LATEST CABLES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1248, 30 January 1896, Page 20

LATEST CABLES.

London, January 28. By an explosion in a Cardiff colliery 50 miners were killed. Thirty-eight others were rescued. The Welsh tinplate manufacturers, fearing depression in trade and consequent reduction in wages, have notified the employees of their intention to .stop the works in March. Eleven thousand workers will be affected. Major Pigott has been appointed Governor of Coomassie. [The new Governor is a Major in the 21st Hussars. He was a mumber of the expedition to Ashanti.J Mr Rouse, the accountant who was appointed to make enquiry into the affairs of the City of Melbourne Bank, has submitted his report. He states that since 1891 the management had been most reckless. It had drifted into the hands of Mr Longmuir, general manager, tempered by reference to Mr Loader, chairman of directors. The committee of inspection in 1891, 1892 and 1893 was most perfunctory in its work, and led to no result. During a halfyear of 1893 a sum of <£32,2B6,interest on bad accounts,was carried to profit. The Bank's policy was never to fa.ee a loss, but to bolster up insolvents and prevent publicity. Funds were wantonly wasted. The advances to directors amounted to £76,072 ; to the manager to .£75,48(3; to six companies in which the directors were interested to J 8542,354 ; and in ten special accounts the advances come to a total of £L,563,036. Mr Stewart, Official Liquidator, commenting on the report, says unearned interest was treated as profit to induce investment in the concern, and the facts were withheld from British investors. Matters have been reported of even graver moment. Mr Riggal, the Melbourne solicitor, has been instructed to report on the liability of the directors. Paris, January 28. News has been received of the outbreak of a widespread rebellion against the Hovas in Madagascar. A number of Hovas and officers and one Englishman have been killed. . A French troop is quelling the rising. St. Petersburg-, January 28. The final result of the Chess Championship is as follows :—Lasker, 11A; Stoinitz, 9A- j, PUlsbury, 8 ; Tchigorin, 7. ' „ r#? •- ■! cresvu j - .- Melbourne, January 28. A has- been experienced at

Prentice Freehold, a mining oentre in the Rutherglen district. The Presbyternian Church was completely demolished, the miners* recreation hall and a number of dwellinghouses unroofed, and many others damaged. Trees were uprooted in all directions. At Great Northern, Hamilton's stores were wrecked, and several boarding • establishments, destroyed. A miner named McKenna was severely injured by falling debris. Numero'is narrow escapes are reported. The storm lasted a very short time, and was confined to a narrow track.

The Railway Bill will be the chief measure of the session. It was liitderstood the Government proposed to invite applications for the position of general manager in Europe and America. An amendment by Mr Hancock that Mr Speight be the first Commissioner was strongly opposed by Mr Turner, Premier, who intimated that he would retire rather than .make such an appointment. The amendment was ultimately withdrawn. Another amendment, demanding that the selection of the Commissioner be made within the colony, produced another hot debate, the Opposition carrying the point by 40 votes to 37. On the clause fixing the salary at .£3500, the Government received another rebuff by a reduction to J 22000. A debate arose on a new Government clause appointing _ a Departmental Board to hear offences against the employees. This was the Labour Party's chance, and they succeeded in carrying an amendment to have the workers represented on the Board.

The Premier (Mr Turner), speaking at tho luncheon of the Australian Natives Association, said that last year there was a deficit of .£42,000, as compared with £500,000 the year before. This year he anticipated that, in spite of the drought, the Government would save enough to make ends meet, and leave something over towards paying a quarter of a million of Treasury bills due shortly. The Government would keep on saving, and instead of living on borrowed money, the colony would have to depend on its own resources. At all sacrifices, the national credit would have to be maintained.

The political horizon looms darkly, and th jre is a feeling of unrest which may culminate at any moment in an attack on the Government. If the Opposition can arrange matters with the recalcitrant " corner," then the fate of the Government is sealed. The Railway Juggernaut has crushed Ministries before, and it looks as if it would add MiTurner's Government to the list of victims.

Sydney, January 28

The steamer Wollumbin has been totally wrecked at Bungaree Norah, between Sydney and Newcastle.

The passengers and crew have reached Newcastle safely. [The Wollumbin was a well-known coastal steamer'in the Australian trade. She was of 231 tons.] The Government has decided to grant free railway passes to the sufferers from tho excessive heat in the inland districts who are unable to afford the expense of getting to cooler regions. The repairs to the Miowera will take a little longer than was expected, and the vessel will not leave before Friday. The Marine Board has found that the wreck of the collier Aldinga was caused by default of Captain Boyles. A fire occurred on the barque Ganges, which is loading wool. The storeroom and forecabin Avere gutted, and a considerable quantity of cargo damaged by water. The Labour League Conference passed a resolution adding womanhood suffrage to the planks of the platform, and condemning the minimum wage introduced by the Minister for Public Works on Government contracts. It is stated that it has had the effect of reducing the standard of wages all round. Brisbane, January 28. There is a rough sea at Gladstone, and the steamer Glanworth is breaking up. Heavy rain is falling-. In the Northern District 7i-inches of rain have fallen. Bowentown is jjartly flooded.