LATE CABLE NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1618, 4 March 1903, Page 33

LATE CABLE NEWS.

LONDON, February 28.

An accident in the hold of the Messageries Maritimes steamer Armaud Behic kilied four and injured three men.

Shoals of sardines have emigrated from Brittany (where the fishing industry was recently reported to be a failure) to the estuary of the Elbe and the coast of Holstein.

News has been received that tlio Chinese rebellion at Kwangsi is spreading. Five hundred Imperial troops were ambushed and slaughtered at Yanguing Pass. a

The London School Board proposes to exchange lists with schools and agents in the colonies to enable boys and girls in the upper standards to correspond with colonial scholars. [lt will bo remembered that a system of corresponding between pupils of the Terrace School in Wellington and of a school in England was inaugurated last year by Mr G. MacMcrrau, the headmaster, as a useful and interesting method of educating children and broadening their views.] The British have concluded a treaty with Siam, obtaining tho right to appoint British Residents at Kelantan and Tringanc, though recognising Siam’s supremacy. An influential meeting at the Mansion House recommended that a Royal Commission should be appointed to inquire into the question of food supply in war time.

The Prime Minister (Mr Balfour) has intimated that he will gladly receive a deputation on Thursday. LONDON, March 1. The reported sale of Chilian and Argentine warships to Britain is denied. Lieutenant-General Sir lan Hamilton, at the dinner held in celebration of the relief of Ladysmith, commenting on the Boer Contingent _ with the Somaliland expedition, predicted that there . would be five thousand Boer horsemen fighting on our side in the next ereat war. "

The Bank of England, becoming alarmed at the London County Council’s expenditure, declined to advance five millions asked for by the Council, but offered two millions. Various schemes contemplated by the Council have consequently been abandoned. LONDON, March 2.

The remains of the late Sir Charles Gavan Duffy are lying in state at the Pro-Cathedral, Dublin.

The “ Morning, Post,” commenting on the -petition to the French Chamber from Frenchmen residing in New Caledonia and the New Hebrides, urgingi that a French protectorate he proclaimed over the New Hebrides, declares that Great Britain must act as the interpreter of the sentiments and the guardian of the interests of the Australian Commonwealth. The Paris correspondent of “ The Times ” says that the peace of Europe is at least as much at risk through the state of affairs in the Far East as in the Balkans. Reports received from various sources indicate that an antiChristian outbreak is imminent in China.

A Reuters message states that in Turkish official circles fear is expressed that Consular control in Macedonia foreshadows permanent European control. The Vienna correspondent of “The Times” says that the Sultan’s action in widening the sphere of reforms is regarded in some quarters as an attempt to prevent their realisation with a view to deliberately arousing Albanian fanaticism. Colonel Swann, of the Somali expedition, is at Damu, forty miles northwards of Bohotle. He will operate in conjunction with Brigadier-General Manning. Captain Hedwortli Lambton, C. 8., wlio commanded the Naval Brigade at the siege of Ladysmitn, has been appointed second in command of the Channel Squadron __ , Major-General Sir Bruce Hamilton testified before Lord Elgin’s War Commission that he did not think the British regulars were equal to Boers or. colonials from the standpoint of individual intelligence, power of observation and ability to look after themselves. The National Conference which met at the Guildhall to consider tile unemployed problem recommended the appointment of a. Minister of Industry. _ The recently-formed Imperial Food

Supplies Association starts operations in the provinces forthwith. Mr Henry Philips, who recently donated a large sum for the relief of indigent Boers, has given Lord Curzou, Viceroy of India, ten thousand stemug to establish a centre of agricultural education and scientific research m India. NEW YORK, February 2/. A man named Albert Knapp has been arrested at Hamilton, Guio, on a charge of murdering live women, of whom two were his wives. He is suspected of strangling three other women at Evansvfile, Indiana and others elsewhere.

Engineers of tho French army made successful experiments in sending ethergrams between Guadeloupe and Martinique, a distance of over a hundred miles.

The Standard Oil _ Company has bought tho volcano of Popocatepetl, in Mexico, for five million dollars. The company purposes excavating for sulphur deposits. NEW YORK, March 2.

The Herald’s ” St. Petersburg correspondent attributes Russia’s . military activity not to the condition of affairs ip Macedonia but m the Far East. Frank Hirizel, who was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in Anarchist plots, has been discharged with a severe reprimand. Several American organisations have selected Hirtzel as their representative at the International Anarchist Congress in Europe. Eighteen students at Cornell University have died cf typhoid. WASHINGTON, February 28.

Senator S. B. Elkins (Republican) has introduced into the Senate a Bill imposing 10 per cent, ad valorem duties, besides the present duties, on goods imported into the United States in nonAmerican vessels. The Naval Bill has been amended to provide for four instead of three new battleships and two cruisers instead of one. The Bill passed the Senate. HALIFAX, March 2.

A Are in this city has destroyed nineteen buildings. The damage is estimated at a quarter cf a million. SUVA, February 28.

At a meeting of delegates from various districts at Suva to discuss the_ introduction of the elective element into the Legislative Council in place of nominated members, it was decided that a deputation wait on the Governor on Monday and submit a proposition.

SUVA, March 2

A deputation waited on the Governor urging .the desirableness of an elective Legislature. His Excellency promised to support the request. SYDNEY, March 1.

A heavy rain storm at Newcastle did much damage. Four inches of rain fell in an hour, flooding business places and cutting up the streets. SYDNEY, March 2.

Amongst the passengers by the Ventura, which sailed to-day for San Francisco, were eleven farmers from Charlton, Victoria, who are proceeding to Zion City to join Pastor Dowie'. It is stated that thirty more from the same district will sah next month. Many of them are well-to-do, and have sold their houses and farms. At the stock sales at Homebush today, prime sheep were scarce and prices easier. Best wethers brought 16s, good 14s to 14s 6d, medium 10s 6d; best ewes 14s 6d, extra 19s 3d, good 13s 6d to 14s medium 10s. Cattle were easier. Best bullocks realised £l4, good £lO 10s, medium £7 ; best cows £9 10s, good £7, medium £5 15s. Best beef fetched 35s to 36s 6d per 1001 b. The Marine Court has suspended the foreign-going certificate of Captain Middleton, master of the steamer Eurimbla, for twelve months and ordered him to pay the owners and master of the Wakatipu their costs of the inquiry into the circumstances of the recent collision. Indignant references were made yesin a number of Protestant churches to the Bible-burning in Fiji. The “Sydney Morning Herald” publishes the message, dated Suva, Saturday:—“A number of Weslejmn Bibles were burnt at Rewa by the Sisters of Mercy. Father Roug’ier denies that they were publicly burned.” The Wesleyans consider, on the. information of witnesses, that the Bibles were burned publicly. MELBOURNE, February 28.

The Methodist Conference passed a resolution of indignation at the Bibleburning in Fiji. Dr Carr {Roman Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne), in an interview, expressed surprise at the action of the conference before it bad obtained reliable confirmation of the alleged burning of the Bibles. He declared that if the statement were true, all Catholics would regret the occurrence. The federal Cabinet has practically concluded an agreement with the Eastern Extension Cable Company for ten years. The rates are to be three shillings a word for private messages, two shillings for Government messages, and a shilling for the press. The agreement is subject to rat in cation by the Commonwealth Parliament. An extraordinary meeting of the Mount Lyell Company has been called for the 17th April to consider amalga-

mation with the North Mount Lycil Copper Company, either by pure inking

the assets -and undertakings of tue North Mount Lyeli. or by selling the assets and undertakings of Mount i.ye.i to a new company to be formed far the purpose of acquiring the assets and undertakings of both the companies, or in such manner as the directors may consider expedient. MELBOURNE, March 2.

Sir Edmund Barton, federal Premier, doubts tho authenticity of the cablegram regarding Mr Chamberlain’s references, in bis address to the Caps Chamber of Commerce, to the colonies accepting a share in the responsibilities of the Empire. Sir Edmund does not think Mr Chamberlain would have put the matter so pointedly, or that he bad in bis mind the slightest idea of asking' the great self-governing colonies to contribute the same proportion as the British taxpayer to the army and navy, or to “'cut the painter.” Sir Joseph Ward, speaking at a social function, said New Zealand generally was prosperous, and the various interests were progressing favourably. Me protested against the. London attacks on the Australian financial position. It was monstrous to say that the moneys borrowed by Australia and New Zealand bad been expended on profitless public works.

Continuing, Sir Joseph said he, thought the time had come when the Australian States should let the English money-lenders know that there were other markets where Australia and New Zealand could go for money, and that they will no longer tolerate the forcing down of their stocks to outrageously low prices.

BRISBANE, March 1. A partner in a well-known Queen street firm has succumbed to plague. • BRISBANE, March 2.

Nearly two hundred stations —the majority in the southern districts —reported rain to-day, the fall ranging from a few points to four inches. PERTH, March 2.

Mr Archibald Currie, head of the well-known Melbourne shipping firm of Arch. Currie and Co., has returned from a visit to India. He was much impressed by the busy millions and countless industries there. The Commonwealth, Mr Currie says, wants population to develop'her industries, and lie advocated getting labour from India. “ Never mind what their colour—let the whites be boss—but bring coolies out. under engagement, and send them back at the end of it.”