GENERAL CABLE NEWS.

Mataura Ensign, 9 November 1908, Page 4

GENERAL CABLE NEWS.

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH - • COPYRIGHT. I'EB UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION. LONDON, Nov. 7. Col. Seely. (Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs), speaking at Manchester, and emphasing that racialism tin iSouth Africa was dead, mentioned as a new fact that tho most influential and most trusted leaders of the Dutch people in South Africa had urgently asked tho Imperial Government to maintain tho largest possible garrison of British soldiers there.

Mr A. Birroll (Secretary of State for Ireland), speaking at Brighton, and commenting on the scant respect shown to treaties, and anim&d-1 verting on the war-cloud, declared that it was vitally essential for Great Britain to have the strongest navy in the world. She needed it as an instrument for peace. She must build her ships, Germany or no Germany, because of her history, her position and her enormous trade as a world-carrying power. Tho motion for an order of attachment against Sir T. C. O'Brien was heard at Dubllin. Sir T. C. O'Brien explained that he made a statement attributed to him, believing; the jury was being canvassed against hiin. He now expressed sincere regret at the improper action of which he had been guilty. He affirmed he did not intend to influence tho juror who complained of his conduct. Respondent was fined £3OO, and ordered to pay costs of tho present case and of the previous abortive trial. (The action at the Cork Assizes, the Honorable Alexis Roche v. Sir Timothy O'Brien, a case for slander, abruptly terminated in July, the jury declaring that O'Brien, through a third party, had attempted to influence the decision. The 'Judge granted a conditional order attaching O'Brien for contempt of Court.) Tho 'Times' says. if the Federal Labor Party's announcement is intended only to stimulate the Deakin Ministry's reforming zeal, i it will probably be found to have overshot the mark. Perhaps the demonstration is attributable to an agitation among the Unions, which tho more moderate members of the Party are unable "to repress as not auguring wel for the immediate future of Australian politics. Mr 'Reid is unlikely to form a coalition of Moderates against Labor, and it is more likelj a Labor Ministry will be formed, assisted by 'extreme , reformers in Mr Deakin's following. If Mr Watson is ; leader such an effort will gain im-

menscly in public confidence, both in Australia and elsewhere. In tho House of Commons the Government's 'amendments ,to the lacensiug Bill, whereby a police Inspector in plaiu clothes, upon producing a Magistrate's order which will be valid for a week, will be enabled to visit a club specilied in such order, was adopted after much opposition. NEW YORK, Nov, 7. " Morse, tho New York banker, who was sentenced tp 15 years' imprison--1 ment for fraud, lias announced his intention of appealing. SYDNEY. Nov. 8. The steamer Newcastle, when leav- . ing tho dock, went foul of, and sank, two launches, White Heather and Cloud, and badly damaged the hulk .Tosepa. She damaged her fpwn ■ stern and the wharf, > SYDNEY, Nov. 7. ; The thermometer to-day registered • 101.9, the highest Sydney, reading since 1901,