LATEST BRITISH AND FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

Kumara Times, Issue 2909, 24 February 1886, Page 2

LATEST BRITISH AND FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

[REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.] By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. LOED RANDOLPH CHURCHILL AT BELFAST. FRANCE and THE NEW HEBRIDES GROUP. A PROTRACTED VOYAGE. (Received February 24,12.30 a.m.) . London, February 23. Lord Randolph Churchill addressed a public meeting at Belfast last nigbt. His lordship was accorded a most enthusiastic reception. In the course of his speech Lord Randolph fervidly appealed to the men of Ulster to resist to the utmost any attempt to separate Ireland from Great Britain. In the House of Commons last night, the Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, in reply to a question, stated that the Franco-German agreement regarding the disposal of all the New Hebrides in no way affected the Anglo French agreement. He added that the Australian Colonies had forwarded despatches stroDgly objecting to any abrogation of the latter agreement, and concluded by announcing that the Government was corresponding with the various colonies upon the subject. Per Merchant Shipping and Underwriters' Association:— London, February 23. Arrived, Claribel, from Auckland, September 19. [SPECIAL TO MELBOURNE AGE.] London, February 8. Sir Robert Hubert, referring to the anxiety expressed by the Australian Colonies in connection with the understanding arrived at betweeu France and Germany relative to the New Hebrides and other islands in the South Pacific, says that he considers it need, less to enter any protest in the matter. He entertains a confident belief that France will adhere to the agreement with England, under which both Powers pledged themselves to respect the independence of the New Hebrides.

The Marquis of Normanby, late Governor of Victoria, is suffering from illness of such a serious nature that his recovery is considered doubtful.

It is considered improbable in wellinformed circles that any tenders will be submitted for a twenty-nine days' mail service between England and Australia.

The German expedition for the exploration of New Guinea, under Commander Herr Schrieber, has embarked at Hamburg on board the steamer Quetta.

February 10. A tendency is exhibited by Upper Canada to sympathise with the Australian Colonies relative to the occupation of islands in the Pacific, and it is claimed that as a Pacific power the interests of Canada in relation to this question are identical with those of Australia.

The nomination of Dr. Moorhouse as Bishop of Manchester has been formally accepted by the Dean and Chapter and Cathedral.

The Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, President of the Local Government Board, has authorised the initiation of a system of ont-door relief for the unemployed in London, suVject to a labour test.

Gove-nment have resolved upon prosecuting Mr Hyndmau and others who are considered to have incited the socialist riots which recently took place.

February 11. It is definitely nettled (hat Mr Thurston will be appointed Governor of Fiji.

February 12. In the divorce suit Crawford v. Crawford, petitioner deposed to bavin* received anonymous letters accusing Sir Charles Dilke of intimacy with Mrs Crawford, and stated that on his ques. tioning his wife on the subject she confessed that the co-vespondent had seduced her. Though the divorce was granted, Sir Charles Dilke was acquitted on the charge of seduction laid against him by the petitioner on the grounds that the confession of Mrs Crawford was uncorroborated, the only witness who could have confirmed it being absent on the plea of illness.

February 16. A strong feeling of hostility is exhibited by both press and amongst the public against Dilke in consequence of his connection with the Crawford divorce case.

Bradlaugh intends to leave England

on his proposed visit to Australia at the end of the approaching session of Pai'lianiem, if at that time there should be no reason to fear an early dissolution of the House of Commons. Quebec, February 10. A tendency is exhibited by Uppei Canada to sympathise with the Australian Colonies relative to the occupation of the islands in the Pacific. It is claimed that as a Pacific Power the interests of Canada in relation to this question are identical with those of Australia. [special to press association. I London, February 18. The State Legislature of San Francisco intend to ask Congress to grant a subvention for the purpose of laying down a cable between San Francisco and the Sandwich Islands. The Government of those islands are favorable to its construction. February 19. During the recent reverses of King Milan a revolution was imminent in Servia in favor of Prince Peter C. Karageorgievitch, and the latter now proclaims the expulsion of King Milan. It is expected that a South Australian loan will he placed in the market, early in April. Mr Ahearn, who opposed Mr Parnell at the general election, invites the Irish National League to declare whether, if separation were granted, they would not be opposed to federation. It is intended to blockade the Greek fleet. In an interview with a representative from the Pall Mall Gazette re the new mail service to Australia, Mr R C. Barker, of South Australia, expressed the opinion that a twenty-nine days' service would be too expensive. In the House of Commons Mr Hennicker Heaton has tabled a notice to the effect that it is desirable all the Colonial forces should be placed under the control of the War Office, and that they should receive similar rights and privileges to those bestowed on the Imperial forces, and also that information should be ascertained from the colonies whether they would be willing to contribute to the cost of such a proposal. Mr Heaton has also given notice that it is desirable that a cable, to be controlled by England, should be laid via the Cape to Australia and India. February 20. Sir Charles Dilke's Chelsea Committee accept his denial to the charges brought against him in the divorce suit of Crawford v. Crawford. Couut Von Moltke is recovering from his recent severe illness. M. Freycinet, the French Premier, now agrees to accept the Bill introduced by the Extremists, by which power is given for the expulsion of Princes from France. Mukhtar Pasha, the Turkish Commissioner in Egppt, proposes that a force of nine thousand Egyptians should occupy Dongola. The English Press argue, that Ireland has now virtually abandoned the Irish National League. A newspaper published in Amsterdam, states that Great Britain purposes to parley with Germany for the cession of certain territory in New Guinea lying to the westward of the Fly River. An influential deputation has waited on the Government urging that a permanent loan be floated for the purpose of encouraging State emigration, emigrants repaying the money advanced by easy instalments.

February 21. Mr John Morley, the newly-ap-pointed Chief Secretary of Ireland, will not permit the military evictions of the Irish tenants.

The Otago Woolgrowers' Company has been registered, with a capital of £IOO,OOO.

February 22. It is reported that General Alikhanoff, a Russian officer, with one thousand men, is marching upon Maimana, a town two hundred miles to the northeast of Herat, and which was captured by the Afghans in 1874. The prospects of the Indian harvest are of a favourable nature.