London.

Manawatu Herald, 16 October 1894, Page 2

London.

Mr Joseph Chamberlain, addressing his constituents at Birmingham, proposed that the State should assist i he working class to purchase their houses by loans from the Savings' Bank money, and charge interest at the rate of 8 per cent. New Zealand long-berried wheat, ex warehouse, flat, 24s ; South Australian and Victorian wheat, ex warehouse, quiet, 24s and 28s 6d respectively. New Zealand frozen mutton — Second quality, 2|:l per lb. Lamb —First quality, 5d per lb. The market is glutted. New Zealand hemp — Demand slow, fair quality sold at £15 10s per ton. The wool sales are animated, and there is good competition. Mr Gladstone, in referring to the £1000 prize offrfred by the Statist for the be.Rt scheme for an Imperial Customs Union, doubts whether they would be of any practical result, and states he requires to be satisfied that such a union is possible without involving secession of the principle of Protection. The Manchester (Thirlmere) water ■uipp'y works have been opened at a cost of £2,500.000. A bomb loaded with bullets was lodged outside the Metropolitan Bank at Walsall. It had a lighted fuse attached, but this was extinguished before it took effect. Foreign. The Czar reviewed the Russian fleet at Sebastopool. Profe-sor Leydon believes that the Czir's malady is curable. A convention of the Cronin section of the Clan na Gael Society met in Chicago, when it was resolved to have no connection with the constitutional movement for Home Rule, but to renew the attempt to cripple England. Robbers bailed up a train in Potomac and stole £80,000. It i* reported that M. Hanofcaux, Minister of Foreign Affairs, is willing to make concessions in the Upper I Niger territory to Great Britain pro viding the latter is willing to concede territory to France on the right bank of the Niger and in Hinterland, Lagos and the Gold Coast.

The Czar's condition is very serious, his extreme weakness being an alarming feature. NeWs has been received that Lorenzo Marquez is surrounded by 80,---000 natives. The situation is re* garded as critical; The Kaffirs raided the outskirts of Lorenzo ilarquez during the night, and murdered 17 settlers. Five hundred Portuguese troops defend Lorenzo Marquez, but it is believed that the settlement is at the mercy of a horde of natives who surround it.