BRITISH AND FOREIGN

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3362, 12 January 1884, Page 2

BRITISH AND FOREIGN

[ByELEOTRIC TELEGRAPH-COPYRIGHT.] [Redteb’s Agency.] [Received Jan. 11,1884, 9,55 p.m.] Commercial. London, Jan. 10. The total reserve in notes and bullion in the Bank of England, remains tb o same as last week, viz., £11,600,000. The proportion of reserve to liabilities has advanced 2 per cent, and is now 36 per cent. The Bank rate of discount remains at 3 per cent, and the market rate at SiConsols are at 100|.. New Zealand securities:—s per cent 10-401 oan, 105 ; 5 per cent 1889 loan, I03i; 4£ per cent 1879 1904 loan, 101|- ; 4 per cent inscribed stock, 99£. The markets for Australian bread* staffs and tallow are unchanged. Copra (Sydney sun-dried) is worth £l9. Australian leather—-Best sides have fallen to lo£d per lb. [Received Jan, 12, 1884,1 a.m.] Fraudulent Insolvency. Jan, 11. John Herd and partner, of Liverpool*

traders in corn on a large scale, have become insolvent and been arrested on charges of fraudulent dealing. Illness of Cardinal Manning* Cardinal Manning, Archbishop of Westminster, is suffering from indisposition. Stranded Steamer* Salvage operations are being actively pursued on hoard the stranded steamer Duke of Westminster. The vessel has not yet been floated. Prance and China* Hong Kong, Jan. 10. A force of 2000 Chinese troops is about to be despatched to Hainan as a corps for the defence of the island, against a possible attack by the French naval forces now stationed on the coast of Tonqnin, [Special to the Peess Association.] London, Jan. 9. There is a decided recovery in colonial stocks, and money is easier. The Exchange prefer that the whole of the Victorian loan should be placed on the market at once. Mr Murray Smith will deliver his lecture on Australia at the Colonial Institute on Feb. 12* The Shaw Savill Albion Shipping Company have contracted to carry 200,000 carcases of frozen meat during the present year. The sailing of the Victorian gunboats has been postponed to the end of the present month. The latest information from Tonquin is to the effect that fighting between the Anamites and French has been renewed, and that Hnnghoa has been evacuated.

Sir Arthur Gordon advocates the defence ef Khartoum and the retention of the Soudan as far as the White Nile and north to Sennar. The Messrs McArthur have admitted Mr Joseph Webster as a partner in the firm. Jan, 10. Telegrams received from Zanzibar" state that the parleying between the. Hovas and the French for a cessation of hostilities has failed. “ Troth” states that Mrs Langtry has abandoned her intention of visiting the colonies. It is proposed to hold a World's Fair at San Francisco in 1887. The commander of the troops stationed at Khartoum telegraphs that if the retreat from that city Is delayed it will then be impossible to effect it.. The Council of State at Madrid has decided that a treaty with England is not expedient.