GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1687, 29 June 1904, Page 21

GENERAL NEWS.

LONDON, June 21.

The by-election for Devon port resulted in the return of Mr William Bonn (Liberal), who polled 6219 votes against 5178 cast for Mr John Jackson (Conservative). The authorities having decided to arrest Robert Sievier. the ex-Australian bookmaker, on a-charge of perjury in connection with his bankruptcy, a warrant was sent to his residence. Sievier, however, surrendered at Scotland Yard. He inquired whether Sir James Duke was paying the costs of' the prosecution.

When charged with perjury in connection with a private examination at the time of his bankruptcy in 1898, Sievier declared he had a perfect answer. He was allowed bail in two sureties of £'3ooo each. Gross instances of official Russian corruption continue to come to light. Artillery of the latest pattern lias been melted and sold. The Red Cross Society’s boxes of supplies were also found, to have been filled with bricks and stones.

“The Times” says the war is seriously crippling Russian trade. Hundreds of thousands less tons of traffic were carried on the railways during May compared with the same month last year. There are 60,000 railway hands and 350,000 factory hands idle, and the unemployed are increasing at the rate of 3000 daily. Mr Brodrick, Secretary of State fop Lidia, in the House of Commons, announced that an advance on Lhassa (the Thibetan capital) would take place next Saturday, unless a negotiator was sent to the British camp with an amban. He added that throughout Britain had informed Russia of the Government’s intentions and policy. LONDON, June 23.

The House of Commons, in discussing the Finance Bill in committee, divided on the question -°>£ the new tobacco duties, announced by Mr Austen Chamberlain, Chancellor of the Exchequer, in his Budget speech a few weeks ago. The Government had a majority of 32 votes.

The “Standard’s” Odessa correspondent, writing on the strength of trustworthy advices, reports that news from Tifiis states that the Armenian revolt was wholly engineered in the Caucasus. The South African team of cricketers at present visiting England, played a match against Middlesex to-day. The Englishmen won by 20 runs, scoring 272 in their first innings and 245 in their second against 287 and 210, respectively, scored by the visitors. King Edward has sent his best wishes for the success of the Royal Patriotic Fund, which appeals for additional assistance for the families of those who were killed in the South African war. The sum of £-250,000 is needed to give necessary permanent help. The National Mortgage Company of New Zealand lias declared an interim dividend of per cent. :

LONDON, June 24. [English newspapers emphasise that King Edward's visit to the Kaiser is one of courtesy and friendship only, does not conceal any deeper feeling. » _ . The following are additional birthday honours Privy Councillor—Mr Charles Booth, FR.B; (philanthropist). Knights.— Professor James* Dewar (Professorial Fellow of St. Peter’s College and Jacksonian Professor of Experimental Philosophy, Cambridge University): Dr Edward Elgar (musician). LONDON,, June 24.

The Irish Bishops met at Maynooth, ' Cardinal Logue presiding, and decided upon a determined opposition to any proposals for weakening clerical control in the national schools, or for the co- ; ordination of primary and secondary education under the Government. LONDON, June 25. Mr Perdicaris, an American millionaire, and ‘Mr Varley, his English stepson, who some weeks ago were captured hy bandits in Morocco, led by Raisuli, and for whoso release a heavy ransom was demanded, have arrived safely at Tangier. ' [it was announced on Friday that the United States 'Government had demanded from the Sultan of Morrocco “Mr Perdicaris alive or Raisuli dead.”]

. ■ LONDON, June 26. General Booth presided at the Albert rll at an inaugural reception tendered the Salvationist Congress comprising gu thousand delegates from all parts of tfee wprld, including fifty Australians and four hundred Americans. The General stated that King Edward, at the recent audience, permitted .him to gay that His Majesty watched the Salvationist movement with great interest, ami regarded its success as of importance to the Empire. . , , , ■ , . It is reported at Simla that the second principal Lama has been instructed to leave Lhassa, the capital of Thibet, to meet Colonel Younghusband, who is in charge of the British mission in Thibet. Private advices state that the troops at - Gyangtse feel the strain severely, and that Colonel MacDonald’s reinforcements will be a great relief. •The Thibetans’ front extends for seven miles. The British, with cofiimon shell,' effected a breach in a wall of the enemy’s fort. ST. PETERSBURG, June 22. When the frauds in connection with the melting and sale of Russian artillery were discovered, the head of the department concerned in the disclosures-com-mitted suicide. • MADRID, June 24. A train at Teruel was derailed, and then caught fire. Fifty passengers' were killed. . BOMBAY, June 23. Colonel Younghusband begins his advance on Lhassa (the capital of Thibet) on Saturday, with 1900 troops, with six modern and foun old guns. Flight hundred troops will protect his communications, and 1700 will be held in reserve in .India. NEW YORK, June 23. ■ A wild scene of enthusiasm was witnessed at the Republican National Convention, sitting in Chicago, when the text of a message from Colonel Hay, Secretary of State, to the Sultan of Morocco, was read. The message, which has been forwarded to the Sultan through the AmeJrican Consul at Constantinople, demands Mr Perdicaris (the American millionaire captive) alive or Raisuli (the brigand) dead. The Republican National Convention has opened at Chicago. The Hon Eliha Root, the United States Secretary < f War, is acting as temporary chairman. He eulogised President Roosevelt’s policy, and claimed that no private industry had been suppressed, but corporations encroaching on the rights of the public had been curbed. NEW YORK, June 24. Nino hundred bodies have been recovered from the steamer General Slocum, which caught fire while carrying excursionists. The bodies of a hundred victims are still missing. * , A gunpowder explosion in the vicinity of the wreck of the General Slocum (which caught fire while carrying excursionists) brought many bodies to the uiTrf fippi CAPETOWN, June 22. Sir Gordon Sprigg, having alienated his former supporters, withdrew his candidature for election to the Cape Assembly at the last moment. The announcement caused a sensation. CAPETOWN, June 23. Sir Edouard Girouard, ex-Oommis-sioner of Railways in the Transvaal and Orange River colonies, has been granted six months’ leave of absence by Lord Milner. MELBOURNE, June 23. British residents at Gilbert and Ellice Islands -in an interview with Mr Hughes, Attorney-General, stated that the Pacific Trading Company had sold its interests to a German Company, with the result that British traders are at a grave disadvantage. They urged the necessity for improved trade communication with the Commonwealth. The House of Representatives has not finished the discussion on the amendment to the Arbitration Bill in favour; of eliminating the clause giving preference ;to/unionists.

Opponents of the clause, argue that there is a tendency on the part of the

unionists, when once they obtain power, to make the unions a close organisation, and New Zealand was quoted as an example. MELBOURNE, June 25.

At the Butter Commission inquiry, an ex-Government expert gave evidence that up to 1892, when the Government brand'disappeared, large quantities of New Zealand butter 'were imported into Victoria, “and an infernally had lot it was.” The witness added that lie never passed any, although some may have gone to England. He believed that margarine was at times introduced as milled butter, and sent Home in order to earn a bonus. Mr Reid, speaking on Mr Johnson s amendment to the Arbitration Bill, said he considered some of the provisions of the Bill were unrivalled violations of the rights of citizens. Compulsory arbitration was only an interesting experiment with an excellent object in view. Preference to* unionists was carrying the Bill too far, and was a hideously impracticable attempt to thrust the non-unionist in the gutter. It was, he added, intolerance ot the worst kind, and would induce an industrial warfare amongst the workers. The injustice was hideous in its inequality, and- he appealed not for favour, but for justice to non-unionists. After the division, Mr Reid declared that the Premier, Mr Watson, had taken .the only proper course in adjourning the House to enable Cabinet to consider the position. Mr Hughes, Federal Minister for External Affairs, states that the Government had received no official information regarding Sir Horace Tozer’s cabled statement with reference to Italian immigrants. He added that he knew no reason why the policy of the Government, which was identical with that of the last Government, should render immigration impossible. The Federal Public Service Commissioners’ classification scheme has been laid on the table in the House of Representatives. It deals with about 14,000 officers, and provides for additions and salaries aggregating £II,OOO. SYDNEY, June 23.

Mr W. A. Barton, son of Sir Edmund Barton, has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. SYDNEY, June 25.

• For failing to fulfil a promise to admit members to its first meeting as ordered bv the Arbitration Court on Monday (though members were admitted the following day), the Wharf Labourers’ Union has been ordered to pay the costs of the application recently before the Court. The Government has decided to construct some, if not all, of the sixty locomotives required for the railways, at the Eveleigh shops. Great regret is expressed at the death of Mr Copeland, Agent-General for New South Wales. State Ministers and leaders in the Federal House of. Representatives paid eulogistic tributes to the deceased gentleman. The Earl of Jersey (who was acting Agent-General during the late Mr Copeland’s visit to Australia some twelve months ago) will acttemporarily as Agent-General. Mr R. B. Wise (late Attorney-General) has decided not to. contest the coming election.

ADELAIDE, June 23

The Premier has announced that the Government intends to resist the first application of the Federal Arbitration Bill to State servants. BRISBANE, June 23. The wanCof-confidence motion moved in tho Assembly last week was defeated bv only one vote, the,figures being 36 to 35. As soon as tho division was taksn, the Premier, Mr Morgan, adjourned the House till Tuesday, when he will announce the Government’s, intentions. BRISBANE, June 24.

Following on the close division on the no-confidence motion (wherein the Government had a majority of only one vote) it is rumoured that the Premier TMr Morgan) intends to ask for a dissolution.