SUMMARY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6492, 11 April 1908, Page 1

SUMMARY.

King Edward returns to London from Biarritz earlier than ho was expected.

Tho "Times" declares that the ceremony of Mr Asouith kissing his Majesty’s hand at Biarritz was a wide departure from a hitherto unbroken precedent. Proposed changes in the* Ministry were submitted to King Edward br Mr Asr/iiith, but nothing will be announced till after his return to London.

It is considered more probable that Mr Churchill will bo made President of the Board of Trade than Secretary of State for the Colonies. Tn tho event of his defeat for Manchester a Welsh member has offered to retire.

Tho "Daily Nows" says Mr Morley will go to tho House of Lords, retaining his portfolio of Secretary for India. Lord Curzon says Mr Balfour’s fiscal olatform is one on which all sections of the Unionist party are certain to reunite. Ho docs not envy the common-sense or political foresight of the man who says no change is likely to occur.

Lord Tweedraouth has again emphasised the necessity of maintaining command of the seas.

Britain's ideal, ho said, should bo to make tho army and navy work together. Dr Robb, of Belfast, reports that a new euro for cerebro-spinal meningitis has reduced tho death-rate from 30 to 75 per cent.

Tho London County Council's two and three-quarter million Joan has been subscribed over tenfold.

The British Government is establishing a national bureau in Loudon to deal with sleeping sickness, owing to failure to start an international one.

Groat Britain and Germany agree to join in combating tlio sickness in Uganda nnd German East Africa.

Tho British Secretary of State for War appeals to employers to give their men facilities to join the territorial forces,

The tonnage of ships building in the 1 United Kingdom is 459,000 tons below that of tho corresponding period last yuai. , Tho decrease is the largest since 1894., President Roosevelt has sent a special! message to Congress in which he do-, ■lares that every other question sinks into insignificance compared, ’svitu the suppression of anarchism. Ho quotes tho Attorney-General’s opinion that tho circulation of Pe llo^ l ® o^ B vacating murder, arson or treason 13 doubtedly a Crime at common law. The Postmaster will now bo instructed to exclude such publications from the A Bill to make it a felony to sam' 3 '® on horsc-raoing hi New Aork Plate defeated in the Senate. Tho Portuguese Cabinet has ordered n. searching, inquiry into tho late election 11 T t i. alleged that tho Municipal Guard at Lisbon Iml a volley into an unarmed crowd, killing a number. In revenge for tho troops having fired on the crowd, two soldiers have been allot dead in the streets. The assassin' escaped. A French chemist claims to have invented a gun firing 1200 shots a minute. Canada’s intermediate tariff will bo applied to French goods shipped direct; from France or through British ports. In other cases the maximum tariff will ha imposed. 1 Serious losses to London firms are being ■laused by the delay of telegrams Jirough the disaffection among Indian operators. Business iu some lines is at a standitill. There were 20,504 Chinese on tho Band %i the end of March. Tho railway from Bloemfontein to Kimberley has been opened.

Tho Federal Government vfis defeated on Thursday night on ft motion to adjourn a debate over tlio appointment o» a Royal Commission. Mr Donkin thereupon adjourned the Flouso until Wednesday, m order that the position might be considered. It is considered probable that mattcis will be smoothed.

The Industrial Disputes Bill passed_its third reading in the New South Wales Legislative Council yesterday. It is rumoured in Melbourne that Mr Denkiu intends to retire from the Federal Premiership, and that Mr .jyne will attempt to form a coalition with tho .Labour party.

Tho New Zealand bowlers yesterday defeated South Melbourne by 162 ro 139.

They leave Melbourne for Adelaide today. The captain of the wrecked steamer Bega says that tho castaways on the raft were wet to above their waists all the time.

Tho raft was bo crowded ihat some had to sit on the body of the dead passenger. Tho ordinary shares in W. and A. McArthur. Ltd., tho company which wont into liquidation in December last, have been subscribed.

Tho success of the reconstituted warehouse is said to be assured.

Arrangements have been made for demonstrations of bread-making with Australian flour at the Bakers and Confectioners’ Exhibition in England.

Another of tho victims of the Invercargill tragedy is dead, Mrs Baxter dying yesterday morning.

There is little hope of the recovery of tho eleven-year-old girl Phyllis, who still Hen unconscious.

The condition of the other mrvivor, tho baby, is lx?coming worse.

An important development of strike matters at Blackball is expected to-day. It is understood that the resignation of tho executive will bo received at a special meeting of tho union, and that if Mr Tregear’s oiler is repeated it will ho accepted. It is reported that the Thames Miners’ Union will grant assistance to tha strikers.

The Auckland Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union will submit a motion to the coming conference that tho time has arrived for the union to form a separate political party and run its own candidates

Tho inquiry into the Auckland harbour collision was resumed yesterday. Tho captain of the, v, airuaa said ho had signalled his diversion of the vessel's course, and had also reduced speed »n hearing the scow. His vessel had lost headway two or three minutes before tho collision.

X meeting of Hastings nteidouta decided to urge Government to establish a State coal depot in that town. The coupon or cash system of trading by bakers also meets with strong public disapproval at Hastings.