LATE ENGLISH NEWS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7987, 4 October 1887, Page 4

LATE ENGLISH NEWS.

A brilliant engagement took place about' midnight on the 3rd August, in the Straits of Dover, in connection with the navil manoeuvres. Admiral Premantle, •with a portion of his attacking squadron, having eluded the larger ships of Admiral Sir W. Hewitt's defending force in the Channel, forced his way past Dover through Captain Long's flotilla. Early on the morning of Augnst 4 he anchored with bis four ironclads and two other vessels, including the dispatch boat Curlew, at the Nore, thus obtaining possession of the months of the Thames and Medway. Just about noon, however, Admiral Fremuntle signalled to weigh anchor, and the squadron sailed for the North Sea, but when 10 miles out Admirul Hewitt's fleet appeared and drovo tho invaders up tho Thames and blookadod them. During tho fight in tho Downs or near Dover several men were injured on the Black Prince and Curlew by .the premature explosion of cartridges. The Rev. John M'Alhster, vicar of St. Nicholas, Plumstead, was on Augual 4th oommitted for trial, bail being allowed, on a charge of' having obtained cbaritublu contributions from th» War Office by ialso pretences. In order to facilitate the monetary circulation, the Emperor on July 31addresbed a Ukase to the Minister of Finance directing that, wilh a view to the redemption o£ tho debt of the Imperial Bank for pro-visionally-issued credit notes to the value of three hundred and thirty million roubles, the sum of forty million roubles in gold shall be paid from the bank's working fnnd into the fund set apart for the exchange of the notes into coin. The Ukase also direots that the further redemption, of the debt shall likewise be effected by paying gold into the Exchange Fund, or by destroying the credit notes without interfering with the monetary circulation. Referring to this Ukase, the Bourse Gazette announces that the Imperial Bank baa been f arthermore directed, after it has, in compliance with the order, paid 40,000,000 roubles in gold from its working fund into the fund set apart for the exchange or provisional credit notep, to proceed to the realisation of the following securities now held by it, viz. : — Mortgage Bonds of the Nobles Land Bank to the amount of 58,000,000 roubles, Russian Rente of 1884 to the amount of 25,000,000 roubles, Rente of 1885 to the amount of 50.000,000 roubles, and Rent of 1886 to the amount of 50,000,000 roubles. The Lachine bridge over the St. Lawrence, on the Canadian Pacific Railway, was completed on July 30. The bridge spans the St. Lawrence, about twelve miles from Montreal, and is nearly 3500 ft. long. It is not ydt stated at what date traffic will begin to be moved over it. The bridge is regarded as an important feature in the Canadian Pacific system, as it affords an independent connection with the lines south of the South Lawrence, and gives the railway access at every season of the year to all ports on the Atlantic from New Yoik and Halifax.

It is reported that the Czar of Russia has asked the Ameer of Bokhara to sound his subjects as to their willingness to assist Russia in the event of military operations. The headmen, it is said, have declared that being Moslems they would not give their help in such a case, and averred that if the Ameer assisted Russia a revolution would ensue in Bokhara. - The original replies were sent by the Ameer to the Emperor Alexander. A proclamation, signed by the Czar, has been posted on the gates of Samarcand, whereby his Majesty promises not to interfere ' with the districts in the possession of the Turcomans or Uzbecks, provided they allow Russian troops free passage through the country. The Perpetual Pensions Committee met on the 29th July, and agreed upon the terms of their report. It is stated that the only draft report before the Committee was the document prepared by Mr. Bradlaugb, and after some discussion it was decided to adopt most of the recommendations contained therein. The clauses relating to the Duchy of Cornwall were negatived on the ground that they were outside the terms of the reference. The report, as finally agreed to, coudemns the principle of perpetual pensions, and recommends that they should be determined ami abolished. In tlie^ case of officfs held without service, it is recommended that ia no o««o bhould they bo permitted tv go on longer than the iito of the present holder. Iv ro»ard to the commutation, thb report declares that twentyeeven years' purchase is too high. It is stated that since Jan. 1, 1881, 330 pensions have been commuted, amounting to nearly £19,000 a year, at a coat to the country of nearly £530,000. The report concludes with an expression of opinion that the Treasury has commuted certain pensions after indications of opposition have been given, without sufficient inquiry into the ground of the opposition.

As electricity is superior to gas, so is Crook's American Dried Yeast superior to all baking powders. Sold by all grocers in 2d and 6i packets and 71b tins. It stands on its own merits, and has only to be tried once. — R. Cock, Brougham-street, Wholesale Agent for Taranaki. 22 — • •'Fob the Blood is the Life." — Clarke's World famed Blood Mixture is warranted to cleanse the blood from all impurities from whatever cuase arising. For Scrofula, Scnrvy, Eczema, Skin and Blood Diseases, and Sores of all kinds, its effects are marvellous. Thousands of testimonials. Sold in bottles, 2s 9d and 11s each, by Chemists and Patent Medicine Vendors everywhere. Sole Proprietors, The Lincoln ahd Midland Counties Dbug Co., Lincoln, England. h tu — NO MORE HARD TIMEB. — If yon will stop spending so much on fine cloihef, rich food and style, but buy, , good, healthy food, cheaper and better j clothing ; get more real and substantial things of life every way, and specially atop the foolish habit of employing expensive quack doctors or using so much of the vile humbug medicine that does you onlj harm, but put your trust in that Bioiple, pure remedy, Dr. Soule's American Hop bittera 5 that cures always at a trifling cost, and you will soe good times and have good health. " Chronicle." t th b 0c29