt as co whether tbe directors will came to any deoision to make a change in their reserves.

September 15.

The D*ily News commenting on an interview with the Hon. W. P. Rseves, Agentgenerel for New Zealand, in which the latter described New &oaland'e compulsory arbitration in oooceotioa with strike?, observes that New Zealand exhibits a beacon lo the world.

The Antwerp wool sales opacod yesterday. The attendance was good and the bidding animated. Compared with tbe April and May series, good wools showed a rise of five centime*, and prioes for inferior classes were Maintained.

Mr W. P. Beeves has returned from a visit to the leadfeg hot springs in Savoy (France), Switzerland, and the Rhine Valley. He consider* that tbe Eotorua Springs compere favourably with those he has visited, and that the colonial springs have a great future before them as w social attraction when they have been developed and are conducted by expert physician*, and the qualities of their waters have been analysed by a Suropsan expert of repute.

Towards the end of last year Me Chamberlain forwarded a despatch through the Governors to the colonies asking for reports as to the effect of foreign competition upon oolonial tntde with Great Britain. Tbe Coleeial Offioe officials consider that the replies received from the various Governments indioat« tnat British manufacturers xtunain supreme us far as the best classes of goods are concerned excepting as regards some lin«£ of American and Canadian tools and machinery. The general oolonial market prefers cheaply finished imitations of the better classes of goods, and as foreign manufacturers respond ' to the demand in this direction there is acma danger of the better class of trade eventually following that of cheaper lines. The Victorian and South Australian despatches arc- especially commended.

The Admiralty authorities have expressed their willingness to give Victorian-grown tobacco a trial for use in the navy.

A cricket team composed of members of tbe House of Commons propose to make a tour of Canada and Australia. Mr Henniker He&ton, M.P. for Canterbury, will be macager of the team, and leaves shortly for Australia to make the necessary ai'rangernents.

It is reported, as a result of tbe visit of the United States Bimetallic Commissioners to Europe, that there is no likelihood of an international monetary conference being arranged. Sir Andrew Clarke, Agentgeneral for Victoria, asked that, in the event of such a conference being convened, tbe claims of the Australasian colonies for representation should not be lost sight of.

A great festival has been held at Ebb Fleet, in Pegivell B*y, where St. Augustine and his monks landed on tbeic mission to oonvert the Anglos. /Archbishop Vaughan, Monsignor Perraud (the Papal Nuncio), and Bishop Grimes (of Christobnrch) were amongst those present.

September 16. . The cardinals and bishops attending the Si. A.agtretine festival visited Canterbury Cathedral yesterday. Maoy of the priests - kissed a Bscket'e tomb.

September 17.

Mr Max Rowan sails for Australia shortly in order to negotiate with the colonial Premiers with the view to the cultivation of the rhea fibre in the Australasian colonies.

Lord Charles Beresford, formerly Lord of the Admiralty, and lately in oommand of the Steam Reserve at Chatham, has been promoted to the rank of admiral.

The G-oT«ri3or of the Bank of England (Mr A. G. Sftndeman) has informed Sir M. HicksBeach that the directors are willing to agree to arrangements that the bank should hold one- fifth of the reserve in silver provided that the French Mint reopens for the free coinage of silver, and that the prices of silver procurable and saleable are satisfactory.

The Times says that the conditions named are almost prohibitive. The Standard considers that the proposal is an absurd and miiohievous one.

September 18

A message received by Ranter states that the balloon in which Dr Andree left for the North Pole was sighted at Yeniseisk, in Siberia, on September 14.

Tbe R«v. Aubrey Price, of Clapbam, has died from a revolver wound. The deceased before his death declared that the wound was caused by burglars, bat the police are inclined to doubt the accuracy of this story.

September 20.

Great Britain has cancelled the Tunisian treaty with France, on the understanding that the duty on cotton goods shall not exceed 5 per cent, until 1913.

The barque Helenslea, from Glasgow to Fremantle with a general cargo, was totally wrecked on August 24 on Inaccessible Island, the moat westerly of the Tristan d'Acanha group. The cargo was lost. The crew, who took to the boats, reached Capetown safely.

The Olroassia, wirich brofeo her shaft; In the Atlantic in the voyage from N«w York to I>he Oryds, ba« been towed into Qaeenstown. All on bo*xd are safe.

Mr* Brown-Pottar and Mr Kyrl« Ballow opened a season at tbe Duke of York Theatre in " Francillon." There was a brilliant house, and the performance was a great success. The stars were repeatedly oslled before the curtain.

The Central Wine Association of Victoria have been awarded the grand prix at the Brussels Exhibition. Three gold, four silver, and two bronze medals were also awarded to other Victorian growers.

Paris, September 14.

Madame Sara B«-nh*rdt, tbe eminent actress, and tba Marquis d'H&rancourt narrowly escaped being killed through approaching too close to the odge of the cliff* at Belle Isle at tke entrance to Morbiban Bay, on the west coast of France.

September 15

President Faure, accompanied by the King or* Siam, reviewed 60,000 troops at St. Qaentic, in the north of Franoe. September 16.

At a baoqaet held in honour «f the visit of tbe King of Siam, after a military review at St. Qaentin, President Faure, in proposing tbe principal toast, delivered a patriotic speech, saying that the people forming a virile nation like France were ready to reenter th« army on the first summons in order to accomplish the sacred mission of the Republic.

Vienna, September 13.

The Emperor William of Germany is on a visit to the Boapp.ror Francis Jo*eph at Tolis, in Hungary.

Constantinople, September 13.

The arrest of those suspected of being conneoted with tba youag Turkish party continues. Four hundred aad twenty-three have been exiled from the oountry and sent to Tripoli.

September 16. Three Afghan chiefs are on a visit to the Sultan at Yildiz Kiofk.

Cairo, September 14. The advance guard of tbe Egyptian sunny have occupied Berber.

The dervishes b&ve a siroug force at Metemneb, and are fortifying Shabluca. A gunboat harassed the retreat of tbe dervishes from Berber, forcing them to take to the deeert. In their retreat they abandoned many boatloads of provisions. t

September 20.

A party of British mounted troopers were hooted and stoned at a village near Cairo. Several ef the offenders wore arrested.

T kjieban, S-aptembsr 16,

It is reported thttt Sir Henry Durand, the British Minister, will bead a mission to the Ameer, with the object of settling tbe disturbed relations between India and Afghanistan.

Madrid, September 19.

Tbe Bishop of Majorca, tbe largest of the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean belonging to Spaio, has excommunicated Don Juan Navarro Reverter, the Spanish Minister of Finance, and several ef the Government Officials, for interfering with parochial proparty and priests in ths island. Cardinal Sancha, of Valencia, forbade the promulgation of the ban of excommunication, but the local bishop refused to obey the cardinal. Calcutta, Septeo&bar 16 A splendid wulespisad rain has faHtn in India. *

Madras, September 13. Forty miners were killed by an accident iv the Champion Resf gold mine.

New York. September 14.

The United Statea Special Currency Commissioners to Europe desire to elicit whether the Australasian colonies will open their mints for the free coinage of silver if an international agreement is arranged on the basis of a ratio of 15.} to 1.

September 16.

A mob of 400 forced the gaol ac Versailles, Indiana, and forcibly and abducted hanged five prisoners who were awaitirg trial on r charge of bu^glaiy.

September 17.

News has been received from M«xico that an Italian, while presenting a petition to the Frtsident, Porfirio Diaz, attempted to assassinate him with a poinard, bat Diaz eluded tbe blow and escaped without sustaining my injury.

Ottawa, September 14.

Tbe imports from Great Britain into Canada for the last four months show a decrease as compared with the same period last year. The Premier's organ says that if the .intention of the new tariff to favour Great Britain has failed the tariff must be amended/

Mexico, Ssptember 19. The mob broke the gaol where the Italian Diamio (who was arrested for an attempt to assassinate the President, General Diaz) was confined. They s&z-id the prisoner and hacked him to pieoes with knives. It has since been discovered that Diamio was not armed and was drunk whaa he struck the President on the back.