CABLEGRAMS

Mataura Ensign, Volume 17, Issue 17, 16 April 1895, Page 4

CABLEGRAMS

uitrnsH, jfokioig-nand r inmsiicolonial. }

[From Press afsociatiojn | London, April 13. Mr Reynolds, the well-known produce merchant, is endeavoring to induce the Shaw, Savilli, and Albion Company aud tho New Zealand Shipping Company to reduce the freight on butter destined for the E&gliah market by one-eighth of a penny per lb. There is a slightly better demand for butter, but prices remain unchanged. Countess Russell's suit baa been adjourned till the next sittings. It is reported that \the ex-Speaker, the "Right Hon. A. W. Peel, will visit the Australasian coloniea. While the steamer Tartar Piiuce was delayed at Buenos Ayres the Salta shsriffd went on board and seized Jal ez B&lfour, in order to take him back to Salta, but the Federal authorities ordered out the troops, and prevented interference with the prisoner. In tho debate wbich followed the election of Speaker much party feeling was displayed, and at times it amounted almost to disorder. Uiura Khan has released (he Sepoys recently taken ptiaonera, and they state that he in loth to fight unless his territory is invaded. , New Zealand long-b6rried wheat ((ism), 25s ; South Australian (firm), 25a 6d ; Victoiiun (quiet), 25a. New Zsulacd frozen umtiou: First quality 3y-d per H>, second do S^d. Lamb averages 3^d. Tho Council of Foreign Bondholders, headed by Sir J. Lubbock, interviewed tho Hon. J. €r. Ward on behalf of the New Plymouth bondholders, and requested that the Government should guarantee the loan, and threatened to stop the quotation of New Zealand loans on the Exchange unless the demand was conceded. The Hon. Mr Ward, in reply, said the Governmenb were unable to guarantee the loan, nor did they aid a private company (1 local body) in any way whether its position were good or bad. . Moreover, he flouled the threat of the Council, Very damaging evidence was adduced against Oscar Wilde and Taylor, who have been further remanded. It ha 3 been discovered that the police had been watching tho pair for some time past. There is little prospect of the Board of Trade arbitration iv the boot strike succeeding, as the men reject the ma«tets' proposals. The amount of wool available fo* the next series of auctions is : Australian, 200,000 bales; New Zealand, 65,000 ; Cape, 15,000. The conference on the bootmakers' strike could not come to an agreement aud ha 3 adjourned. The masters asked that piece and day work should remain optional, and they would not allow the union to regulate these points. The strikers demanded that everything should bo submitted to arbitration, and s«y they aro not afraid to" waic to Whitsuntide. Mr Gladstone has written to the Armeaiaa Society that Great Britain must take some steps to prevent a repetition of the recent atrocities, as Turkish promises are not worth the breath spent in uttering them. Lord Kimberley states that the Imperial Government are unanimously in sympathy with Armenia, and determined to secure a remedy for the unfortunate position there. A number of Chinese in Pekin attacked two American ladies in the street, and brutally illfcreated them. The ladies eventually sought refuge in the Russian .Embassy. On Uie London Exchange it is regarded that the failure of the Londonderry mine will impair tha success of the West Australian loans, which are expected to be placed on the market immediately. Ottawa, April 13. The admission of Newfoundland into the Dominion is virtually assured. St. Petersburg, April 13. The Novoc Vremya, tho semi-official journal, declares that Kussia will oppose tho cession of Chinese territory to Japan regardless of tho attitude of the Great Powers. Shanghai, April 13. A magazine in the Loo Sung forts exploded, killing 40. Berlin, April IS, It h reported here that Japan is insisting on s revision of the trading relations wiih China, in the direction of securing an advantage for Japanese goods over those from European countries. Prince Biainsuck, in replying to an address from Gorman residents iv Odessa, s'iid that political friendship wiia equally necessary between Eussia and Germany, and he urged the cultivation of a respect for Itussia, as it was a better neighbor than many other of the large Powers. Washington, April 13. The Japanese Legation have been informed that an understanding has beeu concluded at Shimonoski promieiii» an early peace, and that the JapaiiHKQ having diminished the original demands, they havo been confirmed, Calcutta, April 13, Colonel Kelly and Captain Bonacl.ulo, after an arduous march through tho snow, cvoseed the Shandah Paasa and aro approaching Cbitral. Umra .Khan's fanatical supporters are sail to be dispersing, and a collapae of tho trouble is probable. Lieutenant Gurdon, of Kashmir, and uevuta.l men wore killed in the first atUoJc ou Chitral. Lk'ufconants Fowler and Edwards, aftoi' defending the village between MisLiij and Chitral for & week, wore induced, by assurances of peaco bf iag restored, to join in a polo match, when thay wero captured by treachery. Umra 'Khan has appealed to tho Atnoor of Afghanistan, for help, or for permission to seek a refuge in the lattor'.s tarrirory. Umra has ovacuatad the oyuntry along tho direct lino of the

{ British advance, and bag fled, being two days' march ahead of the maia British force, Guerilla parties are close upon him, and nightly ehots are exchanged. It is not expected there will be any more severe fighting. Melbourne, April 13. Mr Turner, the Premier, in replying to a deputation from the university, #aid the grant-in-aid would have to ba reduced by LISOO. He was determined, when he presented the next Budget, to show that the colony could pay its way. There were only two means by which that could be done— further taxation or ratreochmeat. If possible, he would avoid the former, for as far as h9 could guage public opinion, there was a demand for further retrenchment. If the finances could be squared it would prove a permanent factor in restoring prosperity. The Tasmanian Treasurer, Mr Fysb, has interviewed the Premier, who has promised favorable consideration to a reciprocity treaty between Victoria and Tasmania. The Metropolitan Board of Work?, after lengthy debates, adopted the minimum wage of 7 6j per day in all their contracts. . During the financial crisis a couple of years ago there was a considerable quantity of gold known to have been unearthed,and which was not accounted for at the customs. The ' Argus ' holds the opinion that the amount, which, was stated to be two millions, or even auy portion of it, iv not hoarded in vaults or safes as the deposits of a company, but that the bulk has been exported without entries being passed through the customs from December 1892 to December 1894. The gold returns show that a sum of L 2,333,000 disappeared without leaving a record behind. The decrease in the Government deposits during the March quarter in South Australia leads the • Argus ' to predict further borrowing by that colony, and it adds that South Australia has solved the mighty problem of how to borrow and at the same time keep up the national credit. The newspaper says it is evidently expedient to simply borrow frequently in small sums, so that the market is not unduly disturbed. The colony is quite unobtrusive as a borrower, but she ia the most incorrigible borrower oi: the Australian colonies, being always at it, and one object of her existence appears to be to gat deeper and deeper in debt without the process being noted. A terrible accident occurred, in an air-chamber on a section of the Hobson Bay main Bewerage works laßt night. Six men were working in the^ chamber, when suddenly the water, burst in. Mr Watson, the engineer, was about to enter the chamber, when a man ramed Burke, who was inside, pushed him back and shut the door in his face. Looking through the glas9 in the door, Watson saw the water rising. Burkes action was that of a hero. Apparently he saw there was no chance for himself or others in the chamber, and he closed the door in order to save the lives of those in the tunnel. The names of the drowned are — Buchanan (civil engineer), Burke, (boss of the shaft), Johnson, Gabriel, Jackson, and Foster. None of the bodies have been recovered, The Victorian Tariff Board assert that the evidenca brought before them shows th \t the people of the colony aro still in favor of the protective principle ; hut the board consider ifc should be carried out with moderation. The imposition of almost prohibitive duties by the Shiels and Berry Governments was a great mistake. In order to approach Intercolonial Freetrade the Board recommend whenever possible the assimilation of duties to those in force in other colonies. Carbine left in the Orizaba. A large number of persons went down to see the last of 'Old Jack,' and the champion was decorated with numerous floral tributes sent by old admirers. Sydney, April 13. Persistent attempts are being made to obtain a rehearing of the Dean case, and a defence fund has been started for the purpose. The body of the late Governor Duff has been removed from its temporary resting place to a site specially chosen by Lady Duff and the gift of the trustees of Waverley cemetery. Lady Duff, in gratified terms, refused the offer of the Premier and the Government to erect; a monument, as she is fulfilling a special desire of her husband by erecting one at her own cost. The report of the Civil Service Commission makc3 drastic recommendations, including proposed retrenchment to the extent of a quarter of a million; Evidence conclusively proves that the service could be dliciently conducted by a smaller staff than at present, and that salaries and wages are much more liberal than paid for equally responsible work outside. Further, that owing to the system of promotion by seniority rather than merit, officers are forced into positions which they are not fitted to fill. They aleo say that the grossest inequalities and anomalies exist regarding salaries, and that persona are introduced into the service who are unfit to discharge their duties. A terrible fatal fire occurred at Parkes this morning. A large tenement he use occupied by a widow named Quinn and family was discovered to be on fire at an early hour. Mrs Quinn's brother aurl another man managed to escape with great difficulty, but the other occupants, consisting of Mrs Quinn and five children, whoeo agea ranged from seven months to 10 yearp, were burnt to death, alao a Bister of Mrs Quinn, named Perry. All thosf3 burnt were apparently suffocated by emoke. Ifc appears as if escape had been impossible, owing to several of the doors and windows being nailed up as a preventive against burglars. Brisbane, April 13. The Normanby and Annam rivers ere in high flood, and the water is 30ft oveu I,he Normanby bridgo and 14ft abfm that over the Annam. Tho tele-

graph lines are under water, and a wide area of country in the vicinity of the rivers named is inundated. Newcastle, April 13. TheWallsend miners have decided to withdraw the strike notices. As this is one of the largest lodges in the district, it is considered their action points to a general collapse of the threatened strike.