CABLE ITEMS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 139, 14 June 1913, Page 7

CABLE ITEMS.

[Pkesb Association.] A NARROW ESCAPE,

LONDON, June 13. Tlie airship Astra, on her maiden trip at Farnsborough, when at an elevation of 1000 feet began to drop alarmingly, owing to a flaw m the mechanism, resulting in gas pressure. When nearing the ground the crew threw out ballast and checked the fall. A hundred bluejackets seized the landing ropes and prevented a collision with the jeroplane'shed. ±ne aeronauts safely landed.

SUEZ OANAL RETURNS

LONDON, June 12. The Suez Canal returns for 1912 include: United Kingdom, 3335 vessels, with 12,847,621 tonnage, being 63 per cent.; Germany, 698 vessels, 3,025,415 tonnage, 15 per cent.; Holland, 6 per cent.; Austria and France, 4 per cent

A ROOSEVELT LECTURING TOUR.

NEW YORK, June 12. Mr Roosevelt is planning a. lecture tour throughout the Argentine.

AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION'S

VISIT.

VANCOUVER, June 12. The British Columbian Agricultural Commission is arranging a visit to Ayistoialia and England in connection with the development of the agriculture of the province.

BOMB OUTRAGE

LONDON, June 12

A bomb thrown at a train at Runcorn exploded in the street. A girl had a narrow escape.

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY

LONDON, June 12. Owing to the deficiency of £70,000 the Londo7n. Missionary Society has reduced its annual expenditure by £15,000, withdrawing • certain portions of the mission field in Asia, Africa, New Guinea, and the South Seas.

SOMETHING IN A NAME,

LONDON, June 12. Mr Pett Ridge, the novelist, recovered £150 damages for libel from an. English illustrated magazine, for publishing an inferior story by Gubbins, a grocer's assistant, who used Mr Pett Ridge's name.

A POLITICAL RIOT.

LISBON, June 12. During a performance in aid of political prisoners.a group of men entered a theatre and fired revolvers. Troops surrounded the building and dispersed the disturbers. The audience included many foreign diplomats.

GERMAN DEFENCE BILL

' BERLIN, June 12. The Conservatives and Centre Party resolutely oppose the third reading of the Defence Bill, until an acceptable compromise has been reached regarding the financial proposals. KAURI TIMBER COMPANY CASE.

LONDON, June 12. The Privy Council heard the case of the Kauri Timber Company v. Commissioner of Taxes. Judgment was reserved. Respondent was not called. AUSTRALASIAN METHODIST CONFERENCE.

BRISBANE, June 13. The triennial Australasian Methodist Conference has opened. The Rev. Dr Brown, of Sydney, was chosen president. Dr Youngman, referring to separation from New Zealand, said that there had been no suggestion of friction or desire to escape an irksome spiritual or ecclesiastical bondage.

AUSTRALIAN-CANADIAN RECI-

PROCITY.

SYDNEY, June 12. Shippers are greatly disappointed ai; the hanging up of the reciprocity negotiations with Canada. They point out that New Zealand is steadily developing an enormous trade under her treaty with Canada, and,has practically captured the butter trade, which was pioneered by Australian shippers.

SIR HENNIKER HEATON

SYDNEiY, June 13. Sir Henniker Heaton, in an interview, said that he was sure universal penny postage would be achieved before Very long. He was hopeful of ■seeing penny a word cables in his day.