CABLE BREVITIES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 300, 28 December 1897, Page 2

CABLE BREVITIES.

LONDON, December 27. Germany is arranging to subsidise new steamship lines to India. The Anti-Sugar Bounty League, representing the sugar refining industry of Great Britain and the colonies, waited upon the Government for the purpose of urging them to,assist in the abolition of duties.

The Japanese Diet has been dissolved in order to avert a vote of no-confidence in the Government.

J. T. Kotze, Chief Justice of the Transvaal, has inquired of President Kruger why the promised measure, revising the constitution of the Republic, is not forthcoming. M. Hanotaux, Minister for Foreign Affairs, is endeavouring to promote an international conference far the neutralisation of the Newfoundland fishing banks.

A body of Moslems at Heraklion, in Crete, have massacred 15 Christians belonging to a coast caravan. Dense fogs have been experienced in London, and the traffic has been considerably impeded. The Canadian Government, at the request of Air Chamberlain, has abandoned the proposed reduction in postal rates. Mr Chamberlain suggests that an intercolonial Postal Conference should be held to discuss the matter.

The native levies from Kassala have captured a Dervish post on the Atbaia. The latter suffered heavy losses. The Dervishes at Shendy and Metammeh are advancing on Berber.

The Cretan Assembly has published a protest against the injustice of the tribute they have been called upon to pay to Turkey. It is reported that the Turkish battery at Prevesa, at the entrance to the Gulf of Arta, tired upon the Greek gunboat Actium. The Greek Ambassador at Constantinople has demanded an explanation from the Porte.

The number of men out of employment in consequence of the strike in the engineering and gas engineering trade is stated to be 81,000.

The Governor of Algeria is pressing the Chamber of Deputies to allot a million and a-quarter frano towards the relief of the famine in Algeria. Two tribes have revolted against the Portuguese at Mossamedes, a seaport of West Africa. Twenty Portuguese have been killed.

The death is announced of Mr Charles Harrison, Liberal member for Plymouth, aged 62. The Pope has advised the Catholics of Manitoba to accept the partial educational concession offered them, if they are unable to obtain full justice.

The Paris "Matin" states that the British position at Boussa blocks the settlement of the West African question, and advises France to yield there in order to keep a free hand in China. Mr William Kenney, Solicitor-General for Ireland, has been appointed to the vacant judgeship. Mr D. P. Barton, member for Mid-Armagh, succeeds Mr Kenney. General Lockhart, who is operating in the Lazaar Valley, India, has destroyed the defences of Alachi.