GENERAL CABLES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1510, 7 February 1901, Page 20

GENERAL CABLES.

LONDON, January 29

The Lord Mayor and Sheriffs .of London attended in state at the opening service of the Free Church of England Mission. The cruiser Phoebe (2575 tons) has been commissioned for service on the Australian station. < ' January 31. .Russian newspapers advocate a Rus-sian-American coalition to obtain control of the European wheat supply. At the wool sales there is good competition at recent rates. The “ Puketoi” clip brought B§d, and the “Rangitiri” 6d. The Master of the Royal Mints states that the issue of coin of the present pattern will continue until the King sanctions currency of a new design. A hundred thousand people attended the funeral of Giuseppe Verdi, the distinguished Italian composer. There is agitation in Sheffield owing to protectionists in Germany threatening the British steel industry. Retaliatory measures are being called for. Dr Jaz, of Vienna, has discovered a serum against enteric fever. Fifty patients swallowed it with successful results.

Sir H. E. McCallurcr, Governor of Newfoundland, has been appointed; Governor ofNatal, in the place of Sir Walter Hely-Hutchison, who has been transferred to the Governorship of Cape Colony. The Hon BT. E. Copeland (AgentGeneral for New South. Wales) has purchased for the New South Wales Government steam yacht Stemare the property of an American, millionaire. The vessel will reach Sydney in the middle of April. LONDON, February 1., The balance-sheet of the National Mortgage and Agency Company of New Zealand shows that the disposable profits amount to £19,411. The directors recommend payment of a dividend and bonus, equal to 7\ per cent.; £llBO is to be added to reserve, and £4334 carried forward. . The Thames lightermen have resumed work on the employers’ terms. WASHINGTON, January 31. Great friction ebrists between General McArthur, the United States Commander in the Philippine Islands, and the Philippine* Commission. It is understood that President McKinley will recall the former, on the ground that two years’ service in the tropics threatens his health. MELBOURNE. January 31. The Hon W. Gurr (Postmaster-General) is silent on the question of what wiL happen should it be decided that ti e concessions asked by the Eastern Extension Cable Company are inimical, to the Pacific Cable. He points out that whether Victoria, signs the agreement or not, the Eastern Extension Company is at liberty to enter into private agreements with large customers and allow them to send at reduced rates, on the understanding that they give the company their business after the completion of the Pacific cable. MELBOURNE, February 1. A few days ago Sir George Turner cabled to the Canadian Government asking whether the proposed concessions to the Eastern Extension Cable Company would be prejudicial to the Pacific Cable.' A prompt reply in the affirmative has been received, the message adding that if the concessions were given before the Pacific contract was signed,. Canada would be'no party to the agreement. PERTH, January 31. Six hundred colliers have been thrown out of work owing to the shutting down of the Collie mines because the men would not accept a reduction of sixpence per tonm the hewing rate. SYDNEY, January 31. Communications have passed between Mr Barton and Sir George Turner witn respect to the jsituation in the New Hebrides. Mr Barton recognises that action must be taken to conserve British interests there. He will consult with Mr Sedden on the subject to-mor-row. SYDNEY, February 1. Mr Seddon and Mr Barton have had a conference with reference to affairs in the New Hebrides and Fiji. A satisfactory discussion on matters relating to the Pacific Islands took place, but the course of action which was decided on has not transpired. Sir William Lyne, Mr Seddon and Mr

James Mills (manager of the Union Steam Ship Company) had a conference with respect to the Vancouver serv : ca, and to an improvement in the intercolonial steam setrvice, with a view to bringing New Zealand into closer relationship with the Commonwealth. There is trouble between the shearers and the pastoralists. The Workers Union wrote to the Past ora lists’ Union suggesting that a conference! should be held to fix the rates of wages arid consider the question of employment of unionists and non-unionists, and other matters. The Pastoralists’ Union replied that, a-s it made no distinction between unionists and non-unionists, it saw no necessity for a conference. SYDNEY, February 3 % Mr Seddon understands that the Tauranga, which sailed yesterday, goes first to Fiji, and thence to Tonga, taking the. High Commissioner, Sir G. T. M. O’Brien. BRISBANE. January 30. Mr Leahy and Mr Cribbs have joined the Ministry, the former as Secretary for Railways and Public Works, and the latter as Colonial Treasurer. BRISBANE, January 31. The Queensland Government concurs in the appointment of Sir Spencer Walpole as Chairman of the Pacific Cable Beard. ' BRISBANE, February 2.

A case of detonators exploded at Gympie while being opened byi a youth named Kennedy. Kennedy was blown to pieces.