GENERAL CABLE NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 2746, 18 February 1896, Page 2

GENERAL CABLE NEWS.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.— I Copyright. THE POLITICAL CRISIS IN PRANCE. - . < Pa««s > February 16. ' The Senate has passed a' resolution regretting the conduct of M. Bicard, Minister of Justice, in the railway scandal trials. The Premier (M. Bourgeois) deprecated any discussion in regard to the Judicature. Rscciued Februanj IS, 1 a.m. Paris, February It. President Faure will arbitrate in the difficulty between tho Senate and tho Cabinet. The latter, having tho confidence of the Chamber of Deputies, will not resign. FRENCH ROYALIST CONSPIRACY. Paris, February 17. A French Royalist conspiracy is reported to have been discovered in Brussels. AFFAIRS IN BULGARIA. ■ Sofia, February 15. Prince Boris, who has just been rechristened in the Greek Church, was recently made a monk in anticipation of the Greek ceremony of anointing. Received February IS, 1 a.vx. Sofia, February I<. Princess Marie, wife of Prince Ferdinand, implores the prayers of the Pope in the present position of affairs. THE VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT IN ENGLAND. London, February 17.

In the House of Commons tho Marquis of Lansdowue, Secretary of State for the War Department, said tho Government had done everything in their power to promote the Volunteer movement, and they were inundated with requests to accept the services of now corps. SERIOUS RAILWAY ACCIDENT IN BELGIUM. Brussels, February 15. Two trains recently collided in a fog, and 28 persons were injured. THE CZAR’S CORONATION. Teheran, February 15. The Shah will attend the coronation of the Czar in Moscow. THE MOKAU ESTATE. London, February 15, Mr Flower has accepted a mortgage over the Mokau estate, and the litigation is ended. THE WAR IN CUBA. Havannah, February 15. The Cubau insurgents have eluded tho Spanish generals and joined forces. THE AMERICAN NAVY. Washington, February 15. Three more ironclads will probably be built by tho American Government. A CONGESTED TELEGRAPH SERVICE. Perth, February 17. For weeks past the telegraphic service has been badly disorganised, and the congestion is becoming more severe every day. Business on tne Mining Exchanges ia almost at a standstill, owing to the inability to obtain advices from the goldfields. Piles of general telegrams are blocked days behind.

The action of the Minister in limiting press messages to 500 words per day has roused a storm of hostility, and the press teems with charges against the Minister and the head of the department of pursuing a cheese - paring policy, and making no real attempt to grapple with the situation. Both the Minister and the head of the department are described as the slaves of the old order of things, who cannot grasp the nocessity'for the development rendered essential by the progress of the colony. The reorganisation of the department, the erection of new buildings, the laying of new and the duplication of old lines, and the payment of salaries which will enable competent operators to bo employed, are warmly demanded. Business and mining men strongly complain of the delays and losses in business. Traffic on railways is also terribly congested, owing to the shortage in rollingstock, and merchants ate declining' largo quantities of country orders as they cannot obtain carriage facilities. Business jicople are furious against the departmental heads.

Ministers state they are doing their best, hat they cannot possibly beep pace with the rapid’development of business. The Minister fot Telegraphs suggests the closing of the linos until the congested business is clear.

THE STANBURY-HARDING MATCH. , Sydney, February 17. Some misapprehension has arisen over the Stanbnry-Hardiug sculling match, through Sullivan acting independently of his instructions from Stanbury, and making the first and second deposits. Stanbury says lie is in honour bound to stick by his local backers, and an argument is now. proceeding, between Sullivan and the local men as to where the responsibility lies. , , THE OUTLOOK FOR SIR HENRY PARKES. Sydney, February 17. An advertisement in the daily papers announces the sale of Sir Henry Parkes* valuable library of 5000 volumes, as well as the whole of his personal effects, including many rare articles of historical value. In a letter to the auctioneers Sir Henry Parkes says—“ The things must be sold, as I have no other means to satisfy the claims against myself and provide the necessaries of life for those dependent upon mo.” THE NEW SOUTH WALES UNEMPLOYED. , Sydney, February 17. The 'Unemployed Conference, which is still in session, has shown unwearied exertion during the week in with numberless resolutions for tho solution of the unemployed difficulty, with a special leaning towards Government assistance in settling on tho land. It has also been decided to form an organisation, which it is carefully stipulated shall be distinct from all political parties, for enforcing the platform. Public mootings will be held and other methods adopted to raise funds for the support of the scheme. One delegate (Mr MoGarry) moved that the Government should establish a model village of working men’s homes within 30 miles of Sydney, run trains from the city to suit the residents, and build markets ami other public buildings. Another delegate (Mr Griffin) opposed the Government potting the villager, rubbing him down, and saying what he should eat and wear. The president thought the scheme would lead to pauperism. Hr McGarry, in replying, feared that the Conference was becoming Conservative. If Government would not accept his scheme, he would stump the country on foot to support it. ANOTHER FERRY ACCIDENT. ■ .Bbisbane, February 17. A ferry-boat at Maryborough, with 10 people on board, was crossing the river, when she'was swept against the poles of the bridge and capsized. AH were rescued with the exception of a man named Oliver. “NEW AUSTRALIA” IN A BAD WAY. Adelaide, February 17. The letters recently received from New Australia show that 'things are rapidly drifting from bad to worse. They say that Hr Gilbert Casey is back whipping up_tho scattered flock, but the members are riven by conflicting opinions. Some of the most cheerful have left in sadness, and not a ray of light is to be seen ahead. Only tho bushman’s dread of being laughed at by the city scoffer restrains those who could raise tho money from returning. The community is getting surely doiyn to a plane no higher than that of the poor native vyhotn less than throe years ago all so heartily despised. One of the pioneers of the settlement and strongest supporters of the communal system writes that ho has come to the conelusion that communism with men and women as at present constituted will not do. He adds that the future is “as dark as tho inside of an infidel.”

SCANDALOUS EVIDENCE AGAINST; JUSTICES, Melbourne, February 17. After sitting throughout the week, the former inquiry Board has adjourned till tip end ot March. Further evidence of a most scandalous character has been given. A Chinese witness swore that tho gambling league to which ho belonged voted Jj3o to two of its number, and author rised them to see Mr Rappiport, J.P. The police deposed that they saw the Magistrate driving about with the Chinese. Both Messrs Rappiport and Baxter denied the charges. They explained that they had business relations with the Chinese. As to th® charge against Mr Bird. J.P„ of communicating with the defendants in a case on which he had adjudicated, Me Bird explained that he refrained from sitting when he found he knew the defendant. One witness stated that she preferred a charge of stealing against Fleming, a woman of evil reputation, who said she (complainant) need not think she would win it, as Fleming had the Justices on her side. Fleming told one Gill that Bird was her fancy man, and could pull her through anything.

Eostb, February 16. The Italian authorities hare rejected King Menelek’a conditions for peace, which involved the evacuation of Abyssinia. LONDON, February 16. In connection with the suggested formation of a Chartered Company to take over

the Northern Territory, Mr Chamberlain, Secretary of State, states that it is not intended to advise the revoking or amending of the agreement assigning the territory to South Australia. Paths, February 16. Arton, who was lately arrested in London on a charge of fraud in connection with the Panama Canal scandals, was mobbo I bn landing at Calais. Received February 18, 1 a.m. New York, February 17. Chili and the Argentine Republic have settled the boundary dispute.