LATE CABLES

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1514, 7 March 1901, Page 31

LATE CABLES

LONDON, March 3. At the by-election at Maidstone, necessitated by the unseating of Mr John Barker on appeal on the ground: of bribery on the part of his agents at the general election, Sir Francis Evans, Liberal, was returned, receiving 2375 votes. Mr Milvain, Conservative, polled 2182. Seven bluejackets belonging to H.M.S. Resolution were drowned through the capsizing of a boat in Bantry Bay, in the ScutlT of Ireland. Herbert John Bennett has been sentenced to death for the murder of his wife at Yarmouth hi September last. The case was a sensational one, the body being found on the beach with a boot lace bound tightly round the neck. The evidence at the trial was circumstantial. much depending on the identification of the victim’s watch and chain.

In defence Bennett set" up an alibi, which the jury did not credit. By the Army Estimates India is relieved of the cost of garrisoning Aden and transporting troops to and from that station.

The strength of the Militia, including the Militia Reserve, of 50,000, is fixed at 180,000. With 110,000 more volunteers, the strength of the irregular and partially trained forces is thus brought up to 375,000, of which the War Office is providing for 289,000, at the cost of £1,250,000.

The London County Council elections resulted in a considerable gain to the Progressive party.. The King has arrived at Flushing, and will return to England to-day. His Majesty will revisit the Empress Frederick in June.

The following are the official quotations of the Frozen Meat Trade Association for mutton and lamb in lots of 100 carcases of fair average quality: Mutton—New Zealand crossbred wethers and maiden ewes—Canterbury, -|-d lower, at 4fd! per lb; Dunedin and Southland, unchanged, at 4|d per lb; North Island, -Jd lower, at 4d per lb. River Plate crossbred or merino wethers —Heavy, 7-16 d lower, at light , 3-16 d lower, at 3i-d. Lamb—Prime Canterbury, unchanged, at 6d per lb; fair average (including Dunedin, Southland, Wellington, and secondary Canterbury), unchanged, at sfd. New Zealand beef—-Fair average quality, 1801 b to 2201 b, ox-fores, £d higher, at 3jd per lb; ox-hinds, |d higher, at 3|d. Hides are dull. A few sold at about £d decline. Basils have declined Wheat.—The Angerona’s cargo sold at 30s l£d per quarter. Supplies received during February totalled 19,907 tons, deliveries 19,816 tons. The stocks on hand total 28,995 tons; advised from Australia, 2550 tons. Stocks total 16,065 tons; on 5p0t4853 tons; ; afloat, 3469 tons; deliveries, 2590 tons. Stock, 19,906 casks; imports for the month totalled 4714 casks, and. deliveries 5093 casks. Bar silver is quoted at 2s 4-|-d pdr oz. LONDON, March 4.

The Duke of Cornwall and York met the King at Charing Cross Railway Station on his Majesty’s return from his visit to the Empress Frederick, and received an ovation. The Victorian Agent-General (Sir Andrew Clarke) voted for the resolution passed by the Pacific Cable Board thar the New South Wales agreement with the Eastern Extension Company was prejudicial to the Pacific cable. The Hoii H. Copeland (Agent-General for New South Wales) voted against .it. Only 250,000 persons out of V 00,000 entitled voted at the London County Council elections. Professor Goldwm_ Smith, of Canada, declares that the Imperial copyright, marriage and patent laws are natural accessories to a limited empire.

The death is announced of the Hon A. J. Henniker, heir of Lord Henniker, aged 36

NEW YORK, March 4

Mr John Daly. Mayor of Limerick, addressing a meeting of two thousand Irishmen at Chicago, said that Parliamentary agitators were traitors. Irishmen, he continued, ought to temporise with England only while covering the introduction of arms and ammunition into Ireland in preparation for open rebellion.

CONSTANTINOPLE, March 3. The Bulgarian Radicals, coquetting with the Macedonian agitation, induced Russia to urge the Sultan to take a severe measure of repression. The concentration of the Turkish troops at Kostendil, south-west of Sofia, was the result of the request.

SYDNEY, March 4. A man named John Stevens, while working in a sewer, was overcome by foul air. A fellow-workman named Challis went to Stevens’s assistance, but was also overcome, as were two others who" descended. Nothing daunted, two more workmen and a policeman went down. They succeeded in rescuing Stevens, who, however, died. The others were eventually rescued.

News from. New Britain states that a rising has occurred in the French islands to the north.

From the meagre particulars to hand, it appears that the natives attacked the trading station of Peter Hansen, killed sixteen of his labourers, and burnt and looted the station-houses. The white traders had taken refuge in some shelter, and were holding out against the natives. A Government steamer had gone to the scene of the disturbance.

A quantity of fossil gum and blacks'’ nardoo stonel has been found at. Balranald, 574 miles south-west of Sydney, at a depth of 200 feet. It is taken as an indication of the existence of a pre-historie race of blanks, with the same food-pro-ducing implements as the present. The police are in communication with the New Zealand authorities with reference to the death of the man Conway, a passenger to Sydney from Lyttelton, who died on hoard the Talune or February 19th.

It is rumoured that arrests are imminent, but the police still refuse to disclose anything in connection with the matter.

It is proposed to abandon May 24th as a public holiday, and to substitute June 3rd, in honour of the Duke of Cornwall and Y ork.

During a quarrel a publican named been fatally stabbed by bis wife at Wilberforce, thirty-eight mnes west of Sydney.

SYDNEY, March 5

The police are working on information from New Zealand which connects a woman with the Conway case. It is hoped to make her arrest shortly. It is uaiderstoocd that the purchase of certain poison prior to the, Talune leaving for Sydney has been traced. Probably something will be heard' of this when the analyst's report is made known at the resumed inquest oil Friday. The Sydney Hat Company’s factory has been partially gutted by fire. A quantity of helmets for the departing contingents was destroyed. The Government will commence forthwith the erection of grain elevators and com storage premises at Newcastle, at a cost of £60,0U0. MELBOURNE, March 5. Mr John MatEieson, the Victorian Railway Commissionerhas accepted tho general managership of the Midland Railway of England. Mr Matliieson will sever his connection with Victoria as soon as the rush of traffic in connection with the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall is over. HOBART, March 5. The death is announced of Mrs' St. Hill, wife of Colonel St. Hill, who distinguished himself in the New Zealand war. MELBOURNE, March 5. Sir John Madden, Lieutenant-Gover-nor of Victoria, is suffering from nervous prostration. BRISBANE, March 5. The late rains gave a six months’ supply of water at the Mount Morgan mine, where work is now in full swing again. The Hon R. Philp (State Premier) sails in the troopship Templemor© to South Africa -on a three months’ holiday. During his absence the Hon A. Rutledge, Attorney-General, will be Acting-Premier.