THE WEEK.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 37, 12 February 1910, Page 9

THE WEEK.

mPEKiAx. The British elections are complete, with the exception of one return—Orkney and Shetland Islands—and that is not likely to be completed till Monday. So far the state of parties is as follows:—liberals, 276; Unionists, 274; Nationalists, 81; Labour, 38. This leaves the Unionists in a minority of 121. Admiral Sir Arthur Wilson, the new First Sea Lord, is convinced that the need of the British Navy is not so much Dreadnoughts as armoured cruisers, and the programme for the coming year will include only four Dreadnoughts. The "Daily Mail" states that by the end of 1912 Great Britain will have 20 Dreadnoughts and 44 preDreadnoughts, compared with Germany's 13 Dreadnoughts and 21 vessels, of an earlier class. Continuous rains in the Northern Counties caused considerable damage. At West Wyram, Tyneside, a landslide of 500 tons demolished three houses. Three women, who were ■within the ruined houses, were killed outright, while nine -were injured. The outlook for farmers in North Yorkshire is serious, and miles of land in the Derwen-t Valley are inundated. FOREIGN. The river Seine was rising again on Thursday, and the French Government ordered the immediate heightening of parapets and the construction of dams at all the Parisian danger points. The streets of Passy and Auteuie were flooded on Thursday, and the low-lying country along the course of the "River Theuse was submerged. The Government win ask Parliament to grant a further £SOO,OOO to compensate the flood sufferers, there being over 48,000 people out of employment. The French Cabinet has approved of the Navy Bill, providing for a battle fleet for home -waters, including 28 battleships. 10 cruisers, and 52 destroyers. The submarine defence fleet comprises 94 submarines and four mine-laying vessels. The yards will shortly commence six battleships, which will be completed by 1915. The age of battleships for active service is fixed at 25 years, cruisers 20 years, and destroyers 17 years. At a special session of the Octobrist Club in St. Petersburg, hostile references to Germany were cheered by the entire influential assembly, which advocated the closest Anglo-Russian friendship.

The "Times St. Petersburg correspondent mentions that there are prospects of a reconciliation between Austria and Russia on the basis of a declaration of non-intervention in the Balkans and adherence to status quo. The King of Sweden has undergone an operntirm for appendicitis, which was perform, i successfully, but he is still suffering f.'-.ni fnWgiie.

Senor Morrt. Premier, has resigned owing to qunrn-ls amongst the Liberals, fienor Canalejai, a Democrat, becomes Premier, Senor Garcia Prieto Minister for Foreign Affairs, and General Anzar Minister for War.

A French Jack the Ripper is terrorising Paris. Six men and boys have been murderously attacked with a big knife. The assailant is- supposed to be a madman. He does hot attempt co rob his victims.

The "Times*" Oalcntta correspondent reports that a disquieting impression exists that the consequences of the hasty withdrawal of advanced posts in Komaliland will be disastrous to friendly tribes, who relied on British protection, and that they are now suffering the Mullah's reprisals. The Mullah has pillaged and killed many Somali Britishers, and has looted a thousand camels. COMMONWEALTH. The hearing of the conspiracy charges against the remaining strike leaders noncluded on Wednesday, Bowling, Brennan, Burns, Lewis, and Gray being found "guilty." Each was sentenced to IS months' imprisonment, Bowling's sentence to be cumulative on, his previous one of 12 months. The Judge, in passing sentence, said each knew he was breaking the law, and had done so deliberately. As to no one accepting office in a union in future, all such men had to do to to obey the law, and then they would be perfectly safe. There now appears to be every prospect of an early settlement of the strike, the miners' delegates having given authority for the preparation of their ease for presentation to the Newcastle Wages Board. Mr. Deakin has opened the Ministerial campaign at Ballarat. At the forth' coming election, he said, there would be only two parties, and generally, one dividing line. The work done by the fusion Government last session formed a basis sufficient to appeal to the country. Until the Finance Bill and State Debts Bill had been accepted by the people, no adequate forecast of the financial position was possible. He urged the electors to vote for both measures. Preferential trade proposals would be submitted for promoting trade with Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. The new protection to be formulated would deal not only with the tariff on protected industries, but With other industries as well. Fair hours, fair wages, and fair conditions of employment were the ends aimed at. He hoped to see wages boards general throughout Australia, with a Federal tribunal to adjust difficulties. A Melbourne cablegram of Monday states that a goods train, drawn- by two engines, from Ararat, instead of drawing up at Beaufort, ran into the buffed stops. Coward, the driver of the second engine, and Russell, the fireman, were killed instantly, and Gillan, the fireman of the first engine, died subsequently, while Gronn, the driver of the leading engine, was badly 6calded. THE DOMINION. Lord Kitchener will arrive here on March 2nd by train from Wellington, and will be met at the railway station by the Mayor and City Councillors. A civic welcome, at the Municipal Chambers will follow. Arrangements in connection with the Kitchener camp in the Domain, and the concentration of forces from all parts of the Auckland district are proceeding apa«e. Some idea '13 now being gained of the number of men who Svill assemble for inspection, and it is considered that fully 3,000 troops, including nearly 1,000 mounted men. will go into camp. ' •' About 1.30 a.m. on Thursday morning, about 350 feet of the reclamation wall at Freeman's Bay collapsed, causing damage at about • £2ojooo, but the ..Harbour Board's engineer has since put : the amount down at" about £4000. The collapse was apparently caused by the removal of silt by the suction pump from the material deposited by the dredges and the accumulation of pressure behind the wall, which proyed unable to -withstaad>»l2ie strain.

In consequence of the fracas, at camp in Hntt Park, Wellington, Capt. Dabymple and Lieut. Hastings, of file Dominion Scouts, have been placed under arrest. About one ajp on Sunday last a heated altercation occurred, the consequence, it is alleged, of personal feel'mgi Dalxynrple believing attempts were being made to undermine his influence with the men. This was followed by a scuffle, in which Wows were exchanged, A Court Martial has been set up to investigate the matter.

It is the intention of the banks in New Zealand to lower their rates of interest on money at fixed deposit. It is expected that a reduction of one-half per cent will be given effect to in' the course of a few days, in view of the fact that there is an abundance of money at present seeking investment. A local bank manager, speaking to a "Star" representative, said that he did not doubt but that the interest on money let out on mortgage would decrease to a corresponding degree, providing that the security was satisfactory. It will be remembered that about three weeks ago the building companies reduced their rate of interest from 4J to 4 per cent per annum. Field-Marshal Lord Roberts cables as follows to the Press Association: —"I have watched with profound satisfaction the adoption by the people of New Zealand of the principle of universal manhood service in defence of the Dominion. I heartily congratulate New Zealand, which has thus followed up it generous support of the Imperial navy by an example of democracy, realising its responsibilities in defence of the privileges which British citizenship confers." The population of New Zealand at December 31 (exclusive of Maoris) was 952.923. The Maoris numbered 47,731, and the population of the Cook and other islands brings the gross total to 1,042,994. The males number 552,165, and the females 490329. There are 2824 Chinese (fi7 females) in the Dominion. During 1909 the population increased by 22,281, or 2.32 per cent. The excess of births over deaths contributed 17,562 to the increase, and the excess of arrivals over departures 4719. The birth rate during last year was 27.29 per 1000, and the death rate 9.22, compared with 27.45 and 9.57, the respective figures for 1908.

A lad named John Minton Paul!, about IS or 19 years of age, has been arrested at Hamilton on a charge of shooting with intent. On Tuesday last Mr. Ward, manager of the Bank of Australasia, and Mr. Jordan, manager of the Bank of New Zealand, left Hamilton about 10 o'clock in a single buggy. Mr. Ward was driving. They had proceeded about eight miles when, in a deep guliy called Creek," they were fired at ■with a shot gun by someone concealed. Mr. Jordan was hit all over the body, but Mr. Ward escaped unhurt. At the shot the horse bolted, and when it was pulled up Mr. Ward immediately drove to Hamilton, and left Mr. Jordan at the hospital, where he is being attended to. Following up the clue of finding a gun, which was identified as one that had been in his possession, the police found that Paull had hired a horse from a local stable, and his movements are reported to have been traced to Tamahere, while, it is alleged, he was also seen at Mystery Creek with a gun. Accused denies that these allegations are correct, and also denies any knowledge of the gun. Accused is employed by Messrs. G. Clark and Sons, grain merchants, but he was not at work on Tuesday morning.

At New Brighton (Christchurch) on Sunday. Robert Lee (20 years of age) and Daniel George Lee (17) lost their lives by drowning. They were camping with their mother in Hood-street, and went down to the beach for a bathe. They did not return, and it is assumed that one of the young men got into difficulties, owing to the strong current and undertow, and the other went to his assistance, with the result that both were drowned.

The Hon. Dr. Findlay, replying to the toast of his health at Kawhia, made special reference to the Native Land Bill and its probable stimulus to the progress of that district. He anticipated a great future for the district now* that this formidable barrier to its advancement has been removed, and stated that the Government would spend half a million each year for a period of four years (or two millions altogether) in the purchase of Maori land.

Mr. Gray, owner of White Island, has ■received news from the Cavendish Laboratory, at Cambridge, that traces of radium have been discovered in a small sample of water taken from the lake on the island. A larger quantity has been demanded for further test at the earliest opportunity. This confirms another analysis.

Information has been laid by the Income Tax Department against the Hon. G. J. Smith, George Bowron, and William Bowron, trading at Christchurch as Bowron Bros., for having made wilfully false returns under the Land and Income Tax Amendment Act, for the purpose of evading duty properly payable under the Act. A very large sum is involved. Arnst and Whelch have signed articles to row at Akaroa on April 2nd for the championship of tho world and £300 aside.