MAIL NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 82, 8 April 1902, Page 2

MAIL NEWS.

SAN FRANCISCO, March 20 THE REBELLION IX CHINA.

The latest news from Hong Hong is to the effect that the rebellion in several of the provinces is gaining ground. The rebels continue to administer crushing- defeats to the Imperial troops. General Ma and Marshal Su report it is impossible to suppress the trouble with the troops at their* disposal, and the Viceroy of Canton has requested the Viceroy of Chi-li to send reinforcements overland; The Imperial troops have been defeated at Sek Siting and at Popax. The rebels hold the town and district of Foo Chiten and have captured the towns of Liv Chou and Yung King. A dispatch from London, March 20, says: Cabling -from Peking the corresr/on(j_yo .of the "Times'' says that -since the presentation of the American note and the "Anglo-Japanese protest Russia's negotiations with the Rtisso-Chinese bank have been suspended, but the iieg-otiations for the evacuation of Manchuria continue under modified Russian demands, w-hich point to the ultimate settlement. These include, continues the correspondent, the withdrawal of Russia from betwen the great Avails and the Liao river within six months, from the province of Mukden within one year, and, if the state of the country permits, from Kerin and ITeilungz Chiang within eighteen months after the signing of the Convention. WET-HAI-WETI The status of Wei-hai-wei was discussed on March 1!) in the House of Lords, when the Earl of Portsmouth urged the necessity of fortifying the harbour at an expense of at least, £1,750,000, The First Lord of the Admiralty replied that the Government did not intend to maintain anytiring at that point which- Iwtoukl necessitate fortifications. "Every penny," said he, "is badly spent which is sunk in brick and mortar, when it might be put into ships." A STRIKE QUICKLY ENDED. The City of Boston has shown itself equal to the exigencies of modern times, by handling promptly and successfully a strike involving- twenty thousaud men—freight handlersand workmen of allied trades. The men were idle but four days, when they resumed work, the way having been arranged for them through the efforts of the Mayor of the city, the Governor of the State, and other officials. STORMS IN CANADA. Canada and the North-west generally have been storm-locked for the past week. Trains were delayed days by an enormous fall of snow, and it was with difficulty passengers were kept warmed and fed. This was, however, managed, though only by holding trains at stations when they might have made some little progress by' taking chances of being tied up between stations. The Canadian-Pa-cific, Northern Pacific, and Great Northern roads were ones most affected, and no transcontinental trains reached St. Paul during two or three ( days. THE ANGLO-JAPANESE TREATY. The following declaration has been sent to the British, American and European Governments: — "The allied Russo-Freneh Governments are wholly pleased to discern that the Anglo-Japanese convention supports the essential principles which, according to the reiterated statement of France and Russia, constituted and still constitute the foundation of their policy. Both Governments believe the support of these principles is also a guarantee of their interests in the Far East. They are compelled, however, not to lose from view the probability of iuimical action of other Powers, or repetition of disorders in China, possibly impairing China's integrity and free development to the detriment of their reciprocal interests. They, therefore, reserve to themselves the right to take measures to defend these interests." Prefactoiy remarks say that Russia desires the maintenance of the status quo and the attainment of complete tranquility. AMERICAN POLITICS, nl Congress of the United States canal matters are still under discussion. Nothing in this direction has taken definite shape as yet, though the report of the committee must be considered decidedly unfavourable to the Panama proposition, and to that route in general. The Exclusion Bill, especially bearing upon the immigration of Chinese, is under discussion, and is being mostwarmiy battled for and against. It appears likely that no more stringent measure than that which has been in effect for the past twenty years, and is now about to expire, will be passed. What is J.nown as the "Ship Subsidy Bill" passed Senate during the past week, and will doubtless "become law. It lias

been most bitterly contested by the Democrats, who declare it unconstitutional, as imposing a tax upon the public for the benefit of ship-owners.