BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2815, 26 February 1908, Page 29

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

LONDON, February 17. Mr Coghlan (Agent-general for New South Wales), in the course of a long Article in The Times, replies to criticisms regarding the White Australia policy. ! He says that if Australia had not, 40 ] years ago, inhibited coloured immigration, she would not now be a white man's territory. February 18. The Court of Appeal has decided, in relation to workmen's compensation, that tips mu6t be included in any estimate of the average weekly earnings. The Rev. W. J. Mayer, with 10 boys from Dr Barnardo'e Homee, will sail on iFriday on. his Australasian musical tour Sin aid of the homes he represents. The late Mr Michael Edward Sanderson, of Kettlethorp Hall, Yorkshire, haa ibequeathed £60,000 to the diocese of Wakefield, besides giving £10,000 to proTide pensions for women. The Theatre Royal at Windsor was gutted by fire. All the properties and scenery were destroyed. February 19. The Daily Express says it is reported in the lobbies of the House of Commons 4hat Mr Herbert Gladstone- (Home Secretary) will take a peerage, and succeed liord Northcote as Governor-General of iAustralia. There were 84 deaths from, influenza in London last week. A Canadian three-million loan, at 3£ per ♦ent. is to be issued at par. Dr Henry Maudeley, the famous mental specialist, has offered the London County Council £30,000 towards the establishment of a hospital for mental diseases. The Government has appointed Lord James of Hereford chairman, of the commission set up to inquire whether it is desirable to place restrictions on the materials and processes used in the mauufacture of Scotch and Irish whisky. February 20. The first meeting of creditors of the IWincott Copper Company was. held in *he Bankruptcy Court. The official receiver estimated the unsecured liabilities at £100,000, and the contingent debts in connection with the Anglo-Argentine Shipping Company at £260,000, and the assets at £18,226. The meeting resolved to wiud up the company. February 21. The Daily Chronicle states that Japan is relying on a eecret treaty, which was concluded in 1906, but which was then vetoed by China, for building a railway Irom Heinmintun to Fakumen, linking up Peking with the South Manchurian line. China has acquiesced. There are 100,000 sufferers from influenza in London. Sir H. Canipbell-Bannerman, Mr Birrell, end Mr Haldan© are- absent from the •House of Commons through it. The appeal case Campbell (Sydney) v. the Australian Mutual Provident Society, in which the appellant sought to prevent the society extending its business outside the Commonwealth, was argued before the Judicial Committee of the<*Bouee of Lords. I After hearing the appellant's case their I Lordships intimated that they did not desire to hear couru-el for respondents, «nd would give their reasons later. February 22. A meeting of the General Committee ©i the National Liberal federation, held at Leicester, unanimotMy urged the further reduction of expenditure upon armaments. By a majority the committee resolved in favour of the extension of the franchise to women. February 24. Bishop Hoare, the Catholic Bishop of 'ATdagh, has strongly condemned boycotting. He admitted that the aim was good, but added that ranching was doomed. PARIS February 20. A number of documents relating to the Charges against Lieutenant Ullmo, who is charged with selling plans to Germany, were stolen from his counsel's rooms at the Toulon Hotel. The public trial is now proceeding. February 23. Lieutenant Ullmo has been sentenced to transportation for life, and to military degradation in court instead of publicly, as he did not succeed in actually divulging »ny secrets to his employers. The prisoner pleaded that the' woman trith whom he was infatuated and opium ;were the cause of his crimes. BERLIN, February 20. Herr Dernburg, speaking in the Reichetag, said that it was never proposed to transport to the German colonies in the Pacific Ocean criminals under sentence, but only persons who had undergone imprisonment already, in order to give them an opportunity to rehabilitate themselves. The scheme, however, was blocked by financial difficulties, not to mention international considerations. MADRID, February 18. A number of bombs exploded in & thoroughfare of Barcelona, wrecking two houses and killing a woman, while several TreTe injured. February 21. Masked men entered the Town Council meeting at Daimiel and shot the mayor dead and then escaped. The crime is attributed to political, revenge. LISBON, February 19. It transpires that Queen Amelie has received letters advising the King to leave Portugal as the only means of preserving bis life.

MOROCCO, February 18. The bursting of^t boiler tube on the French cruiser Descartes, at Morocco, killed 10 and injured 32.

NEW YORK, February 18. Tweirty-three women suffragists paraded tlie streets of this city amid the jeers of the spectators.

February 20,

The United States Ambassador has submitted to the British Ambassador a dratt treaty providing for the appointment of a joint commission to adjudicate on minor claims made "by the United States against the British Government and citizens.

The American Senate has ratified + he arbitration treaty with France. The treaty provides for arbitration on any issue arising between France and America, and resembles those which France has concluded with Britain and other countries.

The polioe hero declare that Hyne, who was recently sentenced in London to seven years' imprisonment for marrying and robbing women, is one and the same as the dentist Witzhoff, the notorious bigamist, who had swindled many women.

SAN FRANCISCO, February 21.

Tan tons of dynamite exploded in a building of the Hercules Powder Works at Berkeley (California), killing four whites and 24 Chinamen.

February 23. 'The San Francisco Market Strret Bank has suspended payment. It has over £200,000 on deposit.