GENERAL CABLES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1509, 31 January 1901, Page 50

GENERAL CABLES.

SYDNEY, January 24. The Post Office is surcharging New Zealand “penny” letters. SYDNEY, January 27.

The barquentine Rio has arrived from Napier. On the 15th inst. the mate, Thompson, fell overboard from the jibboom, and search for him was unavailing.

On the 19th inst. a seaman named Arthur Royle fell from aloft, and struck the port boat. He had his skull smashed, his thigh broken, and his spine badly fractured. The poor fellow died three days later.

The barque Lodore, which reoently capsized in Newcastle harbour, has been successfuly righted. MELBOURNE, January 25. - On the supposition that the contemplated visit of the Duke of York to Australia has been abandoned, it is suggested that the Duke of Connaught should be commissioned too open the Federal Parliament, and that Sir George White or Sir Red vers Buller should occupy a prominent place on his staff. BRISBANE, January 25. The Hon. J. G. Drake, PostmasterGeneral, has accepted a portfolio in the Federal Cabinet, _ in succession to the late Sir James Dickson, who was Minister of Defence. The issue of patriotic stamps has proved a failure, saving resulted in a loss of £126. Woodfall, the defaulting aocountant of the Grenfell'Bank, has been arrested on a charge of stealing £4BOO, and remanded. PERTH, January 25. Sir John Forrest, on being sworn in to-day as State Treasurer, took the oath of allegiance to the King. The Premier (Sir John Forrest) invited Mr Seddon to visit Perth, but Mr Seddon replied that he was unable to do so, .as he had to return to New Zealand immediately.