GENERAL CABLE NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVII, Issue 2691, 14 December 1895, Page 2

GENERAL CABLE NEWS.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. — Copyright. Received December 13, 7.30 p.m. , THE P. AND O. COMPANY. London, December 13. At • tho annual meeting of the P. and O. Company, Sir Thos. ; Sutherland, chairman, said the Company would probably expend a large sum of money during tho forthcoming year if thb mail contracts with Australia were renewed. He hoped the Imperial Government would remember that both France and Germany were attempting to oust the British companies in the carrying trade to tho colonies. Bir Thomas Sutherland pointed out that throughout the contract with tho P. and O. Company the mails had been delivered at Adelaide at an average of S 3 hours ahead of contract time. He also said that it was impossible. for short-period contracts to bo as efficient as those extending over long terms. Received December 13, G. 50 p.m. PUBLIC RECOGNITION OF BRAVERY. Sydney, December 13. _ In recognition of the gallantry displayed in rescuing the crew of the French barque Terre Neuvo off tho island of St Paul, when that vessel was iu a sinking condition, the Shipwreck Belief Society has presented the captain and chief officers ;of tho rescuing vessel, the, Aristides, each with a gold medal, aud also those comprising the rescuing boat’s crew (five iu number) with a silver medal and £5 each. Previously the French ConsulGeneral bad visited the Aristides, and had officially thanked tho rescuers on behalf of the French Government, and eulogised the bravery of all concerned. Received December 13, 10.15 THE BARKER-PLACKE FIGHT. ►Sydney, December 13. Barker has boon acquitted on tho charge of committing grievous bodily-harm on Placko. 1 The jury added a rider that the Government should take Ktops to put a stop to boxing contests. THE ITALIAN REVERSE IN ABYBSINTA. Rome, December 12. Tho details of the action at Ambazali show that the Italian troops maintained a heroic defence till tho numbers of the Shoas overwhelmed them. There wore only 700 rifles and a battery of artillery, and they fought the 22,000 Bhoaa for seven hours. Charges of canister fired at 50 yards ploughed lanes of dead through'the densebodies of tho assailants. -

When it became apparent that all was over, tho guns wore thrown into tho ravine ’to prevent them being captured. The total loss, including tho camp fol- , lowers massacred in the, rout, was 2000,, Received December 14> la.m. Rowe, December 13. The Government is voting seven million lire in support of General Baratieri Jn Abyssinia. : the French, embassy‘at .the VATICAN., Pams, December 13. The Chamber of Deputies by a majority of 105 rejected a Socialist proposal for the abolition of the Embassy at the Vatican. M. Bortholot declared that the Concordat prevented such a stop. ' , London, December 12,!, Native messengers who have reached tho Gold Coast describe the town of Kumassi as undermined with trains laid ready.to blow it Up whoa tho English troops appear. Ottawa, December 12. Mr N. C. Wallace, the Canadian. Controller of Customs, has resigned. Ho objects to the Roman Catholics being allowod to maintain separate schools. Tho Times, thinks, his secession wilirender the Government's course of action difficult. Sydney, December 13. H.M.S. Tfisard has arrived from Wellington.