BRITISH & FOREIGN.

Timaru Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 1832, 6 August 1895, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN.

Per Electric Telegraph— Copyright.

Per Press Association.

DEATH DUTIES.

London, August 4.

The Court of Queen's Bench has decided that the executors of Mrs Francis Tollemache are not liable for probate duty m England on £112,000 invested m New Zealand upon which duty was paid m that colony.

H.M.S. ORLANDO. Charles E. Ensor has been appointed Commander of the Orlando,

OBITUARY.

Joseph Thompson, the explorer, h dead. GEOGRAPHICAL CONGRESS. The Geographical Congress will hold their next meeting at Berlin m 1899. NEW GRAVING DOCK. The Prince of Wales yesterday opened at Southampton a new graving dock which is the largest m the world. PERSONAL. The Queen has invested Sir T. Fowell Buxton, the new Governor of South Australia, with the Order of St. Michael and St. George at Windsor. REFORMS IN ARMENIA. August 5. The Porte consents to apply reforms m Armenia as largely based on the scheme put forward by the Powers ; will appoint Christian assessors m each province to assist the Governors, and will allow Christians a fair share of the fiscal appointments. The Khurds will be given grants of land m order to stop their migrations, and thus do away with the excuse for outrages. The Sultan's reply to the demands of the Powers proposes that Christian assessors shall assist m the appointment of sub-governors, mayors, gendarmerie and police, to be equally composed of Moslems and Ghristiaus, m accordance with the population, and agrees to the improvement of the prisons. Sir P. Currie has demanded the immediate release of Armenian political prisoners. The Powers will appoint a commissioner ; Baron Callay, theAustriau diplomatist, being suggested for the post. CHITRAL. The Simla correspondent of the Times wires that the Benoah district of Chitral will remain under tribal rule, and that the Khan of Dir will be administrator. MACEDONIA. The Daily Chronicle's correspondent reports that the insurgents m Macedonia defeated the Turks at Strumtoza with the loss of five hundred to one hundred. EASTERN ASIA. It is reported that Great Britain wishes to induce the Powers to address a Note to the Sultan stating that they will forthwith appoint a European High Commissioner to administer the eastern Asiatic provinces m the name of the Sultan, though he is to be solely responsible to the Powers. THE MASSACRE AT KUCHENG. Shanghai, August 4. Four female English missionaries and one American were massacred at Kucheng, besides many other foreigners, including children, who were killed and wounded. August 5. The American missionaries escaped the massacre. Ten of the English were killed including Misses Marshall, Gordon, ana Stewart of the Zenana Society. Some of the children had their eyes gouged out. The Chinese have appointed a commission of enquiry, but as the Commissioner is Prefect, and is himself implicated, the thing is a mockery.

Fearful atrocities were commuted on the unfortunate missionaries at Kuclieng. The mob set fire to the residence of Dr Stewart, who with his wife and one child perished m the burning building. Seven lady missionaries were butchered with spears and swords. Miss Godrington was seriously wounded and several children were badly hurt. The rising was incited by the Mandarins. AN ANARCHIST OUTRAGE. Paris, August 4. During some festivities at Donai m honour of M. Venillemin, manager of the mines, an anarchist wounded him with a revolver, and prepared to throw a bomb. The explosion fortunately was premature, and the assassin himself, who was a miner, was blown to atoms. Ten others were wounded. BULGARIA. Sofia, August 4. The organ of the Zankoff party at Sofia, urges that Prince Ferdinand should abdicate m favour of Prince George of Greece. The delegates who went on a mission to Russia, received an ovation on their return. Archbishop Clement addressed the crowd, dwelling on the community of interest between Bulgaria and Russia. THE LATE ATTEMPT AT MURDER. M. Matakieff is still alive. BREAD RIOTS. Teheran, August 4. Bread riots have taken place at Tabriz m Persia. The bazaars were closed, and troops dispersed the mob, twenty of whom were killed. The bodies were taken to the Russian Consul, whose proection was invoked.