BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Southland Times, Issue 4896, 24 March 1884, Page 2

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

(By Electric Telegraph— Copyright.] [BBDTBR S TELEGRAMS.] LONDON, March 21. Consols remain at 102. The bank rate of interest remains at 3 per cent. aDd the market rate at 2£ per cent. The total reserve in the Bank of England in notes and bullion have risen to Ll7,ooo,ooo,being an increase of L 1,900,000 during the week. The proportion of reserve to liabilities has advanced to 47 per cent. New Zealand securities are quoted today as follows — Five per cent. 10-40 loan advanced by 10s to 105 ; 4£ per cent. 1889-1904 loan, advanced 103 to 100$, ex div. ; 4 per cent, inscribed stock remains 100. Colonial breadstuffs and tallow remain at last quotations. The total quantity of wheat afloat for Great Britain is 1,810,000 quarters. The wool market is quiet. The arrivals to date for next auctions amount to 120,000 bales. A vacancy having occurred in the representation ot Cambridgeshire in the House of Commons, owing to the resignation oi the senior (Liberal) member Sir Henry Brand, ex-spaaker, who has been elevated to the Peerage, an election took place, the Tory candidate, Mr Thornhill, being returned by a large majority over the Liberal opponent. An election also took place yesterday for the representation of Huntingdonshire, where Sir Kobert Peel was returned in the Liberal interest. It has transpired that France has claimed an indemnity from China for the expenses of the Tonquin campaigD, the amount I being fixed at L 6,000,000 sterling. March 22 4 portion of the cargo of frozen mutton

ex steamship Victory was sold to-day at ' sfd to 6d per lb. The London Chartered Bank of Australia has declared a dividend for the past half-year at the rate of 5 per cent, per annum, and carries L 25,000 to the reserve fund. Mr Gladstone is improving in health. ; His recovery, however, is slow. - • ''-,;. BOME, March 22: \: It has transpired that the Cardinals are discussing tho expediency of the departure of the Pope from Rome. - CAIRO, March 22. Despatches to ( d ate of the«-)6th ,inst. have been received from Gordon Pasha, announcing that he has succeeded in rescuing the besieged garrison at Sacfiegh, and intended to make an attack in, force upon the rebels outside Khartoum next day (16th). ■■""■■ ; . PARIS, March 22. A despatch from Tonquin states that the French have captured Thincmyenj-without lose. The Chinese, however, suffered heavily. ~ r | .; ; , BATAVIA, March 22,. ' Sailedrr-Steamship Bombay, for London.

(SPECIAL TO PRESS ASSOCIATION.) T j ; ••■ LONDON, March 21. ; Mr Powells' expedition to New Guinea ib delayed for wantof funds. The colonies not -having yet agreed to contribute the LIO,QOO per annum has delayed the appointment of a high Commissioner for the Pacific. ' ■ ■ Mabch 22: The Victorian gunboats will not be required for service at Souakim,; and have therefore proceeded to Adem The Chartered Bank of Australia has declared a dividend of > 5 per cent, and has carried L 25,000 to the reserve fund. After providing for all losses, this will leave a reserve fund of L 22,000. The frozen meat, ex Victory; is realising f rom,s£d to : 6;d per Ib. Several cargoes of wheat hare. been sold at 41s, and. f he Parama tea is being slowly disposed of at 455. In the House of Commons a motion by . Mr Willis, • member for Colchester, in favor of the exclusion of bishops from the House of Lords, was rejected by a majority of 11. ; Signor Dupretis has undertaken the formation of a new Italian Cabinet. A telegram from Khartoum, dated 15th, says that a letter from Berber states that :Gordon is safe. ■■■'- "■■'■ The Land and Loan Co. of New Zealand, with a capital of one railiion, has been registered. •'......' The Parnellites welcomed the le-appear-anco of.J. E. Redmond in: the House .of Commons., Mr Gladstone's progress towards recovery is very slow. . t ; Lord Thurlow's motion in : the Lords, in favor of opening museums on Sundays, was rejected by a majority of eight. ■ : 7 March 23. The s.B. Austral has been entirely refittei at Greenock, and furnished with every latest improvement. In her trip she registered 17 knots. The new P.. and 0: boat, the Massila, has also been successfully tried, and made 16 knots. Sir Stafford Northcote and Earl : CairDß are both reported to be suffering from . catarrh.