GENERAL CABLES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1523, 28 February 1901, Page 46

GENERAL CABLES.

• . LONDON, February 20. The King will start on Saturday on a brief visit to his sister, the DowagerEmpress Frederick of Germany, who is lying seriously ill at Kronberg. Mr John O’Donnell, member for South Mayo, created a scene by attempting to address the House in the Irish language. The Government is issuing three million pounds’ worth of Treasury bills. Mr W. H. Geddes, well known in conection with the Australian produce trade, advocates the formation of an Australasian Chamber of Commerce in. London, with large show rooms. As a sequel to the rebellion amongst Ogadayn. Somalis in Jubalairl, East Africa, in November last, when Mr A. C. W. Jenner, the British Sub-Commis-sioner was murdered, a British punitive expedition has captured Ogadayn and the Sultan of Jubaland. LONDON, February 21. In the House of Commons an amendment was moved to the Address-in-Re-l>ly by Air T. P. Whittaker, Liberal member for the Spen Valley Division of Yorkshire, regretting that adequate temperance legislation Was not intended < o be carried into effect. The Right Hon C. T. Ritchie, Home Secretary,, in replying, foreshadowed the introduction of a Bill dealing liberally

■with, the pie version of drunkenness, including a black-list for the use of publicans. . . The amendment was negatived by 273 to 146. Forty of the Irish party voted with, the Government. The bank rate of discount has been further lowered from 4-|- per cent., to which it was reduced on February 6th, to 4 per cent. LONDON, February 22. The Good Hope, the most formidable coruiser afloat, the Bacchante, a secondclass cruiser, and the battleship Russell have been launched. South Australian wine was used in christening the Bacchante and Russell. In the case of the Good Hope, christening was done with Cape wine. Rear-Admiral Harris, commanding the Cape and West African station, has been promoted to the rank of vice-admiral. Sir Francis Jeune, President of the Admiralty division of the High Court of Justice, Iras awarded the salvors of the barque Chiltonford, which grounded in the Mersey in December last, while en route from Liverpool to Sydney, the sum ■of £IO,OOO- - lady returning from a fancy dress ball at Cologne was frozen to death. LONDON, February 23. The London County Council is maturing a scheme for housing forty thousand people at a cost of a million and a-half pounds. The weekly rents of the tenants will range from 6s to 9s 6d. . . The remainder of the cargo of the German-Australian steamer Sommerheld, which stranded recently at the mouth of the River Elbe, has been salved. LONDON, February. 24. His Majesty frhe King slept aboard the Royal vaebt, and will leavfe Sheerness at daybreak, in order to visit the Empress Frederick and the Kaiser. ST. PETERSBURG, February 21. “The Journal of St. Petersburg/’ the organ of the Russian Foreign Office, publishes a glowing panegyric on England and King Edward VII. NEW YORK, February 21. The Senate’s Committee has reported adversely on Senator Morgan’s resolution with reference to the Nicaragua Canal Bill, which proposed to declare the Olay to n-Bulwer Treaty abrogated. ‘BERLIN, February 21. The Berlin newspapers are uneasy at the Russian threat to make severe reprisals if Germany, hoping to satisfy the German agriculturists, raises the duties on grainSYDNEY, February 21. The Admiralty has advised, that H.M.S. Blake left England on the 20th instant with a relief crew for the Royal Arthur. News has been received of the death in England of Captain Turpie, who for many years was in command of the mission vessel John Williams. The Agent-General has been instructed to secure space for exhibits from New South Wales at the International Wheat Exhibition, London. The Government is considering a conditional offer made by a, city syndicate to build grain elevators at all the” important grain centres, and also spec'al railway rolling stock for the carriage of grain in bulk. . The syndicate asks for concessions extending over a term of years, Mr Beaton, the late Melbourne manager for Wm. Howard Smith and Sons Proprietary, limited, has been appointed as the third Harbour Trust Commissioner. % The other appointments have been confirmed. From the beginning of the year to, date the imports into Sydney showed a decrease of £216,000, and the exports from the port a decrease of £64,000 as compared with the corresponding period last year. The Council of the New South Wales Alliance has published a declaration sign- , ed by a number of leading medical men condemning the indiscriminate use of; alcoholic liquors. Other signatures are to be obtained. ,/ - .• '*'■ SYDNEY, February 23. The following appointments have been i made to, H.M.S. Royal Arthur, flagship; V.pf the" Australian squadron:—Captain r T.> ih Walker, vice Captain Dicken ; Staff-Surgeon Crocker, . Surereon Skey, Staff-Engineer Mogg, Engineers Canning, Codrington, Weeks; Chaplain, Rev F. A- Sims. Chief-En-gineer Toran has been appointed to H.M.S. Tauranga. ■ ...... , The Broken Hill Junction North Mine has closed down, and about 200 men are idle. MELBOURNE, February 21. The Victorian Agent-General (Sir An - drew Clarke) has cabled that the Pacific Cable Board will meet on the 25th inst. It will consider whether Victoria was justified in signing the. Eastern Extension Company’s agreement. , The Premier (Hon. A. J. Peacock) has informed the Agent-General that the Victorian Government desired to' do nothing amounting to a breach of faith, but would be glad to have the same advantages of reduced rates on the Eastern Extension lines as were secured to other Australian States, if the Pacific Beard '•* cart approve. Three hundred thousand sovereigns were shipped by the Damascus for South ; . . ' BRISBANE, February 21. The Queensland Government has decided to offer a million loan (three and half per cent.) in the Australian mar--v-: "'■* * /. ' ' . . .

millions and three-quarters which last session v r as authorised to be raised for px;blie works. BRISBANE, February 22. An inspector reporting on the Maranoa district says the state or the country is beyond words. There is no sign of feed, and on the large stations only two" or three horses are left, while a few stock are kept alive by felling scrub for fodder. The whole country is like a dust-heap, and the outlook is most, dismal. Ticks are again becoming plentiful in the Brisbane district. ADELAIDE, February 22. Seven members of the Imperial Representative Corps have arrived from Melbourne, where they had surrendered to the military authorities after absenting themselves without leave. They were brought up at the Police Court and remanded till the arrival ox the troopship Britannic from New Zealand.