BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2818, 18 March 1908, Page 28

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

LONDON, March 10. Against the advice of Mr W. Bunciman (Financial Secretary to the Treasury), the Scottish Grand Committee has adopted a bill permitting tobaco-growing in Scotland. It has been arranged that King Edward, after visiting Biarrite, ehall make a brief stay in Paris, and accompany Queen Alexandra thence to Copenhagen. MeTvyn H. Hughes, connected with the firm of H. P. Hughes and Sons, woolbrokers, -committed suicide in a train when travelling to Lewes. His wife, while going to identify his body, also committed suicide. March 11. The Standard warmly praises the spirit of patriotism in the Commonwealth defence scheme, embodying a national guard. March 12. In the House of Commons Mr Birrell, »n reply to Mr William Redmond, protested against what he called a particularly cruel and offensive statement published in a London newspaper regarding the Dublin Crown jewels robbery. He added that no grave criminal scandal had been discovered, and nobody had been sheltered from prosecution. Advices from Biarritz show that it is ■generally agreed that King Edward is bow more vigorous than he was on his previous visit. The Lancet states that Mr Chamberlain's health is steadily improving. Owing to the refusal of the elected members of the Malta Legislative Council to agree to a reduction in the duties on imported frozen meat from 10s to 7s 3d per 1751b, Lord Elgin announces that he is not prepared to pursue the matter further. The Daily Graphic states that Great Britain and Germany have agreed on the main lines of the North Sea Convention, which will soon be ready for signature. March 13. South Australia is offering to convert £500,000 of £1,440,000 4 per cente., maturing in July, into 3£ per cents., with £1 per cent, in cash. King Edward's greater vigour compared with last year is shown by longer and brisker walks, and his keener interest in •ports. The New South Wales Agent-general's Department reports that there are 1000 Intending emigrante available in Scotland If the shipping companies will reduce the thjrd-claflfl fare. tiord Elcbcv, writing to the WestmuJfiter Gazette, denies that the London County Council promised Sir William Lyne the jntion of a particular Strand site for Com* Bonwealth offices at 13s a foot frontage. 'So only understood that the council would iot let the site until Sir W. Lyne had conferred with his Government. The council '^ P-Ow negotiating with other applicants. XiOld Armstrong has assigned his estate

to his creditors. His liabilities are £650,000, and his assets £147,000. He inherited two million pounds a few years ago. He is no longer a director of j the Elswick works. I March 14. r The Cunard Liner Lusitania steamed 627 I knots in 24 hours. The first automobile seen in Jerusalem arrived yesterday. It is owned and driven ' by Mr Charles Glidden, of Boston, Massachusetts, who has now motored through 37 countries, and covered 45,166 miles out of 50,000 which he projects covering. March 15. After ten days' investigation Mr Justice Eady ordered the Rev. Mr Robins to be removed from the trusteeship of the I Townshend heirlooms. The Marquis gavo some remarkable evidence respecting the 6ale of many of the heirlooms. The Couit ordered an inquiry, and condemned Mr Robins to pay the cost of the heirlooms which had disappeared. March 16. Nationalists have decided to open a Home Rule campaign in every English constituency. PARIS, March 16. Governor Noufflard has been appointed French Consul at the New Hebrides, in order that the French representative shall have equal rank with the British. The Governor has had a distinguished career. BRUSSELS, March 10. The falling of a cage in a colliery at CharleToi killed 10 men. BERLIN, March 15. The German Federal Council has sanctioned Herr Dernberg'e acheme to construct 900 miles of railway at a cost of £7,500,000 in the African colonies. MONTE CARLO, March 11. Vere Goold will be sent to New Caledonia and his wife imprisoned at Mont Pellier. CAIRO, March 11. Motor Taces which, were being held at Cairo in honour of the Duke and Duchess of Connaught were abruptly closed owing to a car 6werving and killing three people and injuring 10 others in a crowd. The Duke and Duchess of Connaught arrived later. 1 NEW YORK, March 10. Washington State officials declare that Venezuela's discourtesy is so grave that it almost compels the United States to 6end an ultimatum. They assert that Mr Roosevelt and Mr Root consider it necessary to chastise President Castro. March 11. Evelyn Thaw us seeking a divorce on the ground that her husband, Harry Thaw, was insane at the time of her marriage. March 13. The newspapers state that Evelyn Thaw receives from the Thaw family a lump sum of £10,000 and an annuity of £3000. OTTAWA, March 16. Canada prohibit* the landing of any person whose passage has been paid by a charitable organisation or publio moneys, unless a permit has been gatofeiedi This

has been done because a considerable number of British undesirables have been deported. PRETORIA, March 9. The Portuguese delegate to the Pretoria Tariff Conference has reoeived instruc tions which, the Portuguese Government hopes will assure to Lorenzo Marquez preeminence in the Transvaal trade. CALCUTTA, March 14 There are 1,500,000 people in receipt of relief in India. TOKIO, March 12. The Japanese are reconstructing and greatly extending the fortifications at Port Arthur and Dalny, where the enormous barracks are full of troops. !