Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/429

1899.] 18. At Johannesburg an indoor meeting of the South African League to protest against the arrest of two of its members, broken up by a band of Dutch and Hollanders, the police making no attempt to preserve order.

19. The Bank of England reduced its rate of discount from 4 to $3 1/2$ per cent.; the reserve standing at 22,102,905 £., or $44 7/8$ per cent. of the liabilities, and the stock of bullion at 31,968,505 £.

— An agreement laying down the principles on which the Soudan would be administered signed at Cairo by Lord Cromer and the Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs. The flags of the two countries were to be used everywhere in the Soudan except at Suakim.

— The Hamburg-American liner Alesia, 5,476 tons, bound from Hamburg to New York, towed into Queenstown, having been twenty-three days out, and disabled by the heavy weather.

20. The Archbishops of Canterbury and York issued an intimation that before any final decision upon the interpretation of the Rubrics the matter should be argued openly before the bishop of the diocese, either personally or by counsel.

— A railway collision took place on the South Eastern Railway near Strood, when a special train conveying the members of a pantomime company was run into by a goods train and much shaken.

— Upwards of 2,000 of the Russian Dukhoboreky sect, followed a week later by as many more, arrived at Halifax, N.S., where hospitality and grants of land had been offered them by the Dominion Government.

21. A severe south-westerly gale, accompanied by heavy rain, and lasting with little intermission for three days, spread over the greater part of the kingdom, doing enormous damage to property and cattle.

— Several shocks of earthquake occurred in the Peloponnese, Corinth, Nauplia and Ryparissia suffering seriously.

— The United States General Miller landed on Guimaral Island (Philippines), six miles from Iloilo, unopposed by the natives.

23. Mr. J. Stuart, M.P., on his installation as Lord Rector of St. Andrews University, delivered his inaugural address on the needful changes in academic teaching.

— Two war ships, the Collingwood battle-ship, and the Curaçoa training cruiser, came into collision in Plymouth harbour, the latter being seriously damaged.

— In the French Chamber a debate took place on the foreign policy of the Government, especially with regard to Great Britain, which was conducted with admirable temper by all who took part in it.

— Upwards of 60,000 £. in bank notes stolen from a drawer in the counter of the head office of Parr's Bank, Bartholomew Lane, City. Of this 40,000 £. in 1000 £. notes were returned anonymously.

24. Under the will of Mr. Evan Llewellyn upwards of 20,000 £. left to the metropolitan police courts for distribution among the poor.