SUMMARY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6493, 13 April 1908, Page 1

SUMMARY.

Mr Asquith rt>«'iv<d ovations on his arrival at Dover aiui London.

Tho "Spectator” warns him against pursuing Hu? old age pensions scheme nnd says that tho next Government will dffitroy free trade to discharge its financial obligations. Tho condition of Sir H. C. Bannerman Is unimproved.

He? suffers comparatively little, but is very weak.

Ton minors wore suffocated by rx-pli-sion in tho Norton Hill colli«ry, Somerset, despite heroic attempts at rescue. Twenty oihord managed to effect their escape.

Many rescuers w;ro overcome and rendered insensible by tho fumft*, and ■Dim died after being carried out of the mine unconscious.

Lord Curxon, in speaking at Ba-sing-utoko on tho question of tariff reform, declared that it was to- Britain.’* totcre&i that tho interests of India should not bo sacrificed in any coming change. Ho failed to woo why they should not have a tariff—after consultation with tho colonial Governments—for strengthening tho tics of tho Imperial connection. Tho policy, ho said, should bo one of reconciliation, not of reprisals.

Tho South Australian Premier, in an sdciross to tho Australasian Chamber of Commerce in London, referred to tho awakening in.the Bast. Somebody must bo ready to fight, ho declared,, if. Australia was to bo retained in tho Empire. ■* c Mios** Robinson has boon sentenced to four years' imprisonment for perjury In connection with tho Druoo case.

Justice Walton, in passing sentence, said that her ago alone saved her from receiving tho maximum of seven years. ■ Ho was gatisfiod .ehe had been tempted to commit perjury. Tho London County 'Council's loan, at j>or cent, premium, was covered thirty-fold. Ono firm supplied five and a half millions, and several others up to the amount of the whole loan.

Lord Rayleigh succeeds the Duke of Devonshire as Chancellor of the University of Cambridge.

It is reported that tho steamer Star of Japan, which struck a reef near Capo Verde, ia a total wreck. Australia’s invitation to tho American fleet is regarded as significant of fear of a Japanese invasion.

Tho "'(Jlobo’’ nays that a largo British squadron should bo' despatched to Australia to welcome ,tha Americans. Prince von Bnelow has started for Romo to seek tbo Vatican's help to break tho resistance ’oft the Centre party ever tho Posen question. A thousand followers of tho Mullah raided the Sultanate 'of Jaashfatl, near Abbia, and ITilled about a hundred men, women, and children.

Ninety of tbo raiders wore tilled by pursuing force?. ■ ,

--There are now 35,000 more natives on tho Band than in 1907.

Ovfing to commercial stagnation and the crisis in tho diamond industry, large numbers of the natives are being released by mining and other companies. Organisers 'of the boycott in China declare they will not rolont until Japanese commerce has suffered to the extent of sixty millions sterling.

Chinese money-changers at Hongkong are refusing Japanese bank notes, even at a discount.

Tho ringleader of tho party which attempted; • to. destroy the train conveying the , Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal in Decombor, Inst has been sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment.. 1 Pivo accomplices Were sentenced to five yearn each.

It is reported tint the Indian telegraphists have, begun a general strike. Royal assent has been given to an Allan _ Restriction Bill passed by the Canadian Parliament. A moderate increase of duties for the purposes of protection is recommended by the Cape Tariff Commission.

Mr Doakin, Federal Prime. Minister, resigns on Wednesday. The deputy-leader of the Opposition EayS that the'crisis is one in which there is nothing for bis party to do but look 08. : ■

Tbo shipping strike at Sydney is practically settled.

.Agreements hare ■ been signed by both parties, and coastal steamers resume running forthwith. The settlement provides that the companies shall carry out agreements- with the men taken on during the strike, those formerly employed to bo taken on as opportunity oilers. While, a 9.2 gun was automatically rising from its pit at Sydney Heads it fired prematurely. Every roan in the pit would have been blown to fragments .had not the muzzle been clear of the walls. A gnnnor. was severely injured by tbe Tying sigh ter Further details of the Pyrmont tragedy ihow that a sonlleryman was stabbed in •he back. by a cook and bled to death In ten minutes.

It is admitted in Melbourne that Archbishop Clarke's cableitram regarding the dismissal of "No. 2” charge against Canon Nash to some extent constituted a climb down. fifteen, natives, tho crow of a canoe, were drowned on a voyage from Atiu to Mitioro.

His Excellency tho Governor laid tho foundation stone of the Technical School at Petone on Saturday. The committee of tho Blackball Miners’ Union resigned owing to comments on Its conduct of the strike. The members stood for re-election and Were reappointed.

Of tho two survivors of the Invercargill tragedy.’ the baby is now weaker and sinking, and tho girl Phyllis is paralysed on one side.

At the inquiry regarding the Auckland harbour collision, tho master of the scow said that his lights were burning brightly, and that tho steamer must bar' been going at a speed of six’ or h knots.

ho Customs authorities in Auckland 'ained 100 cases of matches and claimv . increased duty because there were too many matches in some boxes. It is said the Canterbury Society of Arts has received a gift of XSOO with which to purchase pictures for the permanent collection.

The Masterton A. and P. Association urges tho Government to accept Mr W. C. Bnchanan’s oiler of a site for an experimental farm in tho Wairarapa.