BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2983, 17 May 1911, Page 26

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

LONDON, May 9. John A. Bowron, Sidney Bowron, and Thomas Knight have been committed for trial on charges of fraud in connection with the recent failure of the firm. Mr Justice Warrington gave judgment in the case of the land-owners against the Attorney-general in connection with Form 8 of the Finance Act, which demands a number of particulars. The judge decided that these particulars were not authorised, and that the plaintiff was not obliged to comply with the request of the department. May 10. Morrison, who is at Dartmoor serving a life sentence for the murder of M. Beron on Clapham Common, struck one of the warders. Two warders have continually to be in his cell to prevent him committing suicide. May 11. The House of Lords carried a proposal to introduce a private bill providing that no boys under 15 and no girls under 18 years of age shall be allowed to trade in the streets. For the purpose of making phonograph records in a newspaper exhibit in the White City, Sir J. G. Ward consented to speak on New Zealand’s attractions and the influence of the New Zealand press; also on the need of better cable communication within the Empire. A steamer has arrived at Liverpool with 16,000 carcases o&* Chinese pork, 72,000 cases of frozen goods, 10,000 cases of lard, and 1000 cases of eggs. May 12. In the action brought by Francis Joseph Ronald, valuer to the Law and Guarantee Trust Company, against the proprietors of John Bull for alleging that he was incompetent and responsible for . losses of the company; also for alleging that he was appointed because he was the general manager’s son, a verdict was given for the defendants.

Reuter's Canea correepondent reports that a decision to send a number of cadis, or judges, to Crete led to 3000 inhabitants of Canea assembling. It was resolved to prevent the judges from landing, the people arguing that the appointments were contrary to the two Cretan Constitutions. It is recognised by the Powers, that there have been no cadis in Crete for 11 years. Two hundred students seriously interrupted Dr Macaura's demonstration of a new form of medical treatment for cripples and others at the Albert Hall. They afterwards marched with a coffin through Piccadilly. Two bodies of police charged and dispensed them. There were several arrests. The Australian and New Zealand Women's meeting at the International Franchise Club decided to form a committee to deal with the question of women under the Naturalisation Act, and to lay ih-\ matter before Mr Fisher and Sir J. G. Ward preparatory to a conference. Mr Lloyd George informed >i deputation who urged that the sugar tax was a burden on the poor and interfered with a valuable industry that he was unable to abolish it, as it yielded over three millions to the Treasury. He was, however, convinced that such taxes should be avoided if they could be extracted elsewhere. May 13. Fifty persons were poisoned, one fatally, at Lamlash, in Scotland, through "eating scones. It is suspected that the scones contained arsenic. May 14. Box thousand teachers held a great demonstration in the Albert Hall to protest against the circular issued by Chief Inspector Holmes and Sir Robert Morant to the effect that school inspectors should be appointed only from the Tanks of university or secondary school men. May 15. Lord Kitchener appeals for £4OOO with which to complete the Anglican Cathedral ir. Khartoum, and thus place the British on a par with the Copts, Catholics, and Mohammedans; otherwise work will be. stopped in three months. The sum of £24,000 has already been spent. PARIS, May 10. Another scandal of a similar nature to that of the French Foreign Office has been discovered in the Ministry of Agriculture. It is reported that the defalcations total £40,000. May 11. Ferdinand Darrast, a well-known militant Catholic leader, has mysteriously disappeared. His clothes were found on the banks of the Seine. The theory of suicide is rejected. BRUSSELS, May 9. The action brought by Princess Louise of Belgium to enforce her claims against her father's (the late King Leopold) moneys has begun. BERLIN, May 10. The first Dreadnought of the 1911 programme, designated S, is being built at Wilhelmsha ven. May 11. There have been tremendous thunderstorms in the West and South of Germany. Many deaths from lightning are reported. J'he Bavarian Revenue Department is suing the heirs of the late Ritter Von Kleom, a millionaire and a member of the Upper House, for £IBO,OOO, on the ground that for 20 years he valued his property at from two to four million marks, whereas it was really worth 40 millions.

MADRID, May, 10. The Government has introduced a bill subjecting the religious associations to the common law, and compelling them to register themselves and keep accounts, subject to the authorities' audit. The possession of real property and personalty is restricted to their own requirements, j The bill exempts the St. Vincent de I Paul, Franciscan, and other associations, which are privileged under tlie Concordat. LISBON, May 10. A commercial vivendi has been signed exempting Italy from the surtax law, which is applicable to countries having no treaty or vivendi with Portugal, j May 11. The commission Ends that the State ; has advanced Don Carlos £720,000. When the loans to other members of the Royal Family are known the provisional Government will repay themselves by instalments from ex-King Manuel's property in Portugal.

ST. PETERSBURG, May 10. Tho Papuan savages now being exhibited in Russia have attracted large audiences. At Warsaw, however, where is a Dutch Legation, the impressario, a Slavonian, is being criminally prosecuted for illegally capturing the Papuans while they were journeying to Holland.

May 11. The Duma, by 202 to 82, passed the Octobrists' resolution condemning M. Stolypin's use of the prerogative in connection with the Zemstovs in the western

. provinces. I May 14. | Bebrion, a Parisian diamond merchant, has accused an alleged English adventuress, who occupied a room next to his I in a hotel, of stealing 3,000,000 francs' ' worth (£120,000) of jewels. It is believed that the woman swallowed the stones, and she is now under close arrest. A drunken peasant attacked his four children with a knife. Hie wife interrupted him with a hatchet, and a desperate struggle followed. The wife received a fatal stab,' but as she fell swung tire axe and killed the man. ! WASHINGTON, May 13. The Secretary for War, Mr J. M. Dickinson, has resigned on the ground of pressing private affairs. Mr Henry Steinson, the recently-defeated Republican candidate fov the Governorship of New York,. has been appointed as his successor. , NEW YORK, May 12. The New York Herald's correspondent at Peking reports that an edict states that the court will observe Sunday as a day of rest, and that the Government Boards will not transact business unless it is urgent. I May 11. I A west-bound train from Denver to Rio Grande was wrecked at Minturn, Colorado. Two cars plunged into the : river.

I Several persons were killed and over 20 injured. j May 12. I The steamer Edith has arrived at Cor-

dova (Alaska) with a consignment of Canadian coal. A large force of deputies preserved order whilst it was bem* landed. The citizens recently threatened to dump all foreign coal into the harbour. May 14. Despite the frequent denials that polygamy is practised by the Mormons, the Church at Salt Lake City announces that two elders have been deprived of their priesthood consequent on their practising polygamy recently. SAN FRANCISCO, May 10. The Chinese Chamber of Commerce has protested to President Taft against the violation of treaty rights and the hardships inflicted on Chinese immigrants to the United States. SALT LAKE CITY, May 10. Two men robbed a jeweller's shop of £IOOO worth of gems and escaped. A posse pursued them, but the robbers fired on them, and one citizen was shot dead, while several were injured. The robbers were arrested. OTTAWA, May 12. In consequence of the Government's insistence that the same rate of wages be paid on both the Pacific and the Atlantic coasts, no tenders have been received for the construction of the Pacific warships. Messrs Denny Bros., of Dumbarton, withdrew their tender. With a view to aiding the Canadian Northern Transcontinental railway, the Government has agreed to guarantee the line from Montreal to Port Arthur, the liability representing £7,000,000. It is hoped that the. Duke of Connaught will be able to tour the dominion next year. VANCOUVER, May 8. The emigration from Great Britain to the Canadian West is exceeding all previous records. May 9. Some boys were found playing with two sticks of dynamite under a school building. Their intention was to blow up the building when there was no one in it. They had been incited thereto by reading the press account of the Los Angeles explosions. MONTEVIDEO, May 15. The American Beef Trust has offered to subscribe £95,000 of the capital of the proposed State meat factory. The Government is subscribing £1,105,000. BUENOS AIRES, May 15: The lower portion of the town is again flooded, but the rains have been of incalculable benefit to agriculture. CAPETOWN, May 11. Letsie, the paramount chief, and 1000 Basutos gave an ovation to Lord Gladstone at MaseTU. He declared that ii»

Basutos would enter the Union without misgivings when the King saw fit. PEKING, May 8. An edict has been promulgated establishing a regular Cabinet.