HOME & FOREIGN.

Waikato Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1558, 16 May 1903, Page 3

HOME & FOREIGN.

SOUTH AFRICA. ' London, May 14. THE Daily Mail stairs that the approaching Afrikander Bond Conference will be held at Grnaf Remet, the object being that of ' t Wishing a cornorat’on on the lines o the Army and Navy Stores, to control the ent’re trade of the colony. Lord Milner, High Commissioner for South A.rica, h-s b'en ordered complete rest. He will for England in July. Capetown, May 14. The Synod of the Dutch Reformat Church of Pretoria bas adopted resolutions condemning the Government policy of rfjucat’on, on the grounds that it doe-> not afford sufficient facilities for te ch : ng the t»al, and claiming that control of State schools ought to be entrust d to a representative oommitt-e. The Rev. Bosman declared that reconciliation was impossible under the present incrcue in the number of natives working the Rand mine in April was 3000. A LONG TRIAL. London, May 14. After a hearing extending over many weeks Mr Justice Byrne gave judgment in the suit of Cavendish v. Strutt, and set aside the voluntary settlement made in 1001, involving over £200,000, on the ground of undue influence, and held that plaintiff was ignorant of the contents. The plaintiff was Mr H. S. C-vendisb, the explorer, and the defendants Major Charles Henry Strutt and his wife. Mr Justice Byrne held that the plaintiff hud not appreciated and had not been fully advued as to the meaning of settlement, and ho set aside the settlement also. FRANCE AND BRITAIN. Paris, May 14 M. Henri Lorin, in a remarkable article in the Depche Coloniale, an organ of the French colonial party, urges A be settlement of the outstanding questions between England and Franco on amicable and businesslike lines. . He says that French interests in Newfoundland and the New Hebrides do not conflict directly with those of England, but with those of the autonomous colonies. M. Lorin urges that they would be better settled directly between France and Newfoundland and Australia. The basis of a New Hebrides settlement would be easily found, since Australia objects to the vicinity of a penal settlement, and France could assure her that no more convicts would be sent to Oceania when once the Hebrides were French. THE KING. London, May 14. The King and Queen had a busy day in Edinburgh yesterday. His Majesty presented war medals to the Black Watch at Dalkeith, and made a semi - Stole progress through the principal streets of Edinburgh. He inspected the Royal Bodyguard of Archers and visited Edinburgh Castle, the Royal High School, St. Gile’s Cathedral, and opened the Colentonmams hospital, which was erected at at a cost of £350,000. The various functions included a State luncheon at Holyrood Palace. SMELTING AND REFINING COMPANY. London, May 14. The Smelting and Refining Company of Australia has accepted a syndicate’s proposal to guarantee a debenture interest of 7 per cent, on preference and 2 per cent, on ordinary shares, and find the capital for extension of the works on consideration of receiving four-fifths of the company s net profits after provision is made for any further dividend to which the preference shareholders may be entitled. THE UMBRIA SENSATION. New York, May 14. Rousseau, the Fiench-Canadian who manufactured the infernal machine found on the Umbria, has disappeared. The men who were carrying Rousseau’s box aboard the Umbria dropped it on the roadway and sat thereon when the machinery was working. THE ISTHMIAN CANAL. New York, May 14. President Roosevelt, speaking at San Francisco, said that the Isthmian Canal would make the Atlantic and Pacific coast lines practically continuous. He advocated the acquisition of more fighting ships. GERMAN ARMY BULLIES. Berlin, May 14. The retirement of the Kaiser’s brother-in-law (Prince Bernhardt, of Saxe-Meuingen) from the army is attributed to his denouncing the brutal tyranny of the non-comrnis-missioned officers towards the men, and recommending the latter to report their maltreatment. BRITAIN AND AMERICA. New York, May 14. While President Roosevelt was at ’Frisco he witnessed a naval parade of British and American seamen. Admiral Bickford conveyed to the President King Edward’s good wishes, and referred to the cordial relations existing between Great Britain and America. THE CONGO FREE STATE. Brussels, May 14. A report is current that Belgium will receive a large tract the nortb-"ast of i s present boundaries of the Congo F.ee State on evacuating its Lado°and Nile territoiy. THE LARGEST BATTLESHIP. 2 London, May 12. The batth ship Commonwealth, the .’-rgest in tho world, was launched to- . »av on the Clyde. It was commenced months ago. The March,on ss of •Linlithgow performed the christening ceremony. A DIVIDEND. London, May 14. Tho P. and O. Company has declared an interim dividend of 7 per cent on deferred slock. •