BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Southland Times, Issue 8046, 29 June 1885, Page 2

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

[By Blbotbio Tblbqbaph— copybight.] (reuier's telegrams); LONDON, June 25. The weekly returns of the Bank of England show the proportion of reserves to liabilities to be 52 per cent, or 1 per cent, below last week,- while the total reserve in notes and bullion remains tho .samfc;, viz., 1*19,000,000. The too e of the wool sales is dull. Nine thousand seven hundred bales were submitted to auction, making a tot?l to date of L200,400 bales, of which L29,000 have - been withdrawn. June 26. Lord Harris has been appointed Parliamentary Uhder-Sacretary for India in the new Ministry, and Earl Dunraven Undersecretary for the Colonies. Mr Rowland Winn, M.P. for North Lincolnshire, and the Right v Hon. Sir I Arthur Hobhouse have been raised to the ' peerage, and Messrs J. E. Millais and G. F. Watts, the eminent painters, have had baronetcies conferred upon them. It is announced that Sir Henry Drummond WolfiE will not supersede Sir Evelyn Baring, but that his mission to Egypt will be of 'a special character. The Daily Telegraph, in a leading article this'morning upon the return of the New South Wales contingent to Sydney, remarks that the terms of dignified congratulation with which Lord Loftus wol l coined the arrival of the.troops, was qutto befitting the occasion. The writer dwells .strongly on tho enthusiastic loyalty to the, Queen and soldierly qualities displayed by the, Australians during the operations in the Soudan, and concurs with Lord Loftus in believing that the action of Australia in despatching troops to tke assistance of England haa practically established Imperial federation, and given the world an assurance of the worthiness of the Australian colonies' to be reckoned an integral part of the British Empire. Coaeole are at 98£. New Zealand securities : — Five per cent. 1040 loan, 104|; 4^ per cent. 1879-1904 loan, 103 ; 4 pi r cent, inscribed stock, 99 1. The markot rate of discount remains at | ; the bank rate at 2 per cent. j Hides and tallow are dull. j The total quantity of wheat afloat for tho "United Kingdom is 2,400,000 quarters, being a decrease of 260,000 quarters during the week. New Zealand-frozen mutton, s£d to sfd per lb. Wool— Uoe thousand bales were offered at to-day'B auctions, The tone of the market was flat, June 28. />r Mr Samuel Morley has declined the peerape which was offered him, Mr Erriogfcon, who has for some time acted as unofficial representative at the Vatican, has had a baronetcy conferred upon him, Several metropolitan journals to-day oontiua references to the demonstration at Sydney on the occasion of the return ot tho New South Wales contingent from Egypt. The Daily Chronicle eulogised the speech delivered to the troops by Lord Loftus as an address worthy of the occasion, and observes with pleasure the welNmerited compliment paid by his Excellency to Colonel Richardson and tho forces under hi& command, The Pall Mall Gazette rejoices to see the spirit which throughout animated tho contingent, and points out the new Cabinet has a splendid opportunity for turning to account in the defence of the Empire the patriotic feeling of tho colonies. The writer urges that a well-considered scheme of colonial de•fence should at once be submitted for the consideration of the various colonies. The G^obe regards the demonstration at Syd ney as a gratifying testimony of the loyalty and patriotism of the citizens of New South Wales ; and furthermore considers tho presence of accredjtei representatives from all the adjoining colonies as an evidence that tho force of public opinion is turning in the direction of federation, MADRID, June 27. Reports from varioue parts of the country n-how that the cholera epidemic is increasing in virulence, no less thaa 1100 oases— of which 500 ended fatally—having been reported to the authorities yesterday.