BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

West Coast Times, Issue 10077, 5 April 1895, Page 2

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

London, April 3. The Standard says the Pamir agree-

ment recognises Lake Victoria as the southern boundary of the Russian sphere. Portions of Shigrian and Roshan, ljing to the right of the ' Oius are shorn from the Ameer's territory and Russia will be allowed to annex the valleys of the Ghund and Shakh and Dara rivers. A neutral strip divides British and Russian spheres, and Russia is effectually debarred from entrance to passes over the Hindoo Koosh leading to the Hunza Nagar valley and Chitral. ''"V At a meeting of the Australian Pastoral Company, Limited, the Chairman sara the prospects of the Company in the varicuMji' colonies was very hopsf ul. im^p^^ Immense crowds attend the trial of the Marquis of Queensbery on a charge cf libelling Oscar Wilde. Evidence adduced to-day showed that Wilde, paid heavy blackmail for his gushing letters to Lord Alfred Douglas (the Marquis' son) which

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were found in the pockets of old clothes when given away. The defence is based on revelations in these letters.

News has been received that a Spanish cruiser fired upon and boaided the British steamer Gothebred off Cuba. The Inspector of the Board of Trade, after a preliminary enquiry into the loss of the Colintrave from Newcastle to 'Frisco, reports that he is unable to account for tae loss.

Wilde was subjected to a stringent cross-examination with the view of showing " Dorian Grey " and some articles in the magazine " Chameleon " with which he is conmectad, are of an immoral tendency. Wilde insisted that they are merely the expression of an artistic faculty. His letters to Douglas were prose poems, extraordinary perhaps, but not justifying an immoral interpretation. He admitted he gave one of his alleged blackmailers £21 and lunched with him

in a private room afterwards. The case was adjourned, defendant being admitted tobaiL

Buenos Aykes, April 4. Balfour has left Sal ta for Buenos Ayres in custody..

Shanghai, April 3.

Three thousand volunteers have been recruited at Canton for the defence of the province of Kwang-tung. Berlin, April 3. Bismarck received a million letters and ten thousand telegrams on his birthday.