LATEST BRITISH AND FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

Kumara Times, Issue 2883, 25 January 1886, Page 2

LATEST BRITISH AND FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

»~M [REUTER/S TELEGRAMS.] By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. >—•—< NEW SECRETARY OF STATE THE NEW RULES FOR PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. VISIT OF PRINCE OF WALES TO EATON HALL. RUMORS OF ALARMING PLOT. CHARTERED BANK DIVIDEND. EXPENSES OF THE NEW GUINEA PROTECTORATE. ARMAMENTS OF GREECE AND BALKAN STATES. ANOTHER LOAN FOR VICTORIA. STEAMSHIP MOVEMENTS. (Received January 25, 1.40 a.m.) London, January 24. Viscount Cranbrook (GathorneHiirdy) is appointed Secretary of State for "War in place of the Hon. W. H. Smith, who has accepted the position of Chief Secretary for Ireland. The chief points in the new rules for

parliamentary procedure, which arc about to be introduced by Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, are as follow:—Parliament; will be adjourned from July to October in each year. The sittings will be commenced at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, instead of at 4, as at present, and will close at midnight. All bills* except those dealing wiih finance arc to be referred to special committees. No questions are to be allowed unless previous notice has been given; and the practice of counting out the House is placed under restriction. Owing to rumours of an alarming nature having reached the police authorities, exceptional precautions were taken on the occasion of the recent visit of the Piince of Wales to the Duke of Westminster, at Eaton Hall. The London and North Western Railway Line, over which his Royal Highness traveled, was specially patrolled, and the royal party did not proceed to Chester, as announced, but alighted at the previous station, and drove to Eaton. The diiectors of the English, Scottish, and Australian Chartered Bank hav.> declared a dividend for the past halfyear at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum, and carrry forward and place to the reserve fund £20,000.

(Received January 25, 12.55 p.m.) January 23. Messrs Murray Smith and Garrick, Agents-General for Victoria and Queensland respectively, have held the proposed conference with Sir Robert Herbert, Permanent Under-Secretary for the Colonies, on the subject of the incidence of expense of the New Guinea protectorate. Telegraphic despatches have been forwarded by them to their respective colonies giving the result of the negotiations, but up to the present the terms of settlement have not been made public.

The European Powers, acting upon the proposals of Russia, have agreed to take collective action of a more stringent nature to compel Greece and the Balkau States to reduce their armaments to a pence footing. Tenders are invited on behalf of the Government of Victoria for a loan of £150,000, at 4 per cent. Tenders will be opened on the 2nd of February, and the minimum price has been fixed at £lO2.

(Received January 25, 1.40 am.) Teneripfe, January 22. The New Zealand Shipping Company's Royal Mail steamship Aorangi left yesterday morning, for New Zealand.

Capetown, January 23. Shaw, Savill and Albion Company's steamship Arawa took her departure yesterday morning for New Zealand ports.

[special to press association. ] London, January 19. General Warner will replace General Konssel De Courcy, in command of the French forces in Totiquin.

Jauuaiy 20. Mr Gladstone disavows any intention to propose a Legislature for Irelaud.

The tunnel which has been constructed uuder the river Mersey was formally opened by the Prince of Wales to-day. The Times states that it is the intention of the New Zealand, South Aus tralian, and Queensland Governments to place further loans on the market shortly.

The Daily Telegraph states that the Government will withhold local Governmerit from Ireland until order has been 'estoied in that country. The Agents-General will apply for an with Sir M. Hicks-Beach on the question of the import duties on colonial wines.

January 21. The Guardian, referring to the appointment of Bishop Moorhouse, considers it a mistake.