CABLE NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1682, 25 May 1904, Page 31

CABLE NEWS.

LONDON, May 20. News has been received that the notorious bandit Ilaisuli captured at Tangier? an American millionaire named Perdicaris and Mr Yarley, liis British son-in-law. Raisuli demands a heavy ransom for his captives, and also the release of several imprisoned bandits. Britain and America insist that the Sultan shall accept llaisuli’s terms. A warship has been ordered to> Tangier.

French advices assert that persistent reports are current in St. Petersburg of an approaching alliance between Germany, Russia and Austria. An arrangement with Austria regarding the Balkans is completed. Germany’s support is desired when a settlement of the war in the Far East occurs.

The “Echo de Paris’" states that Russia has decided to make all the Pacific ports free, for the purpose of meeting Britain’s and America's objections to her occupation of Manchuria.

At the instance of Yuan Slii-kai, the Chinese Commander-in-Chief, Fsinanen, Weihasien and Chantsun will be opened to foreign trade. With reference to the quotation by a correspondent of the “Daily Chronicle” of a letter by Professor Rentpul, of Melbourne, on the treatment of blacks ill West Australia, newspapers and correspondents remark that the replies of the chief protector of the aborigines in West Australia is more diplomatic than the genuine letter from Professor Rentoul received in London, and now in the possession of Mr Lefroy, Agent-General for West Australia. It indicates that Professor Rentoul gathered his information about the aborigines in West Australia from Mr Malcolmson, who started the agitation. General Ma, one or the two Chinese representatives in Thibet, who is notoriously ill-disposed towards the British, has fled to Painam. The British made a sortie from Gyangtse, and stormed a house whence sixty Thibetans had sniped the British camp. The Right Hon. Mr Lyttelton, in reply to the protest against double income tax on colonial companies’ profits, has asked the Agents-General to suggest a scheme of assessment satisfactory to the colonies. LONDON, May 23. Colonel Brander, with four companies of pioneers and two guns, cleared the village of Chunglo, two miles from Gyangtse. The village was desperately defended, and the British were exposed to a flanking fire from another village. Twenty Thibetans and two Sikhs were killed. Lieutenant Hodgson and three men were wounded. Operations at another village were suspended, inasmuch as the Thibetans were seen massed under a fort preparing to rush the camp. Colonel Brander thereupon hastened hack to the camp. A sharp engagement took place at Chunglo, two miles from Gyangtse. Fifteen Thibetans were killed in attempting to ambush a small party of mounted troops. Unlike several other European countries, Britain and France refrain from signing Russia’s- proposed convention to repatriate Anarchists or report internationally on the behaviour of suspects. _ _ . Professor Ernest Rutherford, Professor of Physics at the McGill University, Montreal, lias propounded a theory that the earth’s internal heat emanates from radium. PARIS. May 22. M. F. A. A. Nisard, the French Ambassador to the Vatican, lias been recalled, and lias left Rome. PARIS, May 23. The recent typhoon in French IndoChina killed five thousand people. The loss of property is estimated at several million francs. ST. PETERSBURG, May 23. During the past five weeks 736 political arrests have been made at Odessa and Kherson, including ninety-one I niversity students. Five secret printing presses were discovered at Odessa, three at Nicolaieff. and two at Eiisabetgrad. Despite this, the whole of Southern Russia continues to be flooded with seditious literature. ROME, May 23. The King of Italy visits Potsdam in August. Italy has assented to the Egyptian portion of the Anglo-French agreement. NEW YORK, May 20. Owing to the shrinkage of business, the Pennsylvania Railroad Company lias suspended eleven thousand men on the section eastward from Pittsburg, and is proportionately decreasing the staff on the western section. MELBOURNE, May 21. It is announced that Sir George Turner will not join any coalition Ministry. He has been in indifferent health for some time, and has no desire for offiC6, - MELBOURNE, May 23. The Federal Premier (Mr Watson) states that the Government has no mtention of granting the request of the Federal Chambers of Commerce to extend the time for the abolition of Kanaka labour in Queensland. The disappearance of Mr A. H. Bellerby formerly of Gisborne—who left Queensland for Melbourne on the 3rd inst., with the intention of purchasing stock, and has not since been heard of—is still wrapped in mystery. The population of Victoria at the end of last year was 1,203,854, a decrease of 2956 as compared with the previous yeal * SYDNEY, May 22. A match has been arranged between George Towns and Dick Tressider for the sculling championship of the world and £SOO a side, to take place on the Parramatta river on July 30th. SYDNEY, May 23. At the Homebusli sales sheep were easier. Crossbreds were scarce. Best wethers 19s, extra 235; ewes 19s, Cattle were unchanged. Best bullocks £lO, extra, £l2, good £8 10s; best cows £7 to £8 ss, good £6 ss; beef 23s 6d per 1001 b. A convention of municipal represen-

tatives from all parts of the State, convened by the Acting-Premier to discuss a scheme of local government, is proceeding. BRISBANE, May 23. Another case of plague is reported.