GENERAL CABLES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7714, 7 December 1903, Page 2

GENERAL CABLES.

(Per Pi-<"3S Association—>.:opyright.)

LONDON, Dec 6. The Standard's Tientsin correspondent, commenting O n the comicality of China even dreaming at this juncture of lighting Russia declares that . the cry in Chinese circles is all for war.

Ihe Government at Pekin is thoroughly alarmed, fearing the partition .and occupation of Mukden ;and the desecration of the Manchu tombs. The possibility of such a contingency has roused the Court as nothing else has done. Lord Aberdeen, speaking at EdinUurg, said the Boer war was the opportunity and not the cause of the manifestation of Canada's attachment to the Motherland He added :-" Don't try to galvanise into artificial growth a plant growing naturally and spontaneously " Ihe maintenance of .good feeling might be jeopardised if it were regarded as a matter of mercenary consideration. *

American steel billets are offorin™ in Lanarkshire at 76/- (per ton! which is iil below the minimum Jdonic .quotation.

Ihe iron merchants on the Clyde arc arranging f o r extensive importations of Canadian iron Excitement prevails in Lancashire. The next rise in American cotton will prove calamitous to tho cotton trade.

Tho situation between Russia a nd -Japan is unchanged. Sir Michael Hicks-Beach 3pea.kllah, Clieltenliam, advocated the issue of full balance-sheets to ratePayers 111 reference to various municipal undertakings providing lor the repayment of loans iY o in revenues. He declared that municipal credit had fallen because the market was overstocked. He was sine there was a time of financial difljculty ahead. It was desiraWe that Imperial an d municipal financiers should be chary of undertaking- works involving new loans.

NEW YORK, Dec 6. The latest impression is that cotton is much underestimated.

CAPETOWN, Dec-6. A masked gang gagged the manager assistant of the Robinson Bank, at Handfontein, 'in the Tra.tisvaal, and stole £3000. Professor Koch, addressing the veterinary Conference at Bloenifontein, expressed the opinion that coast fever was likely to spread throughout South Africa, killing 40 per cent, of the cattle. Inoculation was the only preventative. Even this would involve great loss ■ CONSTANTINOPLE, Dec 6. ' Fifty-six foreign officers have been engaged for the gendarmerie of Macedonia, and 300 subordinate posts are Jo be reserved for foreigners.

OTTAWA, Dec. 6

Canada imposes a surtax on German goods finished in Britain or elsewhere of upwards of one-half the selling value if the article, represents that of German origin.

NORFOLK ISLAND, Dec. 6

Indignation meetings to represent the unsatisfactory character of the steam service have oeen held. The steamers calling at night do not take cargo. It was decided to petition the Federal Government.

HOBART, Dec 6

Sailed.—The relief ships Terra Nov a and Morning, for the Antarctic regions. A largo crowd farewelled them.

. SYDNEY, Dec 6

At 1 the Waratah by-election Charlton (Labour) beat Gilbert (Opposition) by over 2 to 1.

Cardinal Morati has returned. He was impressively welcomed by the Catholic bodies. .