CABLE NEWS. BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Feilding Star, 5 April 1909, Page 2

CABLE NEWS. BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

[BY ILECTBIO TELKQBAPB — OOPfr.IHh; J [PER PBESS ASSOCIATION.] EXTENSIVE EVASION OF CUSTOMS DUTIES. New lork, April 4. The Collector of Customs at New fork lias ordered the American Sugar Refining Company to pay 1,239,000 dollars, duties evaded between # 1901 and 1907 by means of false weights. The Government is claiming a further million on imports prior to 1901. GERMANY AND SAMOA. Berlin, April 4. Replying in the Reichstag to critics who complained that the Government had refused to issue arms to German settlers in Samoa, Herr Demburg stated that the natives must be treated with firmness and mercy, but justice. England and America found natives a tough morsel. The natives now regarded themselves under Germany's protection. He was confident that the Government would soon have full control of the situation. AN HONOUR DECLINED. New York, April 4. Professor Eliot, President of Harvard University, declines to accept the position of American Ambassador on the ground of his age. SOUTH AFRICAN AFFAIRS. Capetown, April 4. The Onnigin Houses of Parliament accepted the draft constitution. Hie Transvaal - Mozambique- agreement was signed after consultation with other South African States. The Portuguese continue to facilitate the recruiting of labour for the mines In return the joint administration of railways and the port at D'elagoa Hay is guaranteed 50 per cent, of the Transvaal's overseas traffic. . . Alterations in the existing railway rates are entrusted to the Central South African Railway management. FRANCO-CANADIAN TREATY. London. April 4. The Daily Mail's Paris correspondent says that the Franco-Canadian treaty enables Canadian manufacturers of agricultural machinery to completely undersell the United States. j Tlu> duties on Canadian cheese, tinj ned meats, and wood pulp have been j reduced from tfO to 40 per cent. i ENGLISH RAILWAY TROUBLE. London. April 4. Lord Cromer, who ccted as arbitra. ! tor between the Midlands Railway i Company and its employees, decided j that eleven hours shall constitute a ; standard day. Overtime for Sunday work is to be paid at rate and a quarter. Mr Richard Bell, M.P., Secretary of the Union, announced that though j tho men had not got all they asked, the concessions were very substantial. I LLOYDS AUDITED. j ! In consequence of criticism of Lloyds, members submitted to an j official audit, with the result that ! 98 per cent, were certified good for i all their [labilities. The audit shows j that £5,500,000 were deposited with ; thn committee by members as secu- , rity for contingent liabilities. (Received April 5. 10.0 a.m.) TO COMBAT SOCIALISM. London, April 4. Non-conformists are forming an Anti-Socialist .Association %to combat I Socialism in the Free Churches and • to effect the discountenance of the I introduction of politics into the puli pit. The executives includes the Rev. Arthur Mursell, and the Rev. J. G. Greenbough. FALL IN GERMAN SHIPPING BUSINESS. Berlin, April 4. The North German Lloyd Shipping Company reports an. unprecedented falling-off in emigrants to the United States. Depression and freight wars have resulted in the reduction to a surplus of 9,218,000 marks (£460,900), as against 32,697,000 marks (£1,634,---850) at the end of 1907. The company has been obliged to draw oni its entire reserve for the renewal 6i funds in order to carry out the necessary writing-off operations, r A FRENCHMAN WINS THE MARATHON DERBY. New York. April 4. The Marathon Derby race at New , York drew 40,000 spectators. I St. Yves. :i French runner, won - the 5000 dollars (£1000) prize, and i Dorando. the Italian, the second I prize of 2500 dollars (£500). Longboat (a Canadian Indian). ! .Shriil)b (ex-amateur, of England), j Hayes (of U.S.A., who won the Olympic race, beating Dorando), and Mat Maloney (an Irish-American) also ran. CEREBRAL MENINGITIS. There are ninety-two cases of cere- , liral meningitis in Paris. The pa- , tie-nts are being treated with Wasscrman's scrum. FOR A UNITED AFRICA. Pretoria, April 4. I The Legislative Council, Pretoria, j has adopted the constitution for a I United South Africa without amendment.