BRITISH & FOREIGN.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7951, 2 July 1897, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN.

Press Association — Electric T'elr.grnTph—Oopyright LONDON, June 30. Owing to a fear that the Australian gift of meat was unsound and dangerous to health, as well us b«iug ignorant of the method of defreezing, two chatHable societies in Derry refused to distribute it. The Armagh Catholics also refused the meat on the ground that it was unbecoming to accept R Jubilee gift. The Bycroft Company, millers, Auckland, is being converted iuto v limited liability company with a capital of £100,000, which ia underwritten. JuFjY I. — In the course of a speech on the relations between Great Britain and the Australian colonies, Sir Michael Hicks Beach referred to the uaval agreement. Ho oaid tho British Government bad relieved the colonies of the cost of naval defence by giving tli Dm a protection against possible enemies, but the colonies had not been rnlieved of the duty of coastal dpfenco. Great Britain expended twenty-two millions yearly ou the uavy, while the colonies with a population of ten millions only paid a few thousands aa their share. It was impossible that this arrangement could remain asa permanent settlement. Sir Michael HicUs Beach said the colonial trade proposals had hitherto conflicted with the freotrade policy of Great Britain, but the action of Canada in opening her ports was the best possible basis of agreement yet proposed. He did not believe the colonies would shirk their naval responaibLity. Major-General Sir Francis W. Grenfell, Inßpector-General of the auxiliary forces, has been appointed to succeeded MajorGeneral C. B. Knowles in command of the British forces in Egypt. ST. PETERSBURG, July 1. A Commission has been appointed to enquire into the loss of I he Russian ironclad Gangout. The vessel was repaired in the naval dockyards some time ago, and it is suspected tho work was badly done. CAPETOWN, June 30. Mr Stcyn, President of the Orangu Free State, in proroguing the Volksraurl, thought that while the presence of the British on the frontier kept agitation alive, peace was assured. July 1. — The mercantile associations of Johannesburg have requested the Transvaal Government, to constitute a chamber of agriculture, with tho object of cheapening tho means of living and minimising their dependence upon imports.