Telegraphic News

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume LIII, Issue 2753, 27 February 1903, Page 2

Telegraphic News

FROM OUR HPROIAL OORRRSPONI>RN'rS

[By Tklkotufh],

Londonj I?eb. 26.

The Washington correspondent of the " Times" states that the friendly and skilful diplomacy of Sir Michael Herbert, Brittish Ambassador, to America, saved the Venezuelan situation when Germany's wanton statecraft nearly provoked a rupture. American canfidence in Britain, says the correspondent, is restored, though Germany's restlessness still occasions distrust as to her ultimate purposes in South America.

Ranjitsinhji strongly disapproves of the proposal for widening the wickets. He eulogises the Australian methods of bowling on true pitches as teaching us that something more than mere length is requisite to obtain wickets on good dry, hard wickets. The unreliableness of the English climate leads him to oppose the change, which more over, he considers, is only tinkering with the laws of the game.

In the House of Commons the amendment to the Address-in-Reply, moved by Mr E. W. Beckett, the Conservative member for Whitby, to the effect that the army is unsuited for the needs of the Empire on the ground that the expenditure wns increasing without a proportionate gain in strength of efficiency was negatived by 261 votes to 145. The Nationalists abstained from voting, and the Unionists voted with the minority.

Lord Stanley stated that Lord Roberts had informed him that Mr Rodrick's scheme had his unqualified approval,

Sii' Henry Campbell Bannerman said that the continual army corps was unsuited to British needs. He considered that the linked jbattalions scheme was successful.

Mr H. H. Asquith said the Government had approached the composite problem of Imperial defence. From the least important side it was a mistake not to consult the navy.

The Right Hon. the Premier denied that the army was too large. A reinforcing army was absolutely necessary for the defence of India. In the improbable event of war with Russia, Britain would need all her forces.

Lieutenant-General Sir Charles Mansfield Clarke has been appointed Governor of Malta.

Speaking in the House of Commons on the debate on the Addiess-in-Reply, the Premier, the Right Hon. A. J. Balfour, announced that the Government's programme provided for the introduction, before Easter, of a Bill, dealing with the Irish land question.

Capetown, Feb. 25

The Afrikander Bond will summon an assembly of Dutch ministers, [with a view to promoting Mr Hofmeyer's conciliatory declaration.

It is reported in Johannesburg that the Boer Generals' real reason [for declining seats in the LegislativeJGouncil was owing to the presence of Andries Cronje, the well-known National Scout.