BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

West Coast Times, Issue 7287, 7 January 1889, Page 2

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

London, Dec. 4.

Considerable excitement has been occasioned both at Liveppool and Bir* mingham, owing to doubts having arisen as to the hona fides of Professor Friend's Electric Sugar Company. Shares which were quoted at £120 hai a tremendous fall, and are now offering at £10. It was stated that only refined sugar was being treated. A second deputation headed by Sir W. Armstrong waited on tbe Premier to-day, urging that the defence of ports was a national duty and not a local one. The Marquis of Salisbury, in reply, said while they ought to avoid taking any steps which might lead to a panic existing, tbe state of affairs throughout the world rendered it imperative that England should strengthen her defences. He admitted that such defenoes were of a national character, but contended that localities so defended should bear a portioa of the expenditure. Tbe Government, he added, intends to submit the question for tbe consideration of the House of Commons. Mr Thomas Sexton M.P. for Belfast, has been re-elected Lord Mayor of Dublin. Dr Parker, a leading Independent clergyman, in tbe course of an interview on the effect of the stage on the morals of the people, expressed an opinion that some actors were the best Christians who ever lived, while others were the refuse of tbe theatrical world. In some instances the stage served as good a purpose as the church, A girl ten years of age has been outraged and murdered at Southbridge, Somersetshire. The body was shookiugly mutilated. No arrest yet matfe. It is proposed to construct an underground railway from James street, Piccadilly, to Holborn Circus. The present of twenty-five guineas by Her Majesty to Franlein Wiedraann, plaintiff in the recent breach of promise case nfc^mst Mr £. JQ. Waipole, heir f

to the Earldom ef Oxford, was made by the Queen at the first bearing of the girl's misfortune, and ipine iime prior to the (Hal taking p,lac&, Beblln, Jad, 4. Lieut, Wiesman has been invested with the powers of an Imperial Commissary to suppress the rising in Zanzibar.