GENERAL CABLES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1715, 11 January 1905, Page 20

GENERAL CABLES.

LONDON, January 3. A Norwegian barque, which was loaded with naphtha, blew up, killing eleven of the crew. Seven of the survivors landed at the Bermudas. LONDON, January 4. The Treasury has offered Adolf Beck £SOOO compensation for false imprisonment. Lord Mountstephen, the well-known, Canadian, has given a New Year’s gift of two hundred thousand pounds’ worth of Argentine bonds, yielding eleven thousand pounds a year, to the Prince of Wales, for the King’s Hospital Fund. King Edward has expressed his gratitude to Lord Mountstephen for this, his second magnificent donation. LONDON, January 4. The Mansion House Unemployed Relief Fund now amounts to £39,000. LONDON, January 5. Napoleon’s birthplace at Ajaccio, Corsica, was broken into by burglars, and many relics, historical souvenirs, and jewels were stolen. There is no clue to the perpetrators. The battleship Hero was discovered to be in a sinking condition at Portsmouth through the breaking of a valve. Seven hours’ pumping was necessary to save the vessel. The reorganisation of the British fleets will he completed by the formation of nucleus crews in reserve, to he placed in divisions at Portsmouth, Devonport and Chatham, thus providing material for manning 116 warships in a few hours. LONDON, January 5. The famous brigand leader Raisuli (whose tribe some months ago kidnapped Mr Perdicaris, an American millionaire, the latter eventually reaching Tangier safely) has annihilated a detachment of the Sheerefian forces near Ujda (Morocco). With reference to the offer of Britain and Italy to assign the Mullah a settled sphere with grazing rights in English and Italian territories in Somaliland, if he will keep the peace, it is now stated that the Mullah has accepted the Italian offer, and agreed to the terms. The fire on the Buteshire, now at Capetown, has broken out again, badly damaging the cargo in No. 3 bold. Vice-Admiral Bosanquet lias refused to allow the Dominion cruiser Canada to join the North American Squadron in. the Elast Indies for training purHe declares that the squadron is in a transitory stage. The decision has greatly disapoointed Canadians. Vice - Admiral Bosanquet, however, hopes to accede to the request in 1906. LONDON, January 6. The naval base of the East India squadron in future are to be Bombay and Colombo, Trincomalee being abandoned.

The “Standard” states that it is rumoured there will be an early issue of a loan for ten millions by the Transvaal Government, and a loan of two millions by New South Wales. BRUSSELS, January 5. The sea destroyed the stone jetty at Zubruggi, intended as a seaport for Bruges. The damage is estimated at a million francs. The opening of the jetty has been delayed till 1907. BELGRADE, January 4. Captain Nicolus has been court-mar-tialled at Belgrade for using foul language against King Peter Karageorgevitch. The officer was sentenced to degradation and two years’ imprisonment. . ST. PETERSBURG, January 4. It is stated in financial circles in New York that Russia intends to spend forty millions sterling abroad during the next three years in the construction of ships for the navy. NEW YORK, January 4. The tug Defender, bound from Cincinnati to Pittsburg, blew up. Sixteen people were either killed or are missing. WASHINGTON, January 6. The report on the American merchant marine submitted to the House of Representatives provides for annual subventions of £1 per gross ton as mail subsidies, a tonnage tax on foreign vessels, and also the establishment of a naval volunteer service. Ten new steamship lines are contemplated. On the new lines mails are to be carried free, provided one-sixth of the crews are. provided. NOUMEA, January 3.

The French ship Haundaudine,- laden with 3000 tons of nickel ore for Glasgow, after being towed out of Kone, drifted during the night on a reef between Cape Goalrain and Contrariete Island. Tile captain and five of* the crew were taken to Muco, and the mate and the remainder of the crew have arrived at Bonrail. The ship is considered to be a total loss.