GENERAL CABLE NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1656, 25 November 1903, Page 2

GENERAL CABLE NEWS.

LONDON, November 17. It is officially announced tliat the underwriters of the Victorian conversion loan have been left with 27 per cent, or the whole issue. . The “ Financial Times” Victoria has rounded an awkward corner fairly well in placing four millions out of her eonversion loan of five millions amongst the public. LONDON, November 19. Professor Bay lias, of London University College, has recovered two thousand pounds damages from Mr Stephen ‘Coleridge, honorary secretary of AntiVivisection Society, who, upon the evidence of two Swedish lady medical students, charged Professor Bay lists with cruelty when operating on a dog. The Home Secretary has appointed a Departmental Committee to consider the desirability of extending the law •of compensation for workmen’s injuries to other classes of employment.

Owing to the shortage of cotton and stoppage of mills, the loss in wages in Lancashire amounts to £2,000,000. Under tlie provisions of the Panama Canal Treaty, which has just been signed, Panama cedes the. United States the land required tor the canal m perpetuity and absolute sovereignty over a strip on each side ten miles wide. Panama receives ten mild ion dollars (£2,000,000); the canal to be neutral and open to all nations on equal terms. The umpires in the manoeuvres of 'che X and B fleets in August have decided that Admiral Domville, at the end of the manoeuvres, retained command of the sea, Admiral Wilson being further from Berehaven than Admiral Domville was from Gibraltar. LONDON, November 20. The “Financial News” says:—The limited partnership proposed by the Bank of New Zealand Bill promises to be satisfactory to all parties concerned. There have been considerable dealings in the new Victorian stock, which is quoted at about £92 7s 6d.' LONDON. November 21.

Turkey has formally agreed to the British ~ demands regarding the Aden hinterland. The region is now quiet. The sale of the South Australian Produce Depot to a syndicate has been •completed on the Government’s terms. ' BERLIN, November 17. A woman named Gesine Meyer, who has been fed artificially for seventeen years while asleep near Bremen, awoke during a sudden alarm of fire. The woman’s appearance is normal. Sh e remembers incidents which happened prior to her illness. PARIS, November IS. “Le Temps” warns England that if she seriously interferes with Thibet (where a British mission is proceeding), besides the natural difficulties to be contended against within the country, she must reckon on dealing with Russia and China.

PARIS. November 20

The laws designed to promote and increase France’s mercantile navy have proved a failure. A fresh committee is studying other measures, with a view to attaining the desired end. ROME, November 18.

Three Anarchists have been arrested •at Milan on a charge of plotting against the life of the Swiss President. BOMBAY, November 17. While riding alone through the Mashobia highway tunnel, Lord Kitchener’s horse shied through a coolie rising suddenly. Lord Kitchener’s leg struck a projecting beam, breaking both bones clean above the ankle.

The coolie bolted, leaving the Com-mander-in-Chief hair an hour in great agony. Other coolies approached, but fled, declaring that “the great war Lord”' was dead. Finally the coolies brought a rickshaw and conveyed Lord ■Kitchener to Simla, where the injured leg was set. His inspection tours of Rawalpindi and Karachi have been cancelled. BOMBAY, November 18.

Three hundred Sikhs and three thousand Sepoys, witn a mountain battery of Maxima and a few British soldiers, all over six feet in height, are accompanying Major Younghusband, under Colonel MacDonald, on the mission into Thibet.

The Thibetans threaten resistance

The mission is intended to combat Russia’s persistent attempts to penetrate Thibet. Many of the chief officials of Lhassa are in the pay of Russia. SEOUL, November 20. Korea was about to open Yongampho when M. Pavloff, Russian Minister, strenuously protested against the proposal, and secured a postponement of the opening of the port. NEW YORK, November 17. France has formally recognised the new Republic of Panama. The latter offers Colombia an indemnity for the loss of the isthmus, to be paid out of the euan received for canal concessions to America. Panama has rejected Colombia s overtures for reunion. _ _ Mr Pierpont Morgan has advanced funds to start the Panama Government on its career. President Roosevelt has submitted documents to Congress showing that Colombia, after the revolution commenced, offered to ratify the Canal Treaty, which she recently rejected, if the United States would restore order in the isthmus 1 .

NEW YORK. November 19. Four thousand revolutionists have surrounded the city of Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, on the south coast of Hayta. An assault is expected. The German warships are prepared to land troops. Owing to the depression and the Steel Trust’s competition, the Dominion Iron and Steel Company has given notice of a reduction of 10 to 33 per cent, in wages. Colombia is adopting a menacing tone. The United States 1 Minister has been instructed to intimate that while the United States has recognised Panama as an independent Republic, in the interests of humanity and civilisation, yet she is willing to mediate for a settlement of the difficulties between Colombia and Panama. Colonel John Hay, United States Secretary of State, and an envoy from Panama, have signed the Panama Canal I Treaty. Britain’s hesitation to recognise Pa- j narna as an independent Republic is based on the fear that Colombia, will repudiate her foreign debt if deprived of'che Panama revenues. ' Colonel May, United States Secretary j of State, suggests that Panama should j devote a portion of the canal money as its share of the foreign debt. The Steel Trust, hoping to save five million dollars (about £1,000,000) in official salaries, has resolved to manage all subsidiary companies collectively at ! Pittsburg. The revolutionists are shelling Santo Domingo, capital of the, Dominican Republic. A force of American marines has been stationed at the Legation, Consulates, and the steamship offices." /. NEW YORK, November 20. Under the Panama Canal Treaty the United States guarantees Panama’s independence and pays ten million dollars yearly rental for the land on either side of tire proposed canal. Miss Carrie Nation, of “saloon-smash-ing” notoriety, has been arrested for disturbing the proceedings of the United States Senate. Thirty-two workmen were killed by a collision on the Chicago-St. Loruis railway, near Tremont. MELBOURNE, November 19. The strike of Chinese cabinetmakers is believed to be near the end, the employers conceding the demands. The fine;! argument in producing this result was a threat to burn the factories belonging to those who did not give in. A “corner ” has been worked in Transit Gold Mining Company’s ©hares by one operator. Prices were quoted at Is 4.1, d buyers. All undelivered scrip is due to one buyer. As shares were outstanding, instruction's were given to buy in against sellers. The price thereupon jumped to £O. Since the “corner” became complete considerable sums have been offered by a “bear” for release, but the buyer demands £2750, being the price given for 550 shares overdue at £5.

MELBOURNE, November 20.

At the National Rifle Association meeting, Cutler. (Bathurst) won the King’s Prize with a score of 325—the world’s record for the King’s distance in one match. Cutler put ten shots and a sighter through the bull’s-eye. SYDNEY, November 20. Professor Hussey, of the Lick Observatory, who is conducting observations here, has discovered ten new double stars hitherto unknown to the' astronomical world.

An extraordinary plague of caterpillars is devastating crops iu various parts. Trains were held up several times by the pest crossing the rails and causing the wheels to slip. A combination is announced of the Federal Steam Navigation Company, HouHd'er Bros, and Co., and the Shire Line, trading between Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Europe. The joint fleets comprise thirty-three large steamers, all fitted for the carriage of frozen and other produce, and aggregating 226,000 tons. They will make regular sailings from Australia, carrying passengers and cargo. At the Marine Court of Inquiry into- the lbss of the steamer Ovalau at Lord Howe Island on October 20th, as a result of a boiler explosion through the cargo taking fire, the Government Analyst, who had made a series of experiments, gave evidence that he was of opinion that copra was liable to

spontaneous combustion, as it contained 34 per cent, of oil. and fibrous matter soaked with vegetable oil was subject to spontaneous combustion. The Court found - that it was impossible with any certainty to determine the cause of the fire, though the evidence pointed to spontaneous combustion of copra. The Court added that the captain deserved all credit for doing everything possible under most trying conditions, and was most ably assisted by his officers and crew. The boatswain, Larking, was specially commended for going down a ventilator to locate the fine.

SYDNEY, November 21.

The ship Andreta, from New York, passed several large icebergs in latitude 34, longitude 104. One was a quarter of a mile long and nearly 300 ft high.

BRISBANE, November 19. An alarming outbreak of scarlet fever has occurred at Mount Morgan. The hospital is taxed to the uttermost', and the authorities are erecting temporary wards.

HOBART, November 21

The Rimutaka., which lias arrived from London, encountered icebergs six days’ sail from Hobart.