CABLE NEWS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7399, 27 February 1902, Page 2

CABLE NEWS.

♦■ T] 'BR PBESS ASSOCIATION. — BY ELECTKIC TELEGRAPH — COPYRIGHT.) THE KING'S OATH. A deceived February 26tb, 10.38 p.m. London, February 26. " A petition from Victoria against ltering the King's oath was read in the louse of Commons, and laid on the 3» able. Mr Millar also presented other V imilar Australasian petitions. British n >etitions on the same subject were pre- b tented, those in England containing h 584,647 signatures, Scotland 49,197, ri [reland 17.949. Wales 8670, Channel i< [slands2367. THE COLONIES AND THE NAVY. F r Received February 27, 1 1 a.m. r London, February 26. Mr Arnold-Forster, Secretary to the Admiralty, in the course of the Navy debate, said the colonial representatives 1 at the coronation would be consulted on | ' the proposal for the colonies to make ' 1 some contribution to tho Naty. : . Sir M. Hicks Beach, Chancellor of tbe Exchequer, said the Government were not approaching the colonies as beggars, but desired that proportionately to their resources they should share the burdens of the Empire. FRIENDLY SOCIETIES' PENSIONS. Received February 27, 1.1 a.m. London, February 26. The Conference of Friendly Societies, representing an adhesion of six million members, adopted the scheme cabled on December 17tb. There are 400,000 recipients, costing six millions annually. PRAYERS FOR RAIN. Received February 26, 11.12 p.m. Sydney, February 26. All the churches were largely attended on the occasion of the special services and prayers for rain. FEDERAL TARIFF. On the House considering the timber duties, Sir George Turner desired to postpone the butter box material question till Mr Kingston returns from Adelaide. QUEENSLAND POLITICS. Brisbane, February 26. The Premier, in a speech at Townsville, said that Queensland was as sound financially as any other of the States. He intended to reduce the number of members and Ministers, also to reduce the salaries of Ministers and members. The Government intended to economise a in every possible way. They might s ha ye to impose an income tax. In tht n Electoral Bill, one of the most pro> gressive measures introduced in Aus tralia, provision is made to record votes of the floating population. Queensland was not being fairly treated by thi Federal Parliament, and he hoped ii time that Queensland would send bettei members to Melbourne, who would d< more for the colony. It would havi been better if they had not entered th< Federation, but now they should maki | a the best of it. 0 THE PLAGUE. ,0 Received February 27, 0.3 a.m. • Sydney, February 16. A boy named Louis, at Alexandria, : y man named Falkner, at Paddingtor and a woman named King at Chipper dale, are victims to the plague. Th first named is dead. Brisbane, February 26 A boy named Crockfield, an inmal 6 of the Children's Hospital, has tb plague. Received February 27, 9 a.m. London, February 26. Two deaths from plague have 01 curred at Shanghai. AFGHAN AFFAIRS. th The Ameer's agent at Simla and tl n- Ameer's postmaster at Peshawar hai nt been recalled for alleged defalcations. 'Is Reports from Peßhawar Btate that tl Ameer is providing a residence ft Had da Mullah near the ludian froi tier. _______