BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Otago Witness, Volume 02, Issue 2420, 2 August 1900, Page 16

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

LONDON, July 23. j Lord Curzon reports hopefully on the crop prospects in India. Hailstones 1-^in and upwards in diameter smashed all the glass roofs and 550 street lamps in Northampton. The storm lasted only six minutes. The Campania's passengers subscribed £700 for the sufferers by the sinking of the Embleton, The sunken vessel carried 20 tons of gunpowder. ~~~~^July~247~ j Dr Creighton, Bishop of London, recommends legislation to establish a representative 'church synod, consisting of clergy and laity, with a view to enabling church opinion to prevail over eccentricities. At a meeting of the British Empire League the Duke of Devonshire presided. In the course of his speech he said that although the Dominion of Canada and ; the Commonwealth of Australia contained : within themselves the elements of great and independent States, yet the signs were that both desired the connection with the motherland to be strengthened. He welcomed the proposal of Mr Seddon for strengthening the defences of New Zealand, and added that in these matters the Imperial Government had wisely left the initiative to the colonies. On the motion of Lord Brassey, the league congratulated Australia on the accomplishment of federation. The Times, commenting on Mr Seddon's defence scheme, says that there are indications that the colony is moving in the same direction as the minds of leading public men here. | In the House of Commons the Colonial Stocks Bill was read a second time. Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, explained that under the bill trustees would be allowed to invest trust moneys in colonial stocks. If a colony, however, agreed to any colonial legislation detracting from the security of its stock, such legislation should be subject to a veto by the Imperial Government j that the stock should also be brought under the Limitations of Colonial Stock 'Act ; and that the colony must agree to satisfy any judgment in the English courts. Mr R. B. Haldane, Q.C., de- > murred to the Treasury constituting itself the special guardian of trustees. Lord Balfour, the Right Hon. R. W. 1 Hanbury (Financial Secretary to the I Treasury), Mr W. G. E. Macartney ' (Unilex-secretary to the Admiralty). Earl

Onslow (Under-secretary to India), and Earl Sel'oorne (Under-secretary to the Colonies) have been appointed a com-

inittee to inquire into the relations between the private cable companies and the Imperial, Indian, and colonial Governments, and other matters relating to the Imperial cable system. Consols are quoted at £98. Wheat on Mark Lane is quoted at 6d lower on the week.

The total quantity of wheat and flour ! . afloat for the United Kingdom is 2,345,000 ' quarters, and for the Continent 1,340,000 i quarters. July 25. In the House of Commons Supplementary Estimates, to the amount of £11,500,000, on account of the wars in South Africa and China were submitted. I In the House of Commons Mr Chamberlain, in reply to Mr J. I\ Hogan, .said that the relations of the Northern Territory < to the Commonwealth would be the same as the rest of South Australia. - Severe heat caused the rails on several railway lines to spread, resulting in several trains in London and the provinces being derailed. - | July 27. ! The House of Commons, by 112 to 65, rejected a proposal for a large grant in aid of the Indian famine. Mr Balfonr and Sir M. Hicks-Beach declared that the Indian officials regarded it as unnecessary. j July 28. ' The Queen congratulated Colonel Willcocks on the relief of Kumassi. The appeal case of E. G-. Jellicoe versus the Wellington Law Society is being discussed. July 29. One hundred and fifty thousand out of . 240,000 volunteers will undergo a fortnight's training in camp. The manager of the South Australian Produce Depot is urging the Australian Governments to compile and circulate an illustrated handbook of the products of the colonies. The marriage of Lady Randolph Churchill to the Hon. Oornwallis West (Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire) is announced. Colonel Willcocks has been created a , Knight Commander of St. Michael and St. . George for services at Kumassi. ' Eeuter states that in return for the most favoiired nation treatment, the United | States concedes to Germany the same re- 1 ductions in tariff as France, Italy, and Portugal enjoy. Mr John Kenneth H. Inglis, a New Zealander, has won, the Edinburgh" University Scholarship of £100, tenable for eight years, and Natural Science Scholarships to the value of £76, tenable for two years. [Mr John Kenneth Harold Inglis is a B.Ss. and a J3.A. of Canterbaiy College.] BERLIN, July 25. i The Meat Act, prohibiting the import of tinned meats, will come into operation on October 1. ST. PETERSBURG^ July 29. | M. Iswalski succeeds the late Count Mv- ; 1 ravieff as Minister of Foreign Affairs. j NEW YORK, July 29. i The steamer Auchinarden, of the Australian line, outward bound to the colonies, has returned to New York with her boilers leaking. July 30. Ihe Revolution in Panama has been"suppressed after great bloodshed. Six hundred were killed at Colon.