CABLES.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume 28, Issue 1470, 31 December 1897, Page 3

CABLES.

o Priynte Ifttors received in Sydney from miners ar. Klom'.yke warn Australians against g';ing there owing to the rigours of the climate and the difficulties of reaching the fiet.l. The writers admit that Klondyke is wonderfully rich, hut so many thousands of Americans and Canadians are ready 10 rush the field when the spring comes" that it would be wise for visiting Australians to make provision for returning in the event of failure.

The ballot amongst the members of the Associated Engineers' Society, England resulted* in 150 branches unanimously voting against the employers' proposals with regard to freedom of management of their works, and, excepting two branches, all rejected by large majorities the proposed compromise for making 51 hours a week's work. The number of men out of employment in consequence of the strike in the engineerine trade.is stated to be 81,000.

The miners of Bendigo have resolved upon a levy of 3d per member per week in aid of the engineers out on strike in Great Britain. The Hongkong Daily Press of December 2nd contains an unofficial statement that Ruxsi.T. and Germany and France have agreed upon a po'icy of territorial aggrandisement in China, under which Germany is to retain Kiao-chau and eventually annex the whole of the Shantung province ; France is to have Formosa and the Tokien province; and Russia annexes Corea and Manchuria and the whole north-eastern portion of China as far as the Shantung border. Eastern news reports that a body of 1000 bandits raided Haifong, a district in China. They sacked the to-.vn and killed 21 men, two women, and four children.

Weddel's annual review of the meat trade states that, the chief causes of the unfortunate position of frozen meat are over-supply and defective condition. On the whole, however, the quality «f the mutton and lamb was better than that of IS9S. The imports have increased 10 per cent. Over 45 per cent, of the Australian cargoes were damaged, compared with 6 per cent, from Argentine. It is estimated that the Australian loss through damage is Id per stone on 750,000 sheep above the irsurance recoverable. The review suggests that drastic alterations should be made in the preparation of the meat and tranrport. including careful survey at the port of shipment, and the institution of differential rates of freight according to ships possessing a record as meat carriers. The review concludes by declaring the prospects fairly hopeful.

The Colonial Consignment Company have also issued a circular dealing with the year's trade, in which it states that the bane of the trade has been damaged bv the off-colour of the carcases, and if frozen meat was shipped immediately after being slaughtered and promptly disposed of here it would go far to revive prosperity.

The indemnity to be.paid to Great Britain by the United States in respect to Bebring Sea sealing claims amounts to 8,570,000do!s. with interest at the rate of 7 per cent., extending over a period of years. The Standard complains that Great Britain is doing nothing in the Far East, and that the electors will not condone tame and silent submission to the bold agression of her rivals. The French press is becoming restive nt Russia's manoeuvring with Germany with regard'to China. Mr Barnes, secretary of the Engineers, states that the society still has a fighting fund of £IIO,OOO.

The Times stAtes that many of the federated shops will reopen in the new year, the men resuming on the masters' terms.

The Daily News says the ballot which has been taken is equivalent to a vote of censure on the Unionist leaders for attempting to bring about a compromise on the questions of hours and management