THE OLD COUNTRY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XL, Issue 10, 7 March 1908, Page 10

THE OLD COUNTRY.

King Edward has started on a five weeks’ visit to Paris and Biarritz. The New Zealand professional foot- , •ball team sailed from London by the Mongolia on February 28. The Scottish Land Values Bill has been read a third time in the House of Commons by 347 votes to 90. Mr. J. L. Morgan, K.C. (Liberal), who was recently appointed Recorder of Swansea, has been re-elected for Carmarthen West unopposed. Sir Francis Burdett has been ordered to pay £ 5000 damages as co-respondent in the divorce case of Boyd v. Boyd and Burdett, for having seduced Mrs. Boyd. The House of Commons negatived the introduction or Mr. T. Corbett’s bill to appoint Commissioners to inquire into the need for inspection of monasteries and convents. In the international Rugby contest on Saturday last, Ireland beat Scotland, the scores being: Ireland (two goals two tries) 16 points, Scotland (two goals one try) 13 points. • Persistent rumours are current in London to the effect that Sir Henry Camp-bell-Bannerman will shortly resign office as Prime Minister, and that he will be succeeded by Mr. H. H. Asquith (Chancellor of the Exchequer).! The King personally ,'jpresented the mew Edward medal to 'Chandler and Everson, a Yorkshire and ! a Welsh miner respectively for conspicuous gallantry in:' rescuing fello’z miners frirn death. The Australia Agents-Cfeneral in London suggest that the fine brass band (Boulder City, West Australia, should be subsidised by the respective Governments to play in the Australian section at the forthcoming Franco-British Exhibition at Shepherd’s Bush. The death is announced of Mr John Brinsmead, head of the firm of Messrs Brinsmead and Sons, Limited, in his 94th year. Last year, on June 3, Mr and Mrs Brinsmead celebrated the 70th anniversary of their wedding, and on that occasion the King sent a warm telegram of congratulation. The engineers on strike in the Northeast of England are taking a ballot on the proposal to resume work on the basis of no change in the existing wages, if there is to be any, before Easter, and that the case for and against the proposed reduction by a shilling a week shall be submitted to a referee. The engagement of 38 Chinese firemen and seamen on a steamship at the West India Docks, London, led to a meeting under tnc auspices of the National Seamen’s and Firemen’s Union vigorously protesting and urging the Government to prevent the wholesale importation of Chinese into British ships at reduced wages. Mr. J. M. Barrie, Mr. A. W. Pinero, Sir William S. Gilbert, and many other dramatists formed a deputation to the Home Secretary, asking for the appointment of a Court of Arbitrators as an appeal from the decisions of the Censor of Stage Plays. Mr. Herbert Gladstone replied that he was personally sympathetic to the proposal, and promised to consult Sir HaenryCampbell-Bannerman. A cable message dated London, Ist March, states that a fierce storm, with anow. hail, and terrific seas, has been blowing in the English Channel. The P. and O. steamer Victoria, from Australia, had a terrible passage from Gibraltar to Plymouth. The weather on Friday night was the wildest ever experienced by the ship's officers. The Marquis of Linlitligow (Lord Jlopetoun) has died very suddenly at Pau, where he had been spending the winter. The deceased nobleman, who

was in his 48th year, was never.of robust constitution, and for some time past his condition had given rise to anxiety. He was Governor of Victoria from 188!) to 1895, and in 1900 was appointed first Governor-General of the Commonwealth. He was of a most amiable disposition, and as Governor was one of the most popular ever resident in Australia. After resigning the position of Governor-Gen-eral of the Commonwealth, on the score of ill-health, he became Secretary for Scotland in the late Conservative Administration. Woman’s Franchise. The second reading of a private bill, providing for the enfranchisement of women, has been read a second time in the House of Commons by 271 to 92. The majority included Sir Edward Grey, Mr. John Morley, Mr. R. B. Haldane, Mr. John Burns, Mr. Lloyd-George, Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Sydney Buxton, Mr. R. R. Cherry, and Mr. W. Runciman. The bill was remitted to a committee of the whole House, which is considered equivalent to shelving it. The suffragists have resolved to agitate and urge the bringing in of a Government bill to ensure its passage.