Telegraphic News

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume LIII, Issue 2751, 20 February 1903, Page 2

Telegraphic News

FBOM OUR SPECIAL OORRESPON DBNTS,

[Bγ Telegraph j.

London, Feb. 18.

The Duke of Devonshire, speaking in the House of Lords, said it was impossible to deny that certain elements of risk and danger still existed in regard to the Venezuelan question.

Vice-Adiriral Lord Charles Beresford has accepted the command of the Channel squadron.

The Hon. Elihu Root, United States Secretary for War, comes to London to arrange the preliminaries of the Alaska Boundary Arbitration. Nu Lien San has resigned the Governorship of the province ot Shansi, alleging that it is owing to ill-health, though the real reason is that the Powers protested against him on the ground that he was concerned in the Missionary massacres in Hunan.

The Scotch Supreme Court has ordored the Clyde Shipbuilding Company to pay Spain for delay in delivering destroyers.

The Pacific Cable Board has decided to replace the deficient land line from Grappler'SgOreek, to Alberni, ,with a cable,

The concluding tests between the Scotch and Belleville boilers resulted in the Minerva, fitted with the former, winning the race from Gibraltar to Spithead. The Hyacinth, fitted with the Bellville boilers, broke down and abandoned the trial.

Ihe King and Queen remained seated throughout the ceremony of opening Parliament. The Prince of Wales, Lord Salisbury, and the Archbishop of Canterbury were present. The King, in a clear voice, read the Speech. He emphasised his advice to the Sultan, concerning the urgent need of practical and well-considered reforms, and expressed the hope that be able to heartily support the scheme that Austria and Russia are proparing on behalf of the

Powers

Mr Chamberlain's tour was described as being attended with the happiest results.

Although the Estimates were framed with economy, the needs of the country and the Empire make a large expenditure inevitable.

The Duke of Roxburgh and the Earl of Leitrhn, in the Lords, and Mr J. A. Gretfcon, and Captain the Hon. R. H. F. Greville, in the Commons, moved and seconded trie Address-in-Reply, which was debated in a discursive manner.

There w; s no indication, except on the question of army reform, that the debate woul I be a protracted one. The Lords agreed to the Address-in-Reply.

Dr Macnamara, M.P., for Camberwell, moves an amendment to the Address-in-Reply, urging immediate legislation to remove the hardships caused by the lack of workmen's houses. Sofia, Feb. 18. M. Daneff, the Premier of Bulgaria, made an emphatic declaration at Sobranje, that Bulgaria would assist the Powers in the pacification of Macedonia,