IN A NUTSHELL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6215, 1 August 1898, Page 3

IN A NUTSHELL.

Anniversary of- the Battle of the Nile (1798). Meeting of the Rugby Union to-morrow-night. The Drainage Board will meet at 3 p.m. to-morrow. Freedom of 770,280 British slaves, August 1, 1834. The South Island Trotting Association meets, to-morrow. Reinforcements for Admiral Dewey have arrived at Manila. International Chess Tournament won by Dr Tarrasch, Germany. A British torpedo boat destroyer has been wrecked at Cape Colony. A " social " and dance will be given in the Lyceum on Thursday evening at eight o'clock. The Cretan Assembly has accepted the provisional Constitution suggested by the foreign admirals. Kussia is fortifying Port Arthur. A thousand men are engaged in constructing the fortifications. Queensland defeated New South Wales in the return football match, by eighteen points to sixteen points. The interprovincial football match, Auckland v. Wellington, was won by Auckland by 19 points to nil. Prince Bismarck died on Saturday, and an obituary notice of the distinguished Statesman will be found in this issue. A hundred and twenty members of the House of Commons are petitioning the Government to introduce old age pensions. Most of the persons who were alleged by Mr Hooley to have received payments from him in connection with the promotion of companies have denied his statements. The colonial party in the French Chamber of Deputies is furiously attacking the commercial clauses of the Niger Convention, and urges that they should not be ratified. At Wellington on Saturday evening, the Premier was presented by the members of the Liberal Party with a gold watch, and Mrs Seddon with a gold watch and a silver tea-tray. At a meeting of Midland Railway de-benture-holders, Mr A. Young, Receiver of the Company, announced his intention of carrying the dispute with the New Zealand Government to the Privy Council, if necessary. The debenture-holders passed a motion approving of Mr Young's action. The following meetings will be held to-day : — Christchurch Cycling Club Committee, at rooms, Cashel Street, 7 p.m. ; City Council, 7.30 p.m.; S.P.C.A. Committee, City Council Chambers, 7.30 p.m. ; League of Wheelmen's Executive, Clarendon Hotel, 8 p.m. Hie American Cabinet has informed the Spanish Government that the basis of negotiations for peace must be the absolute cession to America of all the Spanish West Indian Islands, with the exception of Cuba, vliich the United States will control until a. stable Government has been established, the cession of a coaling station in the Ladrone Islands, imd perhaps another in the Caroline Islands. If these demands should be granted, America will claim no war indemnity.