GENERAL CABLES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1717, 25 January 1905, Page 32

GENERAL CABLES.

LONDON, January 20. Two steeplejacks were at the summit of a 60ft chimney at Blantyre, Lanarkshire, when one of them, named Meseerman, a man weighing 14st, was over-

come by the f ames. Allan, his com- ! panion, held him suspended for ninety minutes until help arrived. The report of Robert Campbell and Sons shows a loss for the year of £1683, after miying interest on debentures. The directors, in view of the improving prospects in Australia, propose to transfer £SOOO from reserve, pay a dividend of 21 per cent-, and carry forward £1572. “The Times” is publishing an unfinished novel by the late Lord Beaconsfield, wherein the late Mr Gladstone is the lead:no- character. LONDON, January 21. The Paris press is silent regarding the North Sea inquiry. This is considered a remarhahle proof of the changed sentiment in France towards England. LONDON, January 22. A further adjournment has been made of the hearing of the case against Frank Gardner, well known in mining circles. The plaintiff, who was formerly Miss Carrie Swain (an American actress who visited New Zealand in 1887), claims to

have gone through the form of marriage with Gardner at San Francisco, and was acknowledged as his wife until 1901. t She now claims to have the validity of j the marriage established, or, if it is in- ! valid, she demands £40,000 compensa- j tion. I LONDON, January 22. j Britain, France, and Germany have cordially assented to the Note of Colonel John Hay, American Secretary of State, calling upon the belligerents to respect China’s neutrality. The Johannesburg correspondent of j ••'The Times” says there is a growing 1 sentiment in the colony in favour of representative as distinguished from responsible government. A large meeting in Johannesburg recommended equal power and equal privileges to each voter.

LONDON, January 22. By an explosion of coal gas in the Elba. Colliery, Gower ton, Gian.organshire, seven persons were killed and twelve injured. BERLIN, January 21. Replying in the Reichstag to an interpellation by a Socialist member, in reference to* the striicc at Ruhr, Count von Billow, the Imperial Chancellor and Premier, declared that German trades unions, unlike .British, did not deal with economic reeds, but were tools in the hands of party politicians. Herr No. Her regretted that the’ employers had refused to discuss the situation with the men. The Government is taking neutral ground and trying to mediate. ‘BERLIN, January 21. It is stated at Berlin, regarding ihe claim of Messrs Burns, Philp and Co., of Australia, for £IO,OOO compensation for restrictions on trade at German islands in the. Pacific, that it. is doubtful if the* agreement of 188 U applies. That agreement stipulated for equality of

German and British vessels tradmg m the Pacific, which. Germany maintains has been observedPARIS, January 21. President Loubet has summoned M. Rouvier to form a MinistryWASHINGT'ON, January 20. President Roosevelt, in a special message to Congress, urges the appointment. of six commercial agents to visit various countries to study their various industries, and to suggest new methods of .stimulating American trade. MELBOURNE, January 21. A renort has been prepared in connection with the adjustment of the affairs of the Australian Deposit and Mortgage Bank. Properties standing in the bank’s books at over a million were valued at £329,000. In order to provide for the loss the directors will

recommend the shareholders to adopt the plan of writing down the capital, which at June 30th last stooci at £928,000. by £729,000, partly by the cancellation of certain ordinary shares and partly by writing down the remainder. The entire assets are approximately valued at £600,001), and the liabilities to depositors amount to £400,000. llie balance of the £200,000 will be left as capital. MELBOURNE, January 21. Sir George Turner, Federal Treasurer, has Issued a statement showing that the* revenue of the Com in on wealth for the first half of the fiscal year amounted to £5,805,000, a decrease of £30,000 on the last corresponding half. The expenditure was £2,096,000, a decrease of £91,000. The surplus to be returned to the States is £3,780,000, an increase of £41,000. MELBOURNE, January 21. The list of subjects for consideration at the Premiers’ Conference, which is

to be held at Hobart next month, is very lengthy. It includes the appointment of a High Commissioner and State | and commercial representatives m Loni don, the taxing over o-r Suite debts, the j Murray waters question, and old-age ' pensions. SYDNEY, January 21. The City Bank declared a dividend for the half-year of 21 per cent., added £IOOO to the reserve, and carried £I3OO forward. The cha rman, referring to tho reduction of dividend, said although general business was satisfactory and well maintained, the affairs of the State —both nolitical and commercial —were unsettled, givng little opportunity for enterprise or extension of business. A sensation was caused in the city by the receipt of a telegram

from the Governors Secretary asking that two detectives b© sent to Moss Vale, where Sir Harry Rawson is staying, to meet the Melbourne express. Many rumours were current that a big force of police had met the train at Redfern. It transpired that several thousand Treasury bills had been lorwarded for Sir Harry Rawson’s signature, and the detectives were wanted tc accompany the messenger bring.ng them back to town. Owing to the need for retrenchment, the result of slackness in business, numbers of railway employees are being discharged, and others placed on short time. SYDNEY, January 22. The cycling international half-mile race resulted as follows:—Ellegard 1, Lawson 2, Rutt 3. A splendid race. Won by a few inches. Time, Imin 39 l-ssec. SYDNEY, January 23. Another ease of plague is reported from Ulmarra, 3-10 miles north of Sydney.