SUMMARY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7025, 13 January 1910, Page 1

SUMMARY

"The Times" estimates that in the coming elections the Unionists will gain 13-i scats and, the Liberals 3, while 88 arc doubtful. Sir Edward Clrcy, speaking at Edinburgh. condemned the recent attempts to create panic about the possibility oi war with Germany. The increasing of naval expenditure had produced no coo 1 ness between the two Governments, and eventually some agreement of a perfectly voluntary nature. might be arrived at. Mr Bin-oil. in an add reus to the electors of Bristol, described an Empire Tariff Reform. scheme with preferential treatment for the colonics its sheer madness. He favoured disestablishment and disondowtnent of the English Church. Mr Balfour at Aberdeen said that the number of landlords ought to be greatly increased. Small holdings could not prosper without the stimulus of ownership. Mr Lyttelton says Australia’s _annnal trade with Britain amounts to .27 5s per head of population, with tho United States 13s 3d, and with Germany 5s 9d. He admits that to get effective preference there should be a low duty on foreign products such as wheat. This, however, need not mean an increased price for bread in England, since there is sufficient competition by wheatgrowing countries to keep the price down. Captain Charles Madden has been ajspointed Fourth Sea Lord of the Admiralty. vice Admiral Winsloe, who will shortly take up the chief command in China. The Union Bank of Australia has declared a dividend of ID per cent, and a bonus of 2 per cent. At the Antwerp wool sales there is a strong demand. Prices for merino have advanced 5 centimes per lb compared i .with November rates, and crossbreds to centimes. It is reported that a Republican plot to depose King Manuel has been unearthed at Lisbon, and that forty arrests have been made. ■ The English cricketers’ match with Natal ended in a draw. Mr George Foster. Canadian ex-Min-ister of Finance, in a speech in Toronto, pro tea ted against the impression conveyed by some of Sir WUfTid Laurier’s recent speeches that political, and _ fiscal freedom and the power of negotiating treaties should be wrested from Britain. Mr Foster maintained . that already there was much freedom, and Canada could not have absolute autonomy is international relations without declaring her ‘independence. If _ such talk were serious, it was revolutionary. The Federal Minister entertained Lord .Kitchener at a dinner in Melbourne on Tuesday, Lord Chelmsford, Acting Gov-,ornor-General, presiding over a distinguished gathering. .. Mr Doakin, proposing the health of the guest, said he was convinced that before Lord Kitchener left ho would have summed up the elements of the defence problem so that Australians might fool they were'on the right track. Lord Kitchener, in his reply, reiterated that he had been much struck with the very strong and widespread determination existing in Australia for an .efficient citizen force. Australia possessed first-rato material on which to .work. Tho Field-Marshal advised the .establishment of a high-olass primary military educational system for the training of officers. ' , A report on recent telegraphic interruptions in Victoria attributes, them to A coating of carbon particles on the insulators, the result of the bush fires. Eight rain damping this, without washing it off, turns it into a conducting .medium. The Victorian gold yield last year amounted to 702,221 ounces, valued at .22,779,000, a decrease of 18,988 ounces as compared with tho previous year. The Newcastle coal trimmers will not trim any more cargoes while the coal strike continues. i Mr Walsh, the Newcastle agent of the Seamen’s Union, was bound over to keep the peace for twelve months on a charge of using inciting language in connection with Saturday’s meeting of Newcastle miners. The Director of Immigration at Sydney savs there is plenty of work for skilled ' agricultural immigrants. The trouble regarding some of the AngloIndians is owing to their unfitness or .unwillingness to'take work ottering. - During a storm at Cue. West Australia. several buildings, including tho Catholic Convent and school, were demolished .and many others unroofed. The nautical inquiry iiitq the wreck of the Waifcare in Dusky Sound was held yesterday at Dunedin, Mr Widdowson, S.M., who presided, announced that the Court proposed to give its judgment this afternoon. Milan won the Pahiatna Cup. run at the Pahiatna Racing Club’s meeting yesterday. The Northern Bowling Association’s championship tourney was continued yesterday, the last three qualifying rounds in the rink matches being completed. Ties yet remain to be played, off in throe of the nine sections. A large meeting of bowlers last evening endorsed the principle of. the "open door policy” at championship tournaments. The New Zealand Flour Millers’ Association has bom meeting in Christchurch during the past two days, and it is understood members are opposed to the suggested liquidation of tho association. , At the Auckland wool sales yesterday over 6000 bales were catalogued, and .were keenly competed for, prices showing an advance on November rates. Fine halfbreds made up to 13}d Tier lb, super crossbreds to 12Jd, first quality lambs to 103 d. and second quality' tx> 9Jd.