NEWS OF THE WORLD.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 606, 12 May 1891, Page 2

NEWS OF THE WORLD.

[BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL TO STANDARD,] BRITISH AND FOREIGN. COMMERCIAL. N.Z.L.M.A. London market cablegram, dated 9th May :—Tallow is ready of sale, fine mutton tallow is worth 28s 6d per cwt ; good beef tallow is worth 26s qd per cwt. Frozen mutton : Market unchanged. COMPOSITORS’ STRIKE. A general strike has taken place among the compositors employed in Vienna. They are trying to secure a reduction of the working hours to nine per day. THE DECIMAL SYSTEM. Mr Goschen informed a deputation that in his opinion the country was not ripe for the introduction of a Bill legalising the decimal system of coinage and weights. SUGAR BOUNTIES. The Reichstag has passed an amendment to the Sugar Bill, gradually abolishing the sugar bounties within five years. BRITISH ANNEXATION. The British have annexed the Bastard country, west of Bechuanaland, and are now preventing the Boers and Damaris trekking ” there. LEGISLATORS "GRIPPED.” The influenza still rages, and is the cause of much suffering and inconvenience. An idea of the effect it has may be given when it is stated that fifty members of the House of Commons and all the table clerks except one are down with the complaint. IDLE HANDS. On the Continent one hundred thousand men, principally miners, are out on strike, and disturbances, attended with much violence, are frequent. A NOTABLE WOMAN DEAD. The death is announced of Madame Blavatsky, the well-known Theosophist, and founder of the Theosophical Society in America. RADICAL VICTORY. At a Parliamentary election to fill the vacancy in the Yarborough division of Leicestershire Mr Rogan, a Radical, was elected by a majority of 489. AUSTRALIAN CRUISERS. The Admiralty has forbidden any further expenditure in making alterations to the Australian cruisers preparing for sea at Sheerness. ECCLESIASTICAL. The Baptist Union is trying to arrange for Dr J. Clifford, M.A., of Westborne, Park Chapel, to visit Australia in the interests of the Church.

THE WORLD'S FAIR. The Great World’s Fair threatens to turn out a fizzle. There is much dissension among the managers, which prevents the early consummation of the object, and it is now suggested that only a National Fair be held. RUSSIA AND THE JEWS. The Novoye Vremya, a semi-official journal, admits that the Rothschilds have abandoned their contract for the Russian loan, and states that the step has been taken because the Czar rejected their demand regarding the expulsion of the Jews from Russia. The Jewish Chronicle denies that Baron Hirsch is yet committed to any gigantic scheme of immigration for the expelled Russian Jews, but at present is only making enquiries with _a view of ascertaining if the Argentine Republic is a suitable place for them. PORTUGUESE STOCKS. A heavy fall has taken place in Portuguese stocks, owing to the failure to float a loan, and to the dearth of gold. By the authority of Government a coinage in silver to the extent of half a million pounds is to be made, and the Banks are to be allowed to exchange silver for gold and notes. A run has taken place on the Banks in Lisbon. POSTAL REDUCTIONS.

Mr Goschen has informed a deputation from the Associated Chambers of Commerce, that a four months’ trial of the 2%d letter rate with the colonies showed that the number of letters had increased by fourteen per cent, but the cost had increased 43 per cent. ENGLISH BY-ELECTIONS. The by-elections continue to create considerable interest by their decision in England. By a majority of only forty votes Mr Brymen, a Conservative nominee, has been elected to fill the vacancy for the Southern Division of Dorset in the House of Commons, caused by the death of Lieutenant-Colonel Hambro. This is equal to a Liberal victory. In 1886 Colonel Hambro beat Mr H. P. Sturgiss, the Gladstone Liberal, by 977 votes, and now they have only managed to get their candidate in by 40. THE MAFIA SOCIETY.

A new phase has presented itself in connection with the New Orleans trouble over the Mafia Society, and the recent cases of lynching. Detective O'Malley, who was indicted on a charge of being an agent of the Mafia Society,"denies that it exists in the State; but the assertion comes as no surprise—it is just what might have been expected from the detective, and no jury would believe that he was telling the truth, after the revelations previously made. THE YANKS OUTWITTED. The officers of the steamer Itata, which is in the hands of the Chilian rebels, managed to outwt —for a time at least—the Government of the United States. The latter had the vessel seized while she was loading with arms and ammunition at San Diego, in Lower California. Subsequently the steamer escaped, taking the United States Marshal away with her. The marshal was subsequently landed on the coast. United States cruisers are trying to capture the steamer for a breach of the neutrality laws. COSTLY EXPERIENCE. When the big gun recently exploded at Oueenschfie, Victoria, there were some who thought the f|un must have been faulty in construction. The Armstrong firm, by whom it was made, now assert that the gun was identical with those supplied to, and approved by the British War Office. This leaves the inference that the explosion was caused through the ignorance or carelessness of those who were handling the gun.