CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

Manawatu Herald, 18 February 1899, Page 2

CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

London. BRITISH CONCESSIONS IN ' CHINA. A British monetary syndicate has secured large land concessions in consideration for the construction of ;,he proposed Canton-Hankau railway in China. COMMANDER FOR THE PYLADES. Commander R. G. O. Tucker, now of the Intelligence Department, haa b^n appointed to command H.M.S. Pylades, which was recently re-com-missioned for a further term on the Australian Station. SUCCESSFUL AUSTRALIAN SINGER. Mis-? Ada Crossley, the Australian contralto, has been engaged for 20 >f Madame Albani's concerts during the coming autumn, and similarly by Madame Patti for 1900. HOUSE OF COMMONS. M. Middlemore, a Unionist candidate, has been returned unopposed for the representation of Birmingham North, rendered vacant by the resignation of Mr Wm. K'nrick, who was also a Liberal Unionist. TBE PEACE CONFERENCE. Chunt; Tolstoi, interviewed with re fvreace to the Czir'a Peace < 'onferenee on behalf of tho Daily Chronicle, pxprpssed the opinion hat the Conference was hypocritical. The Powers, which . were mutually iHtruqtfnl, wnuld be h«lples=j in vieff >f existing international armaments. If tha armaments of nations are (vipable for tbe time being of qialisation or-«rednction, tbe Count ;^kfd why should arrangements not be made for an indefinite period. THE CONGO. The Time 3 cays if France recpives qual rights of egress on the Nile, he ought to allow England and E^ypt an outlet on the Übayai r.ver bo French Congo.

THE MISSING STEAMERS. The search for the missing steamfir3 Pavonia and Bulgaria has so far proved fruitless. THE QUEEN. Her Majesty the Q leen has returned to Windsor Cattle from Osborne House, her residence in the Isle of Wight, where she has been for some time past. LIBERAL OFFERTORIES. The voluntary offerings of tho members of the Church of England for 1898 totalled £7,500,000, exclusive of the ppw rents. This is £500,000 in excess of the amount received for 1897. *