MISCELLANEOUS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LIII, Issue LIII, 9 April 1908, Page 8

MISCELLANEOUS.

(Received April 9, 8.10 a.m.) LONDON, April 8. The County Council is issuing at par 2% millions of London County Council consolidated stock, carrying 3i per cent, interest. The British imports in March decreased by £5,625,662 compared with the previous March, whereof £3,404,000 represents raw cotton, and a million and a half wool. The exports declined £1,829,610, chiefly in iron and steel manufactures. Re-exports declined £2,145,000. (Received April 9, 8.59 a.m.) LONDON, April 8. The Brisbane Grammar School won the Prince of Wales' Cup in the schools of the Empire competition with a score of 490; Gresham School, England, second, 485; Wesley College, Melbourne, fifteenth; Geelong eighteenth. Pietermaritzburg won fhe Cadet Match, 470 }t Gympie Central School ninth. The committee report a great improvement all round, especially in the colonies. . (Received April 9, 8.3 2a.m.) HONGKONG, April 8. The Chinese Merchants' Guild at Hongkong has telegraphed to agents at Nagasaki, Kobe and Yokohama directing them not to place orders for Japanese goods. The Chinese Government is making an energetic attempt to reduce the consumption of opium. It has issued rigorous prohibition against its use in colleges, schools and the army. Prince Kung and four high officials are enquiring as to extra smoking among officials and people. An edict orders the establishment' of refuges where victims may be treated. BERNE, April 8. The Swiss National Council has decided to prohibit the sale and manufacture of absinthe. ST. PETERSBURG, April 8. . The Finnish Diet has been dissolved, as it got beyond Government control. Fresh elections wilt be held in July. NEW YORK, April 8. The American Senate has adopted an Army Bill involving an increase of 20 million dollars; also a Fortifications Bill amounting to 12 million dollars. (Received April 9, 9.69 a.m.) SYDNEY, April 9. The drought conditions in* the Riverina and parts of western New South Wales are serious. Unless rain speedily falls heavy losses of stock are feared. Manning was sentenced to death for the murder of. Jus wife in Bendigo on February 9. . v^