GENERAL GABLES.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 98, 4 May 1901, Page 4

GENERAL GABLES.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, May 2. The silks forming a portion of the cargo of the P. nud 0. steamer Sobraon have been saved. Warships are assisting in the attempt to re-float the steamer. The Marquis of Bute’s estate pays £!S,ooS to the Treasurer in the shape of duties. The New South Wales Agent-General has inspected the marine biological laboratory at Plymouth with the view to introducing English marine tish into Australian waters. Mr Ritchie has invited the Australasian Agents-General to express an opinion on the new German tariff. The threat of the Miners’ Federation of a general strike as a protest against the coal tax is strongly resented by members of the House of Commons. Sydney, May 3. The Rev. A. J. Small, Chairman of the Wesleyan Mission district of Fiji, is visiting Sydney. In an interview he said there had always been a section headed by a brother of the Chief Justice agitating I for Federation, but a large section stood aloof. They were not in favor of Federation with New Zealand. He fears the census will disclose a serious decrease of Native population. There has been a steady decline for some years. The Government are advertising for tenders for one hundred thousand tons of steel rails in the colonies, as well as in England and America. Melbourne, May 3. The population of Victoria is 1,195,874, an increase of 55,469 since 1891. The cable steamer Britannic has returned, after laying 130 miles of the Cape cable. She leaves to-day to engage in work in connection with the Pacific cable. Perth, May 3. George McSweeney, a well - known jockey, has died in the hospital, doctors stated from plague. There is only one election return to come in. The state of the parties is given as follows : Ministerial, 19 seats : Opposition, 18 ; , Labor, 6 ; Independent, 5. The Ministerialists, however, claim 29 seats. Fremantle, May 8. Arrived, Oroya, from London. Passengers for New Zealand : Misses Gilmore and Gibson and Mrs Gibson. The steamer also brings the Belle Cole Concert Company.