BRITISH & FOREIGN.

Waipukurau Press, 2 July 1908, Page 5

BRITISH & FOREIGN.

o Lord Milner is alarmed at the action of the colonies in making commercial treaties with foreign countries before tariff reform is obtained. Mr Keir Hardie, M.P., complains that he was not invited to a recent Royal garden party because he had criticised the King’s visit to the Czar. It is stated that 250 British warships are engaged in secret manoeuvres in the North Sea. M. Stolypin, the Russian Premier, in a circular to the police, forbids the torturing of suspects in order to extract confessions. The Council of the Northumberland Miners’ Association by 55 to 23 condemned the Miners’ Eight Hours Bill. The miners in the district will shortly ballot upon the question. M. Banister, of Norwich, is proceeding against the Rev. H. Thompson for refusing to administer the sacrament of the Communion to his wife, who is his deceased wife’s sister.

The editor of a Chinese paper in Sydney has been advised of disastrous floods in the Canton province. Immense damage was done to crops and property. Whole villages were swept away. Many were drowned, and millions are homeless. Assistance is asked

The hearing of the charge against R. Sievier has commenced at Bow street. According to evidence, since the newspaper the “ Winning Post ” started, Sievier almost weekly made an attack upou Mr J. B. Joel and his family. Recently, Sievier, being short of money, approached Joel for a loan, finally promising to abstain from publishing further alleged defamatory matter if given £so£lQr.'' JoeT ” offered £2500 on thee condition that Sievier gave a written promise. The latter refusecL'and demanded another £5OOO mzfcler the threat to publish some iqicidents in Joel’s life. The case j&as remanded, bail being refused, f