BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2394, 18 January 1900, Page 20

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

LONDON, January 8.

Mr Chamberlain is urging the Newfoundland Government to renew the modus Vivendi with France in relation to the Newfoundland shore fisheries. January 9. Lord Lamington, the Governor of Queensland, who • is visiting England, Speaking at St. Pancras, eulogised the )ftct of Queensland in sending a contingent. He rejoiced that Australia, though nurtured in peace, -realised the issues of the present crisis. Federation would impart a jwider outlook, and give strength to the flefence of an indissoluble Empire. January 10. The death is reported of William Bates, .the Yorkshire cricketer ; aged 44. The total quantity of wheat and flour afloat for the United Kingdom is 1,780,000 Quarters, and for the Continent 785,000 quarters. At the tallow sales 1625 casts were offered and 1575 sold. Mutton t Fine, 29s 6d; medium, 28s. Beef: Fine, 28s; medium, 275. LONDON, January 12. •At a tri4 made of a turbine torpedo de-

slroyer, built for the British navy, on the lines of the C.A. Parsons torpedo boat Turbinia, a speed of 35£ knots an hour was attained. There was no percep-ible vibration of the engines. River Plate tops at Antwerp are quoted, for January delivery, at 6.32£fr per kilogram ; June delivery, 6.42Afr. At Roubaix January delivery is quoted at 6.42£fr ; June delivery at 6.55fr. January 13. Obituary : James Martineau, the wellknown religious author, in his ninety-fifth year. fJames Martineau, D.D., LL.D., D.C.L., Lit. D., younger brother, of the late Miss Harriet Martineau,. was born at Norwick in 1805. lie was appointed second minister of Eustace street Presbyterian Meeting House, Dublin, in 1828, but removed to Liverpool in 1832, where he became minister of Paradise street Chapel. He was appointed professor of mental and moral philosophy in Manchester New College in 1840, and became principal in 18G9, having in the interval been minister of Little Portland street Chapel. He is the author of quite a long list of religious works, and received honours from Harvard College, U.S., and the Universities of Leyden, Edinburgh, Oxford, and Dublin.]. January 15. Several correspondents adversely criticise a letter by Captain Collins, the Victorian naval commandant, published in The Times defending the schemes of Australian defence drafted by the recent Commandants' Conference. The Times, referring to the

subject, reiterates that the scheme is inadmissible. PARIS, January 11. The police recently seized an indecent caricature of Queen Victoria, but the persons whom they arrested in connection with its publication have been acquitted of the charge of publishing an obscene drawing. The Government are apparently afraid to prosecute anyone for insulting a foreign sovereign. January 14. M. Zola has been presented with a gold medal, weighing s|lb, in recognition of his advocacy for justice in the Dreyfus case. BERLIN, January 10. The incident in connection with the seizure of the Bundesrath is being utilised in Germany to promote the proposal to double the navy. The adhesion of the Reichstag to this scheme is assured. The Kaiser, telegraphing to the King of Wurtemburg, hopes that lately-occurring events will convince Gei'many of the necessity to provide a strong fleet to protect her interest and honour in distant seas. VIENNA, January 9. Madame Melba made her debut here, and created a colossal furore. She had 26 recalls. CAIRO, January 11. Railway communication in the Soudan is being rapidly > pushed forward. A tram from Cairo has arrived at Khartoum. NEW YORK, January 10. The house of Mr Joseph Pullitzer, millionaire, in New York, has been destroyed by fire. The housekeeper and governess were killed when trying to effect their escape. Mrs Pullitzer heroically rescued the children. MANILA, January 10. 'xue Americana have defeated the Filipinos in a battle fought west of Bacolod, in the Island of Luzon. The enemy had 100 killed. ■»