London.

Manawatu Herald, 1 February 1896, Page 2

London.

"The Government programme for he corn ng session of Parliament includes — National defence, increase of the nayy, relirf of farmers, voluntary schools, and Irish land administration. Sir Joseph Biirnby, the well n >wn musician, h dead. Mr J^sse.y, th* Uni mi 4 candidate, <hih been elwcted for So. Pincra* Snitb, vice Sir Julian Goldsinid, ieceased. He defeated Mr Harris, hhe Radical candidate, by 1256 v ) f es. Mr Chamberlain, Secretary of State for the Colonies, has been instructed to assure the Agents General that the Queen and Princess Beatrice are deeply touched by the sympathy and loyalty shown by the colonies in the misfortune which h is fallen on the Royal Family. The report of ttoe Commission appointed by the Powers to enquire into the Armenian atrocities, states r hat the accounts of the massacres have been enormously exaggerated in most cases, but that 900 were slaughtered at Sasaoun, while many of the survivors wera outraged and hunted like wild beasts. Mr Gladstone, ia another latter on the Armenian atrocities, laments the murderous wickedness of the Sultan, which, he says, cannot be equalled, and which is a disgrace to the Powei'3. Cable messages to the Times from correspondents in tha Rand state that the arrogance of the Boers since the defeat of Jameson's party i.-; maddening, and that a rising is imminent un'ess the system of serfdom is relaxed. At the wool Rales at Bradford <«pllers are holding stocks for an ' advance of Id p>-r 1b ; consequently little business is doiner. i Cropsbreds are from £d to £d 1 weaker. I

The St. Petersburg agent of the Armenian League states that the Sultan has proposed an allianoe with Russia to occupy and adrainster the Anatolia province for the balance of the overdue war indemnity ; Russia to guarantee the safety of the Sultan's throne. It is believed that Great Britain is willing to purchase the Island of Cyprus, and grant the inhabitants autonomous government. The Pall Mall Gazette states that the dissension among his followers and the serious revolt of the interior tribes have virtually caused the overthrow of the Mahidi. The Right Hon. H. C. Childers, the well-known statesman, who at various periods held Cabinet rank, and was Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1882 till 1885, is dead ; aged 69. At the wool sales, cro3sbreds are a little firmer. Merinos are bringing Id above the opening rates. Scoured merinos are firmest*