British and Foreign News.

Hastings Standard, Issue 372, 14 July 1897, Page 4

British and Foreign News.

Canada has been given to understand from Washington that there is no prospect of a commercial treaty with the United States, as Canada can offer no concession in which Britain cannot share. However, Congress is expected to appoint a Commission to act with a Canadian Commission in enquiring fully into the trade relations of the two countries. One of the most bitter contests that has ever taken place in Canada came to an end on 15 th May, when a poll was taken in Toronto on the question whether the electric street cars should run on Sundays. The advocates of Sunday cars won by 479. Over 82,000 votes were polled. The Premier of Canada, in replying to a deputation of licensed victuallers, said that if Prohibition were carried it would mean a loss to the revenue of $8,000,000, which would have to be met by direct taxation. He would express no opinion as to compensation. The Government had not made up its mind whether to accept a majority of the whole vote or only a majority of the votes polled at the plebiscite as determining the feeling of the country. There must be an unmistakable expression of popular will. The 50th anniversary of the death of Daniel O'Connell was celebrated by a special requiem mass on 'lsth May in the Chuich of the Irish College, Rome, where the heart of the Irish leader is presei ved. A terrible disaster occurred on May 18 on the railway between Dorpat and Riga, Russia. A train containing two battalions was wrecked by such a tempest of rain and thunder that some of the soldiers not killed by the smashing together of the trucks were drowned in the flood. The railway track was washed away in a few minutes. Fiftysix men were killed and 43 seriously injured. Two of the guards \Vsre also killedtind one injured. A special meeting of the joint synods of Dublin Glendalough, and Iviklare was held at Dublin iu May to ele:t an

Archbishop m the room of the late Lord Plunked The Bishop of Meath (Dr. J. J-\ Peacocke) and the Archdeacon. of Dublin (Dr. Scott) received the greatest number of votes, but neither had the requisite majority. These two names were therefore submitted to the Bishops, who elected Dr. Pen.cocke. He is the son of Mr George Peacocke, M.D., and was born in 1835. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin. After holding several curacies he was appointed canon of St. Patrick's Cathfedral, Dublin, in 1875. He was incumbent of St. George, Dublin, from 1873 to 1878, and Rector of Monkstown from 1878 to 1894, In 1894 he was appointed Professor of Pastoral Theology in Trinity College, Dublin, and in the same year he was consecrated Bishop of Meath. The Viceroy of India reports for the third week in May that there had been a good general rainfall throughout Bengal proper, where present agricultural prospects were favorable generally and early rice crops, with indigo crops, were doing well. *ln Southern India and scattered showers had fallen. The number of persons on relief was 3,608,000. The Pope intends to found an institution at the English College in Rome for the training of convert clergymen for the priesthood, as well as for others who may wish to pursue higher studies. An inquest was held at Guy's Hospital, London, on 17th May concerning the death of Thomas Richardson, aged 54. His room was in a miserably dirty condition, but contained a book of the National Penny Bank showing £llsO to the credit of the deceased, a Post Office Savings Bank book for £193, a share certificate for £IOO, £B2 in gold, and £2 6s 3d in silver. Death had resulted from sudden heart failure.