London.

Manawatu Herald, 27 May 1897, Page 2

London.

The Prince of Wales on Saturday opened the new tunnel under the Thames at Blackwell. The tunnel has a length of 6200 ft, measures in diameter 27ft, and its total cost, including land a^d buildings, is £1,251,000. It is said to be the most wonderful tunnel in the world, and has taken o\er four years to complete.

The second series of the wool sales closed on Saturday, the prices obtained being the highest of the series. As compared with the open* ing rates, medium and inferior merinos and crossbreds advanced 7£ to 10 per cent, best scoured sometimes dearer during the series than at the close. Merino crossbred and lambs' wool 5 to 7£ per cent below the rates obtained last series. Yorkshire manufacturers were the principal operators. Matahaki (New Zealand) brand realised 9d The total quantity catalogued for the series amounted to 224,000 bales, of which 115,000 have been sold for Home consumption, 88,000 for the Conti» nenfc, 12,000 for American, and 56,000 carried forward to next sales.

Mr Balfour's Bill for relieving the Irish Poor Laws was strongly supported by Mr Carson (M.P. for Dublin University) and Messrs Tim Healy and John Redmond. The relief to be granted to the landlords with respect to the poor rates will amount to £250,000, and the relief for tenants to £400,000. No scheme for the relief of Ireland has been received with such universal approval as the proposal in the Bill, which it is considered meets many of the pledges as to Irish reform. The dinner to the poor of the London slums — towards which the Australian pastoralists contributed sheap and cattU-— will be given on June 24th.

The? directors of the Co operative Wholesale Society have invited the colonial Premiers to a conference on Lhe subject of colonial produce.

The horses belonging to the New South Wales Mounted Rifles suffered from the cold on the voyage Home, but they are recovering sufficiently to be used in the military tournament.

Amongst the arrivals to participate in the Jubilee celebrations are detachments of the Cape Mounted Rifles, Borneo, Cypriote and Sierra Laone police, Maussas (West Africa) and Indian native forces.

The War Office authorities com* mend the smart work of the New South Wales Mounted Rifles.

A diamond, which was recently sold by Aaron Jacob and Co., diamond merchants, to the Nizam of Hyderabad for £800,000, has been stolen, and replaced by a paste imitation.

The diamond was intended as a Jubilee present to the Queen.