NEWS OF THE WEEK.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXV, Issue 11, 16 July 1897, Page 15

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

Wednesday, July 7.

Thursday, July S

Friday. Jti.y ;i

b VTURDAY, JI'LY I<>,

Monday, July 12.

Tuesday, July 13.

The survivors of the P. and 0. Co.'s s.s. Aden, wrecked at Socotra, state that the native crew behaved splendidly. The Canadian Government have decided to allow the products of New South Wales to enter Canada under the lower scale of Customs duties provided in the preference clauses of the Tariff Bill. Percy Cavill, of Sydney, has won the half-mile amateur swimming championship of England in Kimin. 26sec. J. Hellings, also of Sydney, won the 100 yds. championship, defeating seven others easily in 70sec. Strike of engineers in London ; so far 5.000 men have come out. Great strike of coal miners in America owing to biing refused an increase of wages ; it effects the States of Ohio, Pennsylvannia, Indiana and Illinois ; a quarter of a million men are involved in the strike. The Powers have presented a joint Note to the Porte owing to the Turks persisting in retaining the line of the River Pencios as the new G ra;co-Turkish frontier in Thessaly. Colonial Premiers in London demand that the British Government should renounce the Belgian and German treaties ; it is unlikely, however, that Mr. Chamberlain will agree to the proposal. Deputation from the Australasian Chamber of Mines in London wait on Colonial Premiers re mining laws of the colonies ; Premiers promise that every encouragement will be given to buna p'dr mining. Butler (Glenbrook murderer) confesses himself a Wesleyan, and wishes to receive ministration by the Wesleyan chaplain. Freezing companies in Australia holding a conference to discuss Mr. Hooley's scheme. The last gold escort from Coolgardie was the largest on record, viz. — 17,0000z. Stud sheep sales in Sydney; large prices realised for prize rams and ewes. Captain Brown, Government entomologist at Auckland, has idiscovered a parasite which is destructive of the mealy bug, so long the pest of fruit growers. Mr. Thomas Dwan, of Wellington, who has recently returned from a trip to the United States and Canada, advises New Zealand flax growers to turn their attention to growing esparto grass and ramie (a Fiji fibre), as New Zealand flax is not held in very high esteem there. Wanganui is going in for a ladies' club.

Two blackmailers in London sentenced to penal servitude for life and three others to 10 years each. The French Chambers have voted President Faure a large sum for his approaching visit to the Czar of Russia. Anglo-Egyptian expedition about to advance against the dervishes upon Abu-Hamed, Upper Nile ; Sir H. Kitchener has left Cairo for the front to take command. Disastrous floods in the South of France ; HOO people drowned and terrible damage to property, estimated at 200,000,000 francs. Turks and Greeks still fighting : delay in settlement of peace chiefly owing to the Porte ; Lord Salisbury said these delays were casing great injury and even danger. Colonial Premiers at Home having a good time ; great ball at the Guildhall ; over 1,000 guests present. Mr. Seddon intends to visit Wales, Scotland and Ireland. He sails for New Zealand on July 21. In the recent anti-plague riots in India some 600 people were killed ; the disaffected natives are daily insulting European ladies in the streets of Calcutta. An Antarctic expedition is being organised in London. Colonel Herbert reports that the conduct of the Colonial troops visiting London has been highly exenplary during their stay at Chelsea barracks. Adair, late of the Bank of Australasia at Charter's Towers, sentenced to two years' imprisonment for embezzling over £ .5,000. Fourth series of wool sales very brisk : an advance of ."> per cent, on some kinds was obtained. Sheehan (Ambcrley murderer) to be executed shortly : he continues calm and quiet, and receives the ministrations of the Very Rev. Father Cummings. Kaikoura lenves Wellington for London tomorrow ; has JC24. .">()( 1 worth of bullion on board.

Amy Shorwin (Tasmanian nightingale) left England on July <> with a concert company for Australia. The total quantity of wheat and flour afloat for the United Kingdom is <Kti),<Mto quarters and for the Continent Sio.ooo quarters. Sir John Bennett. Sheriff of Ixmdon, is dead. Russia and Germany bringing pressure to bear on Turkey in order to bring about peace wi+h Greece. Bands several thousands strong from the mills up the Ganges marching on Calcutta to reinforce the rioters who have revolted in consequence of the action of the British plague officials. At the London wool sales prices remain firm and competition good. The German warships Falke and Bussird have been re-commissioned for a further term on the Pacific station. The N.Z. Loan and M.A. Co. have leased their Bridge street stores in Sydney and taken larger preinist> in Pyrmount owing to their business growing largely. The N.Z. Government are in treaty tor the purchase of the Matakiwi estate near Masterton for settlement purposes. The Hon. J. Carroll and another Minister will represent the Government at the late Major Ropau's funeral, the firing party will be a detachment of the permanent artillery T> strong. The Hon. J. (J. Ward filed a petition in bankruptcy yesterday. Lord Ranturly, our new Governor, expected in Wellington about August 7.

According to the Latin* newspaper the Queen"* eyesight has not failed so much as has been stated and does not prevent the performance of her duties. Mr. Attridge, war correspondent o£ the London J>ailij (hromrh. ha* recovered ClOoo damages from Mr. Knight, the Tunis war correspondent, for accusing him of want of courage at the battle of Ferker. in the Soudan. The British imports for June increased by C l,o ( .i2,ooo and the exports decreased by X 1 , 1 7o.O( )0 as compared with la>t year. The Senate of the United States passed the Tariff Bill by :*s to 2S. The harsh ■ manner in which the Aliens Laws are being enforced in the United States is being relented by Canada. The colonial Premiers in London have agreed to a renewal of the naval agreement with Great Britain. Mr. Goschen announced the intention of the

Admiralty to send a first-class cruiser as the flagship in the Australian waters. The Right Hon. R. J. Seddon was banqueted in London yesterday, amongst those present being the Maori section of the contingent, who danced a Itaka before the guests amidst great applause. M. Meilhac, the French playwright, is dead. Sydney stud sheep sales closed ; consignments of Romneys from Wellington and Porirua were passed in unsold. 'Great distress amongst the unemployed in Melbourne, hundreds sleeping out. A very rich find of gold is reported from Southern Cross. Fatal fire in Wellington ; a Chinaman, Chow Li, burned to death.

A force of Niger police under the command of Lieutenant Carroll, a Queenslander, defeated the King of Benin's force and captured a town ; Lieutenant Fitzgerald, of the attacking force, was killed. Still more banquets to the Colonial Premiers at Home : Mr. Seddon. replying to the toast of his health, claimed that New Zealand's progressive legislation had increased the wealth and tended to the contentment and prosperity of the Colony. A fire broke out at Buckingham Palace during the progress of a State ball given by the Queen ; the firemen promptly put out the flames. Strong disapproval shown in Sydney to the proposal to take a portion of Hyde Park for the purpose of a city railway. The Lucknow Mine, in New South Wales, resumes work with an all-round reduction of wages. The Acting-Premier (Hon. J. McKenzie) has received a cable from the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon stating that he was sworn in as a Privy Councillor at Windsor on Wednesday, and personally presented address from the Parliament of New Zealand ; her Majesty sends her thanks to the Legislative Council and House of Representatives. The Government steamer Tutanekai proceeds to Sydney to bring Lord Ranfurly to New Zealand ; arrangements are being made in Wellington for his reception. The Gear Meat Company, in Wellington, decline to have anything to do with the Hooley Scheme of Amalgamation. Hon. J. G. Ward has addressed his Awarua constituents ; strong feeling amongst the electors to retain his services.

The Government of Cape Colony have offered to present a first* class battle ship as a free gift to the Empire; Mr. Goschen has accepted the offer. A prominent St. Petersburg journal says that unless the Sultan submits to the terms dictated by the Powers it will be necessary to end Turkey as a European state. The colonial Premiers attended a garden party given by the Baronesa Burdett* Coutts on Saturday, they were also entertained by the Duke of Westminister and Mr. and Mrs. Gladstone. New alluyial rush reported near Kalgoorlie. Sir. P. A. Jennings died in the Brisbane hospital from syncope, he was for many years a prominent figure in New South Wales politics, being Premier in 1886. A meeting of Mr. ward's supporters at Winton on Saturday night ; a resolution was passed unanimously expressing continued confidence in him. and pleasure in again accepting his services, Mr. D. Anderson of Hokanui offering to defray the whole cost of his election expenses.