FROM HOME PAPERS.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 2977, 14 June 1899, Page 4

FROM HOME PAPERS.

— + A duel with sabres lias been fought at Potsdam between a son of the King of Siam and a young sub-lieutenant. Both are pupils at the Potsdam Military Academy. The Siamese Prince had been subjected by his German companions to a number of petty annoyances and insults. In consequence he asked the ■ permission of his superiors, to challenge the ringleader. This was granted. The duel took place m the academy gym- i nasium m the presence of the directors of the academy, the seconds and two doctors. At the fifth passage the German combatant received a Bevere wound m the head, which ended the proceedings. American news despatches state that an enormous application of capital to the industrial trust system was made on May 3rd. The American Hide and ( Leather Company, the Republic Iron and Steel Company, the National Light and Power Company, and the Electric Vehicle Company were all incorporated, each with the aim of controlling the particular branch of trade it is concerned m. { The combined capital of the four companies is 145,000,000 dols. Mr Gates, president of the Federal Steel Company, states that the incorporation of the Carnegie Steel Trust at Trenton, New Jersey, means the combination of the entire iron and steel trade ( m the United States. The capital of v the entire consolidation will be from 500,000,000 dols. -, to 1,000,000,000 dols. Mr Gates saya that he understands that Mr Andrew Carnegie will retire from business aito- ■ gether, receiving 150,000,000d015. for his >■ interest m "the Carnegie Company. Bis partner, Mr H. C. Frick, will become president of the new combination, which • comes into operation on July Ist. \ The Philadelphia Steel Company has secured from the Indian Government the contract for the construction of the viaduct over the Goktiek Gorge m the Eurmah Railway. The company tendered at 700,000 dols., and outbid their British competitors m all particulars of price, design, and time. The viaduct will be one of the largest m the world, measuring 2260 feet long and standing 320 feet high. It will involve the use of 5000 tons of steel. Mr Richard Croker sailed on the American liner New York on April 26th for England to follow the horse-raeiug season, and afterwards undergo a cure at 't Carlsbad. He was given a send-off ' worthy of New York's despot. Never has such a scene been witnes.-ed on an outgoing liner. • It took Mr Croker ten minutfs to fight his way through a mass of clamorous admirers from his carriage 1 to the gangway of the steamer. Ho J shook hands with hundreds, while there * were thousands who had to content * themselves with cheering boisterously. ) All the Tammany " heelers " were there. 1 The New York's ealoon was one moss of flowers sent as tributes to Tammany's idolised chief. Thediaplayrivnlledthedecorationa at the Vanderbilt-Fair wedding. Sir Julian Pauncefote, the British Ambassador, and Mr T. B. Reed, ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives, were, among other distinguished passengers, on the New York. But they were all lost as stars m the eunshine of Mr ( Croker's presence. The Tammany chief said his only object m visiting England Was to bring back more English money from Knglish racecourses. A tug-boat was drawing a barge on the Scheldt m the neighbourhood of Tourcay on May 4th, when the boiler burst with terrific force. The workmen were ■ projected m the air, and their mangled remains were scattered m all directions, one body being found on the roof of a farmhouse 200 yards away. The tugboat was wrecked and sank almost immediately, with a woman and child, both of whom perished.