BRITISH AND FOREIGN

West Coast Times, Issue 10532, 16 July 1897, Page 2

BRITISH AND FOREIGN

Loxdon, July 14. Labouchero's report admits tlio Colonial Offico officials were not aware the Bechuanaland grant was intended to be used for assisting Jameson's invasion. Forty engineering firms in London have locked out employees who belong to the Amalgamated Engineers. Five other firms conceded the demands of the men for eight hours a day. A widespread struggle between masters aud men is commencing in engineering establishments on the Tyne and Clyde. Curzon has addressed a further note to the French Government pressing a request that regulations bo framed preventing traders selling firearms or spirits to natives of New Hebrides . The French Government has not yet replied. Stoddart has invited oho following to join his cricket team for Australia :— - Abel, Richardson, J. T. Hearno, Storer, Atteweli and Lilley. Government propose to expend throe and a half millions in constructing a dock at Dover to accommodate twenty battle ships and a number of smaller vessels, also £700,000 upon the harbor at Gibraltar, and defray half the cost of constructing a first-class dock at Colombo. v Seventy-fiVe thousand members o£ the Engineers' Association have been locked out in different centres. D. D. Davics, Canadian Minister of Marine, is in London on a special mission with regard to the new Canadian tariff. He ispiessing upon Mr Chamberlain the contention that the Belgian and Gorman commercial treaties do not apply to Canada as they were not ratified by Imperial or Colonial legislation. In the event of the Convention failing to effect a settlement iCanada asks the Imperial Government to denounce the treaties.

The ISstabliuhed and Free Churches of Scotland, United Presbyterian Cuurches of Scotland, and the Presbyterian Church of Ireland have adopted a new hymnal which will come into use at the end of the year. The hymns are set to fresh tunes by Sir John Stainer, Professor of Music ,of Oxford University, and Sir Arthur Sullivwu. Ifc j s hoped the Churches of Australasia will adopt the new hymnal and so knit closer ties between the Churches. Capetown, July 14. The Capo Government have received an announcement that the gift of the warship was Received with much popular favor in Britain. ,Gape newspapers suggest the offer of a warship waspremature, us Parliament has not yet been consulted. WASIJINGTON, July 14. M'Kinley desires the adoption of the treaty of annexation of Hawaii be expedited, as he believes the approval of Congress will help in removing threatened complicitions. Athens, July 14. The King of Greece has written persgnally thanking the Czar for expediting terms of peace with Greece and Turkey. mi v v C °^ TAN ?INGI>LE, July 14. ; Ihe feultan remains obdurate with regard to demands of Greece. It is feared ■ coercion will be necessary.