London.

Manawatu Herald, 11 February 1899, Page 2

London.

THE ENGLISH FOOTBALL TEAM. Mr Mullineux say 3 be can bring an equally good football team to visit the Australian colonies next year. Players preferred the trip to South Africa during the coming season. AN IRISH LEADER WANTED. John Dillon has resigned the leadership of the Irish Nationalists in the House of Commons with a view to the promotion of the reunion of the Irish party. SPEECH BY LORD SALISBURY. In the House of Lords, replying to Lord Kimberley, Lord Salisbury said the Soudan was now held by title of conquest, and he did not require to take any other action at present. With respect to the Anglo - German agreement he was not apprehensive of the task of proving that that agreement favoured the peace of the world. Lord Salisbury insisted that Great Britain had gained greater concession in China than any of the other Power?. It was absurd to assume that Great Britain contemplated the dismemberment of China. He wished the Czar's Peace Conference success, and said he would be satisfied if it secured the extension of the principle of arbitration, and brought about a diminution of the horrors of war. He did not believe war was so imminent as during the recess, although the causes of war still existed. The Bight Hon. A. J. Balfour ! said there was no reason why peace with France should not be per* manent. The " open door " policy in China would be maintained, but he feared that the vast concessions required to develop China would severely strain Great Britain's financial resources. Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman said that the manifest improvement in the relations between Great Britain and France ought to facilitate the settlement of various questions now in dispute between the two countries. The Address-in Reply was |agreed to. Thera were no amendments to the Address-in-Reply in the House of Commons from the front Opposition benches ; but there were numerous amendments given notice of by private membars. PROVIDING FOR THE AGED POOR. During the debate on the Address-in-Reply in the House of Commons. Sir H. Campbell Bannerman said he was surprised no legislation was promised in the Speech from the Throne to deal with the overcrowded and insanitary dwellings, while the omission of an old age pension scheme, he declared, was scandalous. The Bight Hon. A. J, Balfour, in replying, implied that the Government would legislate for the aged poor before the expiry of the present Parliament. RESIGNATION OF A MEMBER. Mr William Kenriok, LiberalUnionist, member for North

Birmingham in the House of Commons, and brother-in-law of the Bight Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, has resigned his seat. THE GORDON COLLEGE. A brilliant ball held at the Hotel Cecil resulted in £1000 being subscribed in aid of the fund for the Gordon College, which Lord Kit* chenor is establishing at Khartoum for the education of the Soudanese. ENGLISH SCULLING RACE. The challenge recently issued by James Wray, of New South Wales, to William Haines, the English sculler, has been taken up, and a match for £50 aside baa, bean arranged. The contest will take place on the Tyne on the 11th March.