GENERAL CABLES.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 73, 1 April 1901, Page 1

GENERAL CABLES.

By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright Sydney, March 80. A daring robbery is reported to have taken place at the Hotel Australia. Two lady guests wero robbed of jewellery valued at .£IOOO and £390 respectively. The thieves used duplicate keys of the rooms during their absence. For the Grenfell bank robbery Woodfall was sentenced to eighteen months’ hard labor.

London, March 28. The Duke and Duchess of York wero greatly interested in a trial of the Brennan torpedo at the mouth of Valetta Harbor. The Dueliess operated the mechanism used in discharging the torpedo, by which a boat was destroyed two miles outside the harbor.

A grotesque water carnival was arranged by the bluejackets of the British war-ships, and was a groat success. Huge canvas models of an elephant, a kangaroo, a dodo, a crocodile, and a dragon, illuminated from within, disported on the harbor, "which the fleet illuminated by means of their search and other electric lights. The Standard’s .Berlin correspondent says that Count Walderseo’s action in connection with the disputed railway siding at Tientsin will be limited to the prevention of a military conflict. The diplomats of Great Britain and Russia will have to settle the ownership of the land. Eight anti-Christian rioters have been beheaded at Changsha, Human.

Melbourne, March 29,

There is little doubt that the schooner Louisa Lamont, which left for Launceston, has been wrecked. Tlie police have received a report of the finding at Cape Wollomai, Phillip Island, of a quantity of timber forming a portion of the schooner’s cargo, and a shattered boat. There are evidences that she had gone to pieces. There is hardly any probability of the crew, consisting of E. Francis, Captain; W. Reed, mate; H. M. Gregory, cook ; J. Billing, A. Finniston, seamen, being saved. The schooner was insured for £6OO. A meeting of the directors of Goldsbrough, Mort, and Co. adopted a, resolution reducing the capital by £887,000. The butchers have increased the price of meat one penny per pound all round, owing to the high price of stock.

The V.A.T.C. has decided to increase the stakes in the various events at the forthcoming meeting as follows: Futurity Stakes to £ISOO, Grand National Hurdles £llsO, Debutante Stakes £I3OO, Caulfield Guineas £650.

March 30. The Rev. Mr Eraser lias forwarded from New Hebrides Mission Synod a petition from the natives of the island of Epi to the King, asking Great Britain to annex the island. The petitioners state there are many white men coming to the Now Hebrides and at the hands of some of these, mostly Frenchmen, wo have suffered cruel wrongs. Some have forcibly possessed themselves of our lands, burnt down our houses, shot our pigs, and harassed us in other ways. YVe wish to live in peace. Just at present we have no protection from such injuries. Many of us kuow the English language and appreciate and cling to the blessings of the Gospel, and civilisation, which come to us through the men of your nation. We also feel that the- conduct of the British race is more just and humane towards the black races than that of other white men. Therefore we earnestly beseech that Your Majesty take us under your protection, and that our islands bo annexed to the British Empire.” Mr Fraser says the petition simply voices the feelings of the natives throughout "the whole group, and surely such a call for protection cannot be lightly laid aside by the British nation. Hobart, March 29. The Government have purchased the Colonel North Company’s railway, and will thus bo able to make an extension to the Comstock mines.