BRITISH & FOREIGN.

Waipukurau Press, Issue 283, 16 July 1908, Page 5

BRITISH & FOREIGN.

It is reported that the German Government has notified the Pekin Government that Turkish subjects in China will in future be under German protection. France, which has exercised a protectorate over Turks, in China for -170 years, is not aware of any change having been made.

The Civil. List grant to KingManuel of Portugal is fixed at £2OO a day. Queen Amelia is refunding £32,400 wrongly advanced to her from the Treasury,

A bomb was exploded in the quarters of a number of English dock labourers employed at Malmo, in Sweden, where the local men were on strike. , The explosion resulted in the death' of one man and injuries to seven others.

King Edward and Queen Alexandra were present at the official’ opening of the Stadium, at Shepherd’s Bush, where the Olympic Games are to be held. Two thousand athletes of all nations paraded before their Majesties, but the effect of the display was spoiled by rain.

Owing to alleged misrepresentation from German sources an official statement has been issued at St. Petersburg regarding the recent incident at the British Legation in Teheran. Russia, it is pointed out, was not responsible for the actions of the Cossack troops; whose commander was directed to consider himself in the capacity of a servant lent to the Shah by Russia.

Mr Justice Kennedy, addressing the Roscommon grand jury, regretted the extreme lawlessness of the country, and said the prevelance of cattle-driving had caused great anxiety. He suggested that instead of proceeding by indictment it would be better to rely on the ordinary law, which punished such offence by at least six months’ imprisonment.

The House of Commons has agreed to the shipbuilding vote of £7,545,000 in the Estimates. Mr A. H. Lee (Conservative) warned the Government that it must fulfil its pledges, or the country would show it that no trifling with the navy would be allowed. Mr McKenna said that by 1911 Britain would possess eight Dreadnoughts and four new great cruisers, to Germany’s seven and two respectively. This preponderance, he admitted, would be insufficient if Britain had nothingelse to rely upon, but her superiority. in battleships was incontestable.