, 1908-12-23

Ing Time Underground, exclusive 0f Halt an
hour descending and ascend;ngs Is thus be-
comes 4 nine hours bill. to b effective froa
irst July.
The Session has practically slmed. Parlia-
mont will meet only formally to-day 10 re-
ceive the Kings Assent to the bills passed.
and be prorogued until February sixteenth.
o. ten important measures in the. King'a
speech on th. opening Of Parliament Eve
have been passed. viz: the old age PENSIONS.
kri-h Universities, the London Docks pur-
chase CLildren's Protection aud the Miners
Eight Hours bills. The Lords rejected the
Licensing Bill. the Educatiea Bill was with
drawn. tn Irish Land Purchase valuation.
and Hops substitutes bills have beon drop
ped, aud the housing of the working classes
Dill postponed. Among several minor maa.
sures is one for protecting public meetings
from disturbance by Suffragettes.
The Session has widened the breach be-
tween the Lords and the Commons, and the
Lords opposition to liberal reforms makes
reform of the House of Lords O question of
the Liberals existence. Talk OF a dissolution
persists, but it is more probable that Mr..
Asquith will try another session. with ad.
vanced measures for taxation which possibly
the Lords may reject, thus forcing q dissolu.
ton. Some, however, are in favour of acquiea-
cling in the belief that burdensome taxation
will prove a boomerang for the Liberals, thus
a prolongatlon Of the present Government
is possible.
A telegram from Hong Kong reports that
the destroyer Hart las been sent to Canton
OF account OF apprehension of an anti foreign
outbreak there, from the killing of a Coolie
by the Waterman abolrd tue Fa,shan, the
result of q boycott against the British steam
ship Moorhen, and Canton feeling is said
to be running high.
In response to Turkeys demand for pay
ment for Austria's annexations, Austria de-
mands tina Turkey shou d pay damages for
her borcott of Austrian goods. This aggra-
Yates the situation and there are renewed
fears of war.
The French Chamber of Deputies has in
creased the appropriation for Saint Pierre
Miqaeion eight hundred pounds. and re-
fused to recall the wars;llp, after q heated
debate. In which it was alleged Miquelon
was less loyal than Guadelcupe.
Mr.. Fielding, the Canadian Minister Of
Finance. being discouraged regarding per-
lecting the Franco Canadian Treaty, wants
to go to Der IN before returning home. TIE
negotiations have been deferred.
The death is announced of Cardinal Lscot,
Archbishop OF Bordeaux, while returning
from Rome.
The Gear has pardoned ten persons con-
victed OF participation in the Blatystok
massacre of 1905.
The Berlin newspapers counsel cordially
towards President Castro, who is contem-
plating purchases. It is reported he has
bought fifty thousand rifles, and that he is
negotiating for six warships, Krupp artillery
and the engagement Of German instructors for
the military academy at Caracas. Moreover
Germany's investments 10 Venezuela are
large, and it is a good opportunity to increase
her political and commercial influence.
President Castro has entered the hospital.
He still denies the reported domestic dis
ordexs in Venezuela.
Advices fromP ort-au-P Prince state hatGener-
al Simon has taken the oath OF off, and at
tended a TIE Deun at the cathedral. 1t Is
announced that Messrs Hippolyte. Claude,
Hereaux, Marius, Canal and 4-.e.y .~.I the
cabinet.
Jamaica, 21st "A cablegram announces the
signing on behalf of theJarnaica policy holders
committee and the English fire Offices
committee of the agreement to govern the
settlement of the insurance claims, on o Da-
sis of IS per cent and payment OF costs by
the companies.
II. Nj. S. Scylla arrived here at BOO g. m.
London, Dec. 22nd-There was but a scan
ty attendance at the prorogation of Pariia-
ment Yesterday. The Kings speech referred
cordially to the visit OF the United States
leet TO Australia. Among the agreements for
eliminating contention were treaties with
the United States regarding general arbitra.
ton and regulating Canadian relations, aiso
for establishing the territo9al status OF the
North Sea. Qualification was expressed with
the visits OF President Fallieres and the
King and QQean Of Sweden. His Majesty