London.

Manawatu Herald, 12 October 1897, Page 2

London.

The strike of engineers has delayed the naval programme for quite a year. If the strike continues through-

out the winter it will jeopardise the margin of superiority of the British over foreign fleets, which has taken the former a decade to attain. Reuter is --^sponaible for the statement that Great Britain has finally declined to take part in a conference qn the seal fisheries question at which representatives of Russia and Japan are to be present, and further, that she will -not agree even to their presence at such' a Conference in tho capacity of spectator.!. The Hon. W. S. Fielding, Minister of Finance, has expressed himself as highly satisfied with Great Britain's attitude in tegard to a conference on the seal fisheries dispute. Lord Georga Hamilton, Secretary of State for the Indian Department, states that the Indian famine cost £10,000,000, while the charitable subscriptions amounted to £1,500,---000. An expert sent by Rothschilds to the Klondike goldfields reports that the stupendous wealth of the field has 'not been exaggerated. Three cases of typhoid in London have been directly traced to the Maidstone outbreak. The Times states that Russia has promised to support the French claims in Egypt, but when pressed to support resolute action, begged France to rely upon a policy of negotiation, and not indulge in provocations and menaces. The Executive Committee of the Engineers' Union has decided in favour of continuing the struggle against the employers.