LATEST BRITISH AND FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

Kumara Times, Issue 2955, 20 April 1886, Page 2

LATEST BRITISH AND FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

[REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.] By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. THE ORIENT STEAMSHIP COM- ! PANY. J MONETARY AND COMMERCIAL. IRISH LAND PURCHASE SCHEME. RIOTS COMPENSATION BILL. I THE GREEK QUESTION. RISING OF THE RIVER ST. LAWRENCE. IMMENSE DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. (Received April 19, 1.45 a.m.) Londox, April 16. The directors of the Orient Company have declared a dividend for the past half-year at 5 per cent per annum, while they carry forward and place to the reserve £12,000. The total quantity of wheat afloat for the United Kingdom is 1,750,000 quarters. The Bank rate of discount is 2 petcent., the market rate If. New Zealand frozen mutton remains at s£d to 51(1. At yesterday's wool sales there were catalogued 5,500 bales weak market. To-day die tone was animated ; 9,600 bales were submitted. (Received April 20, 1 a.m.) Ap.il 19. The Govemmeut Land Purchase scheme provides that the Imperial Receiver-General shall receive the rent of the purchased properties, and that the same shall be a first charge on the Irish revenue. The Peninsular and Oriental Steam iSavigntion Company have completed arrangements hy which vessels on their passage from Loudon will pass through

the Suez Canal without touching at any places, thus avoiding the quarantine imposed by the Egyptian authorities. (Received April 20, 1.30 p.m.) Later. In the House of Commons to-day the Right Hon. Hugh Cbilders, Home Secretary, announced his intention to introduce a bill to compensate the sufferers by the late riots; the measure to be applicable to the whole country as well as to London. Per Merchant Shipping and Underwriters' Association:—Arrived, the ship Eiisterhill, January 7th, and the Himalaya, January oth, both fr.mi Port Chalmers. (Received April 20, 1 a.m.) Capetown, April IG. The steamship Tainui has left for New Zealand. Constantinople, April 19. Replies have been received from the French and Italian Governments in reference to the Greek questiou, intimating their intention to adopt a similar line of action to that meditated by the Empires. (Received April 20, 1.30 p.m.) Montreal, April 19. Heavy rains melting the snow in the interior have caused the St. Lawrence River to rise to an abnormal height. The result has been that the city °has been completely inundated in the lowlying parts, causing immense damage to property, and rendering many families homeless.