BRITISH & FOREIGN.

Waipukurau Press, Issue 289, 30 July 1908, Page 5

BRITISH & FOREIGN.

The Irish Universities Bill has been read a second time in the House of Lords.

The Czar and M. Fallieres, President of the French Republic, met at Revel. The Alliance between Russia and France was reaffirmed, and both expressed a strong desire to maintain and strengthen peace.

Ruef has been liberated on £300,000 bail in connection with the San Francisco corruption cases.

Much satisfaction is shown in Germany over the semi-official announcement that King Edward, in journeying to Marienbad, will visit the German Emperor at Friedrieshof on August 11th.

Sir Edward Grey, in welcoming the Sultan’s proclamation of the Constitution, said Britain’s object in Macedonia had never been political. The Minister also declared that Britain did not aim at the isolation of Germany.

A National Labour Conference sitting in London decided that no electoral reform would be satisfactory unless it provided an adult franchise for men and women.

The London “ Times,” in notifying that the outbreak in Bombay is transitory, comments on the gratifying, offer of help from Australia, and says that such assistance will not be required.

The report of the committee of the House of Commons on home work recommends legislation in regard to registration and the wages of some of the workers engaged in the tailoring, shirting, underclothing, and some other trades, and the establishment of Wages Boards to fix a minimum wage.

A typhoon at Hong Kong lasted two hours and damaged much shipping. The British destroyer Whiting is ashore. The passenger steamer Yin King foundered, and twelve persons were drowned, and three hundred aremissing.

The Dutch Minister was dismissed from Caracas because of an article he contributed to a Dutch publication declaring that President Castro’s dictatorial regime was leading to Venezuela’s decadence. A hostile crowd at Willemstad, Dutch West Indies, forced the Venezuelan consul to seek refuge in the German Consulate.

The system of leasing convicts in the southern States of the American Union has lately been the subject of legislative inquiry. Some remarkable evidence was brought forward. At one prison farm the convicts were lined up and sold like mules to the highest bidder. A convict who possessed clerical abilities was leased out in

exchange for seven negroes. A leased out white boy convict was whipped to death because he had spilt some coffee on a hog.

In a match over a distance of 130 yards on the grass at Manchester, for £2OO a side and Rufe Taylor’s purse of £l5O, A. B. Postle (the Australian professional champion) beat Growcott (the English champion) by a foot in record time, namely, four yards inside thirteen seconds. Davis (Wales) beat Todd (Australia) in a half-mile race for £l2O.

The “ Daily Mail ” 'states that the Natal Government has informed the Earl of Crewe of native unrest, and that police forces have been sent to Zululand as a precaution. It is understood that anxiety prevails lest the adjustment of some of the outstanding grievances—such as Dinizulu’s unpaid salary—may be constructed by the natives as weakness. In the House of Commons a discussion took place on the question of Dinizululs salary. All sections of the House, it was declared, were united in the belief that the Natal Government was in honour bound to pay the salary. A Blue Book reveals the fact that there has been a sharp encounter between Lord Crewe and Mr Moor, Prrmier of Natal. The latter declared that the signs of unrest were the result of the British Government’s authority. Lord Crewe emphasised the pledge given to Dinizulu, and the unwillingness of the Home Government to allow his trial .to be prejudiced by lack of funds. It was also desirable to avoid contemplated litigation in England. The Secretary of State further hinted that later on Natal might wish to adjust the payment of salary.