London, April 25. Tenders are invited up to Wednesday, 2nd May, for a loan of half a million for the Government of Tasmania. The mini mum is fixed at 98. In the House of Commons to-day the Hon. Evelyn Ashley, Under-Secretaryfor the Colonies,, stated -'that the papers in re ference to the annexation of New Guinea would be laid on the table of the House at the earliest possible date. The Rev. C. W. Sandford was to-day consecrated at St. Paul's Cathedral as Bishop of Tasmania. The ceremony was performed by the Archbishop of Canter bury, and a large number of Church dignitaries were present. The jury in the case of Timothy Kelly, one of the Phoenix Park prisoners, has been discharged, being unable to agree upon a verdict. The trial of Michael Fagan, the fourth of the prisoners who have been committed for trial for the murder of Lord F. Caven dish and Mr Burke, commenced to-day. Another of the prisoners, Joseph Han- lon, has turned informer. At Newmarket to-day Prince Batthyany, of Vienna, attache to the Austro-Hun garian Legation at London, died suddenly in the~enclosure at the racecourse. A heavy snowfall in the State of Wyom ing haa. completely blocked the Union Pacific railway, and in consequence the Homeward San Francisco mails have been delayed. The Queen's medical, advisers fear that some months will elapse before her Ma jesty will have completely recovered from the effects of her recent accident. In the House of Commons Earl Gran ville, Secretary of State for Foreign Af fairs,, said that he considered it premature to negotiate with the American Govern ment respecting the freedom of the 1 Panama Canal. The French Chamber of Deputies have accepted M. Tirard's scheme for the eon j version of the 5 per cent, rents into new securities at 4| per cant. Jule3 Sandeau, the well-known French : novelist, is dead ; aged 72. I It is understood that the English Go | vernment have requested the American Government to extradite the commercial traveller named Tynam, believed to be " Number One," and who is at present residing in New York. A deputation, of merchants have inter viewed Earl Granville, urging upon him the necessity of. doubling the facilities for traffic through the Suez Canal. 