London.

Manawatu Herald, 31 July 1897, Page 2

London.

Mr Goschen, First Lord of the Admiralty, proposes to commence the building of four battleships daring the present year — one similar to the Oaoopua and the others similar to the Majestio, but with improvements, having a displace* ment of 14,900 tons and a speed of 18 knots. He also proposes to build a new royal yacht with a speed of 20 knots, to cost £250,000, and six light draught gunboats for river servioe. Mr Gosohen, in his Naval Budget speech, further proposed to commence the oonstuction of four powerful armoured cruisers, oo9ting £700---000 eaoh, with a speed of 19} knots, inoreasable to 21 knots, and to expend £50,000 in accelerating ; the building of the warship Vengeance £180,000 on dook yard labour; £40,000 upon materials, and £60,---000 upon torpedo boat destroyers. In the House of Oommons, Mr Stanhope, the Radical member for Bromley, brought forward a motion expressing regret at the inconclusive character of the report of the Jameson Raid Enquiry Committee and the failure of the committee to compel Mr Hawksley, solicitor to the British South Africa Company, to produce the telegrams which passed between Mr Cecil Rhodes and the Company. The motion was negatived by 804 to 77. The result was received with great cheering. Their Royal Highness the Duke and Duchess of York, who are to visit Ireland in August, will stay for a month. In the House of Lords the Workmen's Compensation Bill has passed through committee. All hostile amendments were rejected by large majorities. The House adopted, however, an amendment omitting the provision holding an employer liable in the event of the funds of any scheme proving inadequate for the payment of compensation. It is understood that the committee intends to report in favour of an Agricultural Froduoe Marks Bill, and that all colonial should be mar- ( ked " colonial, " while other > countries should be denominated

' .deign. " It will also favour all live or dead meat imported being marked aboard the vessel. The captain of a Dutch vessel reports sighting something which resembled a balloon floating in the White Sea on the 17th inst. It is conjectured that it may possibly be Herr Andree's balloon.