CABLE NEWS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume X, Issue 1841, 30 January 1888, Page 2

CABLE NEWS.

By Electric Telegraph. — Copyright.

(PER PBBSS ASSOCIATION.)

LONDON, January 26.

Lord Brassey, in his address to the London and Provincial Chambers of Commerce, said that additional Imperial officers were required to train the defence forces of the colonies, and that the services of an eminent officer to act as inspector of the forces would much enhance the efficiency of the colonial defence system. He advocated the desirableness of the Admiralty handing over to the various colonies such war vessels as were from time to time discarded for active service for the purposes of training and harbor defence, instancing the case of H.M.S. Wolverine being handed over to New South Wales a year or two ago. The experiment was working well, the old vessel being found very useful for training purposes, and Lord Brassey thought great good would result to the colonies if each of them was supplied with vessels similar to the Wolverme for similar purposes. The Duke of Cambridge, Commander-in-Chief, also spoke on the same occasion. He warmly endorsed Lord Brassey's

views on the subject of colonial defend^, and applauded the wisdom of many of his suggestions. He laid it down as a military axiom that the only way to avoidwar was to be thoroughly prepared to meet an enemy. An efficient defence system by the whole Empire, and the thorough defence of all coaling stations, was necessary to enable the Imperial navy to maintain the control of the sea ways and afford protection to British commerce along the ocean routes. Lord Charles Beresford, in the course of a few remarks, in which he agreed with the views put forward by the previous speakers, urged that Colonial Parliaments should accept the advice tendered them by military and naval experts instead of paying so much heed to personal opinions of Ministers of the day, who could not be in a position to Express views of any value on such a vast subject as that of the defence of the Empire.

SAN FRANCISCO, January 25.

By a colliery explosion in the Wellington coal mines, Vancouver Island, 26 whites and a number of Chinese were killed. Many other workmen received serious injuries.

DUBLIN, January 26.

There was a terrible explosion of gas in this city last night, by which the Bank'ruptoy Buildings were completely wrecked and a boy killed.

St. PETERSBURG, January 26.

A hundredweight of powder exploded in a shop in the town of Bratslay, in Western Russia, wrecking the building and instantly killing eleven persons who were standing near. Others were much injured. It is supposed that the accide'tffc was caused by someone carelessly throw-* ing down a lighted match.

PARIS, January 26.

Parleying between the delegates df France and Italy, in respect to the commercial treaty, have broken off. Some unexplained and sudden disagreement arose, which resulted in the French delegates being recalled.

The Prefect of Nancy, one of the frontier capitals, reports there was no violation of the frontier regulations in the latest " incident," when a French gamekeeper had his rifle seized by a German exciseman. The Prefect says the matter is only the result of a private quarrel between the two, and is too trivial to call for any diplomatic interference. CONSTANTINOPLE, January 25. The Sultan has ordered the arrest of 200 Armenians for treason.

BERLIN January 26.

The Reichstag has passed a military vote for fourteen million sterling for the purpose of defraying the initial charges in connection with raising the new landwehr.

LONDON, January 27. Lord Charles Beresford, speaking last night at Marylebone, said he resigned his position as Junior Lord of the Admiralty because Lord George Hamilton, first Lord of the Admiralty, overruled the advice and opinions of naval experts. He further declared that until recent reforms were carried out there had been no real organisation in the navy, and in the event of war breaking out, that even so important a matter as the establishment of coaling stations had been neglected. The Times, criticising the speech, says the picture of naval inefficiency and disorganisation drawn by Lord Charles Beresford is appalling. The Daily Standard censures Lord Charles Beresford for resigning, and says his action is not justified by the reasons given.

The annual boat race between Oxford and Cambridge universities has been fixed for March 24th.

F. H. Danaer, formerly of New South Wales, gave a banquet at the Oriental Club last night in honor of the centennary ot Australia. Over fifty guests were present, chiefly former residents of Sydney. The speeches delivered were enthusiastic} as to the progress made in the colonies during the centenary period.

Hon. Cecil Raikes, Postmaster-General, speaking at Wolverhampton last night, said he was hopeful that he would be able to devote a portion of the savings just effected by recent postal. negotiation to developing a cheap direct service with Australia.

Dr. Tobias Kirkby, Bishop of Lita, has presented the Pope with £3400 on behalf of the church in Sydney and £2000 from the church in Melbourne. He also presented an address from the clergy and laity of Sydney.

PESTH, January 26. It is reported here that Hungary is completely prepared for way.

SAN FRANCISCO, January 26.

The " blizzard " which swept over the Western States a few days ago, completely isolated a number of small towns, and communication by rail and telegraph is still interrupted. It is stated that the inhabitants of these towns are becoming desperate owing to the impossibility of obtaining supplies.

The ship Ottolind, bound to Melbourne, has put into this port leaking badly ; partr of her deck load was swept away.

SOFIA, January 26.

Prince Ferdinand and Princess Clementine have been making a tour of the provinces, and have returned to this city. They were received with great enthusiasm in the provinces.

[Received January 30, 1.30 a.m.]

SYDNEY, January 29. Arrived — Wairarapa, s.s., from Auckland.

Steps are now being taken to form an Agricultural Society in this colony.

Three free trade candidates are in the field for Newtown against one whose sympathy is with the protectionists., ' '

At the Gnlgeong races on Saturday, a horse fell, and one of the jockeys was killed.

BRISBANE, January 29. A Kanaka who attempted to murder the mate of a pearling vessel at Thursday. Island, was shot dead.

Butter, late mayor of Bockhamptori, has been sentenced to seven year's penal servitude on the first charges of false, pretences, etc. It is said that mining and land speculation were the cause of his downfall.

Owing to frequent pilfering, the Chinese, gardeners are taking steps to protect their: property, and last night, when several larrikins broke into one of the gardens, they were wounded with a shot gun.

VIENNA, January 28.

The Poldische correspondent considers that the Powers ought to condemn Prince Ferdinand's usurpation, when Eussia should appoint a nominee until a Prince was elected.

"/ ,;j{nt^ ; 2S. . It is inVehded in this spring t^ieinforce the, Russian squadron in c the (Pacifio to 'about the same strength of /that of the English. The European situation grows worse, and a conference of governors and commanders of corps, at St. Petersburg, has 'been held ostensibly to examine the commissariat. This movement has been regarded with suspicion. LONDON, January 28. The report that the Right Hon. Henry Chaplin was to succeed Sir W. Robinson as Governor of South Australia is denied. [Received January 30, 5.50 a.m.} SYDNEY, January 28. John Stapleton, a miner and new arrival in the colony, was found dead yesterday on the the road near the Hillgrove mine, about 313 mile north of Sydney. When picked up it was seen that his throat was cut, and he had also received several scalp wounds ; in fact, the base of the skull has been fractured. A watch, which he was known to have worn when last seen, is missing, and it is supposed that Stapleton was murdered. There is great distress among the -unemployed, > and' to-day; one; of their number committed suicide owing to being unable to obtain work. The Broken..Hill Mines still continue to give large yields of silver, especially in the principal claim, and this week the returns have been exceptionally large. A large number of new claims have been pegged off, and in a few hours companies are floated, to work.