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Star (Christchurch), Issue 6065, 31 December 1897, Page 2

I There have been some general and domestic occurrences during the year that deserve mention in a brief review of 1597. The Federal Convention in Australia was in many ways a remarkable gathering, and its labours have doubtless helped forward the consummation of Australian union. In the industrial sphere the most uotable event has been the great strike of engineers in England, involving some 50,000 employes. The strike for the eight hours day was followed by a ! lock-out on the part of the employers, who attacked the whole principle of trade unionism. The stubborn struggle is not yet ended, and for the moment there seems little prospect of an amicable compromise being reached. There have been a number of industrial Avars in other countries. The only one we need mention was the strike of miners in the American State of Perms} r lvania, which was marked by regrettable bloodshed. The strikers, many of them foreigners, haviug failed to disperse when the Riot Act was read, the Sheriff ordered a military force to fire upon them, with the result that twenty-one men "were killed. The Earl of Eanfurly was, early in the year, appointed to the Governorship of New Zealand in succession to Lord Glasgow. The new Governor received a most cordial welcome orrhis arrival at Wellington,

and also during his visiis to Auckland, Christchurch and other centres of population. Herr Andree, on July 11, set out on a balloon voyage of Polar exploration, and has not since been seen ; but hopes are entertained that he has landed saiely in some remote region, and will be found by one or other of several JVorfch Polar expeditions now being organised. Medical science will have profited' immensely if the reported discovery of a remedy for yellow fever should be verified by experiment. The reports, of gold in almost fabulous quantities bemg fo Un d at Klondyke, in British' Columbia, at a point within the Arctic Circle, and near the border of Alaska, created a tremendous sensation all ov , er tlle world, and many thousands ot adventurous spirits have rushed off. to that inhospitable region, many of them, it j 8 feared, to pay with their lives for their hardihood. *