CABLE NEWS.

Feilding Star, Volume II, Issue 530, 25 March 1908, Page 2

CABLE NEWS.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN. **> [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH — oOl'YftlSIHT.] [PER PRF.BB ASSOCIATION.! KING MANUEL'S ARM IS ALL RIGHT. Madrid, March 24. Yesterday's statement as to King Manuel's wound is officially contradicted. INSTRUCTIVE COMPARISONS. London, March 24. Tho Tariff Reform Commission's report; shows that, comparing the German Trade Union membership of 1,435,000 with Britain's 639,000, the percentago of German unemployed was 23.5, while the average for tlie wholo year was only 11.2, while the British percentage was 61.10 and 41.5 respectively. Indoors paupers in England and Wales in January were 8000 more , than in 1907, and 40,000 beyond the i averago of tho decade; out-door paut pers were 6000 more for January and 28,000 moro than tho average for the ! decade. \ CLOSING OF STEEL WORKS. London, March 24. The announcement of the closing of a largo steel works for several months owing to the scarcity of orders has caoised consternation at Batrow-in-Furness SEVERE STORMS IN AMERICA. New York, March 24. Wind and rain storms swept over tho States of Louissana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Several small towns were destroyed, and there were many fatalities. A DESERVING PENSIONER. (Received March 25, 8.30 a.m.) London, March 24. A Civil List Pension of £120 has been awarded to Dr. Hall Edwards, as a martyr to the use of the X-rays. THE PORT OF LONDON. (Received March 25, 8.30 a.m.) London, March 24. Tho directors of the London and India Docks recommend tho proprietors to accept Mr George's offer to purchase a site for cool storage, as part of the Government scheme for the port of London. Mr George in- I formed Mr Collins (the Australian Agent) that when the proper statutoiy authority was constituted then would be the time for the colonies to make representations regarding provision for ample cold storage. Mr Taverner (Agent-General for Victoria) congratulated Mr George on securing the key to the port of London, as it is a great step towards the proper handling and inspection of Australian produce. REASONABLE POOLING. (Received March 25, 8.2 a.m.) New York, March 24. In the United States House of Representatives, Mr Hepburn introduced a Government bill to allow reasonable pooling in ringa under certain circumstances, and to legalise tho formation of trades combination or trusts. In its preamble the bill declares that it is not intended to prohibit workmen from striking nor employers from combining, to obtain labour under satisfactory terms. N.Z. SHIPPING COMPANY. (Received March 25, 8.2 a.m.) London, March 24. The New Zealand Shipping Company has declared a dividend of 5 per cent. WOUNDED FEELINGS. (Received March 25, 8.2 a.m.) San Francisco, ' March 24. Two Koreans in San Francisco attacked Mr Stevens, diplomatic adviser to the Korean Government, because, in an interview, he had declared that the Japanese administration of Korea was a blessing. THE N.S.W. LOAN. (Received March 25, 8.2 a.m.) London, March 24. The New South Wales loan has closed. Debenture holders converted under 15 per cent, of tho whole amount of the stock, and the underwriters take tho balance. The London and Westminister Bank considers that tho smallness of the conversion is due to the recent failure of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway 4 per eent. loan, which, was issued at 94£. AUSTRALIA AN EXAMPLE. (Received March 25, 8.49 a.m.) London, March 24. The military correspondent of tho Times, in an article headed' "Armed Australia," recommends the Commonwealth, in the event of Premier Deakin's plan being accepted, to devote its best efforts to approve the provision of a highly educated body of officers as a solid permanent staff as tho best system of field artillery and military. He declares that if Mr Deakin's scheme is passed, it will give the Motherland a lead, of which she is badly in want. PROTESTING INDIANS. (Received March 25, 8.49 a.m.) Vancouver, March 24. A mass meeting of Indians at Vancouver cabled to Morley (secretary for India) protesting at their deportation and exclusion from Canada, and declaring that as British subjects they claimed Government protection throughout the Empire even if their interests are overlooked, which the people of India resent. DEATH OF THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE. (Received March 25, 8.30 a.m.) London, March 24. Obituary. — The Duke of Devonshire, at Cannes, of heart failure, j aged 74 years. j MR ASQUITH AND MR BALFOUR, (Received March 25, 8.2 a.m.) London, March 24. The Hon. Mr Asquith, Chancellor of. the Exchequer, replying to Mr Lyttelton, said the language used in the debate was calculated to add to the Transvaal difficulties of self-go-vernment. His pledge was fulfilled in the letter, and in spirit in regard to in the speech he made in 1906, when he undertook the defeat of any attempt to establish a permanence of Chinese labour. Mr Balfour, Leader of the Opposition), in a trenchant reply, while emphasising the violation of pledges, accepted the declaration that the speech referred to meant something it did not contain. He invited Mr Asquith to produce his correspondence with the Transvaal relating to the assent re enactment. A' new bill. * The Consolidated Revenue Bill was read a second time. AN ACCIDENTAL FIND. The Standard states that the Hon. Mr Lyttelton had accidentally discovered that the assent had been given regarding the enactment while examining the Transvaal's official records.