AMERICAN MAIL.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12729, 12 April 1904, Page 2

AMERICAN MAIL.

[press association.] AUCKLAND, Monday. Tim mail steamer Sonoma brings the following items of news; — HUGE SEARCHLIGHT. - ST. LOUIS, March 23. < The largest, searchlight in the world, manufactured in Gernnuiy, is now in St. Louis, and within a week will crown the dome of Dm Woman’s Building. The lens is seven feet across, and will reflect a light of 6,000,000 candle-power, which will lie visible 200 miles from St. Louis. The light will l>e one of the features of the World's Fair. The makers guarantee that it will throw letters against the sky that can bo read 150 miles away. Events of unusual interest will Ire heralded abroad in Ibis novel fashion. The light will be installed on the highest point in St. Louis. The dome of thS Woman’s Building is 735 feet from tho ground, and (he ground at that point is 116 fed above Broadway. The lamp is mechanically arranged so that at the touch of a key it will recede into its dome and Ire completely covered The operation is hydraulic. The lamp can Ire directed at any angle to every point of the compass by the Simple manipulation cl beys from an office.

DEFENCE OF CANADA. QUEBEC. March 12. If the elaborate preparations for tho permanent establishment of an army and a navy mean anything, it is clear that the Dominion of Canada is taking a long step forward in the direction of independent nationhood. Nor is there tho slightest intention of employing either army or navy for Imperial purposes Both are intended for the protection of Canadian interests alone. Followin'! the publication of the plans of Lord Dnndonald. genera! commanding the Canadian forces, for the early raising of a Canadian army of 100,000 men, comes a project for the establishment of a purely Canadian navy. Tho Government’s plan involves the (raining of men for a new navy. While vessels are being built or otherwise secured two training slops ate to he employed, one on the, Atlantic and tho other on the Pacific. Legislation is to he submitted to Parliament in the present session to authorise the project. A strong desiro is manifested for the presence of a Canadian training ship on the Great Lakes, but the Government hold to tho necessity of the observance of tho agreement between thg United States and Canada, hv which it is understood that neither party shall maintain armed vessels Upon tho Great Lakes. HALIFAX. March 12. A series of manoeuvres by artillery at the forts, and a careful inspection of the harbour defences, have the authorities that Halifax is impregnable. An attack by any numlxm of warships, it is believed, would fail to force an entrance. During the last throe years nearly every Furness Lino steamer arriving here from England has brought powder and and an immense quantity of ammunition is now in store.

There is considerable interest among military and naval men in the proposed visit to England in a few weeks' time of Mr Raymond Prefontaine, Canadian Minister of Marino and Fisheries, for the purpose of conferring with the Admiralty Office regarding the Canadian Naval Rcsorves. The Government desire to obtain two warships on which lo train Canadians, and Mr Brefontoine intends to introduce a bill in the Canadian Parliament providing for the establishment of a navy in Canada.

GOODS FOR KLONDYKE. VANCOUVER (8.C.), March 23. American vessels will no longer ho permitted to load at the ports of Van- £ couver or Victoria goods of Canadian t w origin destined for transportation lo Dawson by way of St- Michael and the Lower Yukon river points. An order to this effect wjls received to-day to the collector of Port Bowell from the Commissioner of Customs at Ottawa. The result will Ik>, if merchandise of Canadian origin is to be hhipj>ed to Dawson by way of St. Michael it must be transported horn Vancouver or Victoria in British bottoms. Considerable speculation has been caused by the order in local slipping and Irade cireles. It is wondered whether similar instructions may not. be issued with respect lo the carrying of Canadian freight destined for Dawson by way of Skagway in American bottoms from that }*)rt. TERRIBLE EXPERIENCES AT SEA. LONDON. March 23. Survivors from the British luirquo Mary A. Troop, which was abandon**! at sea while on a voyage from Pensacola for Rio Janeiro, have arrived at Southampton. They relate a terrible experience- The barque encountered a gale during which her Imats were swept away, her main and mizzen masts went by the hoard, and her bulwarks and hatches were ripped off. Tho barque became water-logged, and for twenty-six days tremendous seas swept over her. The caipenter was drowned. At the end of 19 days all tho food, consisting of a barrel of flour, a dozen Iwxes of condensed milk, and a can of apricots, was eaten, and all the water was drunk. The crew chewed load and wood to relieve their cravings. The caption's niece, in addition to the agonies of hunger and thirst and exposure, lost all her warm clothing, and was compelled to improvise clothing from sacks. The gate was very fierce, and those almard the barque were compelled to lash themselves to the deck to prevent themselves from being swept overboard. At tho same time they had to work the pumps lo keep the vessel from foundering. Then they were reduced almost to skeletons, and were half-mod from privations. When their condition seemed hopeless the steamer Cairuisla was sighted. She took off those on (he barque, notwithstanding a heavy and dangerous sea. The survivors were landed at Havre, whence they were taken to Southampton.