CABLE NEWS. THE LATEST.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXiX, Issue 7730, 25 February 1909, Page 3

CABLE NEWS. THE LATEST.

HOME AND FOREIGN.

United Press Association—Per Electric Telegraph—Copyright.

FRENCH CUSTOMS TARIFF.

LONDON, February 24. The French Ambassador in England, in a letter to M. Pichon, declared that French, merchants in London are greatly alarmed at the mere announcement that the French Customs tariff is about to be revised. He dwelt upon the suggestion made by the British Government to impose heavy duties on French products, especially on French wines. M. Pichon read this letter before the Customs Committee yesterday. (Received February 25, 8 50 a.m.) AGREEMENT AS* TO PATENTS. NEW YORK, February- 24. Mr Bacon, Assistant Secretary of State, and Count 'Bernstoff, German Ambassador, have signed the GermanAmerican patent agreement, making it unnecessary for inventors in one country to erect !notaries in tho other. FINE iPHELD. NEW YORK, February 24. The Supreme Court upheld the" fine of £21,600 on the Now York Central Railway for granting rebates to the American Refining Company: HEAVY DEFALCATIONS. LONDON, February 24. Verindei*, secretary of tho Penge Building Society, has been sentenced to six years for defalcations amounting to £20,000. EXPENDITURE ON SCHOOLS. The London Education Committee proposes to spend nearly one million pounds during eighteen months, on elementary and secondary schools.

THEFT ON A WARSHIP

A sum of £2500 m notes and gold has been stolen from the treasury of the Indomitable, anchored at Sheerness.

THE CRYSTAL PALACE.

The Crystal Palace . has financially failed. The Lord Mayor and the corporations of other London boroughs -are considering a scheme to organise a National Park and Museum.

THE ARMY COUNCIL.

(Received February 25, 8 50 a.m.) LONDON, February 24. The Army Council will be entertained at dinner at the Ritz Hotel, with Mr Haldane (the Secretary of State for "War) presiding.

AEROPLANE EXPERIMENTS

LONDON, February 24. The Times correspondent at Pan, Italy, state that the representatives of Foreign Governments are watching the aeroplane experiments m Britain with surprise and amusement. Messrs Wright Bros were not aware of the idea that Mr Haldane has been thinking of engaging their services.

KNIGHT OF THE GARTER.

(Received February 25, 9.5 a.m.) LONDON, February 24. The Earl of Durham has been created a Knight of the Garter.

THE OSCILLATIONS OF THE EARTH.

BERLIN.. February 24. Professor Heckler, at Potsdam, after six'years' observations, states that the measure of the diurnal oscillations of the solid earth is analogous to the tides, rising and falling eight inches. Sir George Darwin and the Kimberley Observatory confirm this, though the latter doubts that the tidal rise and fall are analogous. ,