SUMMARY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7028, 17 January 1910, Page 1

SUMMARY

Tlie British Elections beffan on Satur day iu the boroughs.

Grout Britain has uot assented to tlw proposed neutralisation of the Manclmriau railways, in connection with which Jin outcry has lilvu raised by Itussia. Sir Jidward Grey has declared that Kusf>iu and Japan, a.-, the Powers chiefly interested, ought to be consulted first. Japan also resents the scheme. Steelworks at Middk-sborough •» liave been closed owing to the lack of coal, and 20U0 hands have been rendered idle.

Thw miners' disputo is crippling tho Teceidc iron trade, and several factories in Northumberland have also closed. The strike is resulting in increased activity in the German collieries. In connection with the reports of an increased number of workmen being employed at Krupps, the London "Chronicle" says that the establishment chiefly turns out implements of peace, the greatest total of hands employed on armaments being 5000. The fortune of the late Dr Ludwig Mond has been sworn at .£1,000,000.

Several high, military officials have been dismissed nt Madrid owing to recent military demonstrations against the promotion of officers from M'enilla. Many others have been arrested pending courtmurtial. It is stated that the Powers have decided upon energetic action to obtain the postponement of the Cretan elections. This is being done in consequence of the Porte's threat to occupy Thcssaly in the event of the dispatch of Cretan deputies to Athens. The Paii-Kussiaii anti-Alcoholic Congress has collapsed owing to the police forbidding speeches against the Government's vodka monopoly. The jewels of the late Sultan of Morocco have been redeemed from pawn for .£60,000, part of the latest loan raised by the present Sultan. The Canadian Prime Minister has pro- . miiscd' investigation of the increase in west bound Atlantic freights by 66 per cent, since 1907.

He says that if it means an llJega! combination, in restraint of trade it wiK come mulct' the forthcoming Bill to control trusts and combines. '

Canada id issuing a .£4,000,000 3J per cent, loan at 99, to be used mostly for conversion purposes.

Canadian stock raisers are forward a development scheme with the view of placing the meat export trade of the Dominion in a position equal to that of Australia and New Zealand.

The late Mr Pullman, the Chicago railway magnate, left a fortune of .£3,600,000, bequeathing- only dC6OO yearly to each of his eons.

Ho did this becau.*? he considered that they were lacking the requisite responsibility for the right use of considerable wealth.

, It is stated that there is a proposal on foot for the importation of Javanese labour into the New Hebrides.

Owing to the floods in the northern Now South Wales rivers, railway and telegraphic communication with Queensland ha 3 been cut off. Eleven inches of rain fell at Tamworth between Tuesday and Saturday, when the weather cleared. The river overflowed and inundated a large portion of the town, including the main streets, where in some shops tho water was ten feet .deep. Great damage was occasioned, all lowlying lands along the river being under water, and some settlers being compelled to seek refuge on haystacks. Other districts report high floods and great damage to crops. M. A. Noble, the New South Wales cricketer, has notified, tho Cricket Control Board of his retirement from firstclass cricket owing to business exigencies.

The board has recorded its appreciation of his great services to Australian cricket.

Though the ballot of the Northern miners is not yet completed, it is known that-the miners will reject the Wages Board by an overwhelming majority.

A belief is current that when Mr Bowling appears before the Industrial Court to present the result of the ballot he will submit a. scheme for the establishment of a Board of Conciliation. . In tho race for the 220 yards swimming championship of New South Wales flealy defeated Hardwkk by three rards.

Wickham won the diving championihip.

Ten of the men inj tired in the gun accident at Fort Nepean have been discharged from hospital, and others arc expected to resume duty in a few days.

Tho rink competition in the Northern Bowling Association's tournev was won on Saturday by Clvurchward's Wellington team, after an interesting .play-off with Buildon,. Grey Lynn. Brackenridge (Newtown) and Lock (To Kiwi) were left, in the final of the pairs competition, which will be decided this morning.

Mr Edward Seager, for manv years past a leading figure in the engineering industry in Wellington, died on Saturday night, aged sixty-six. At the Napier Cathedral yesterday Archdeacon Aveiill was consecrated Bishop of Waiapu by the Primate, Bishop Nevill. The Wellington Howing Association's mmual regatta was held on Saturday. Four first prizes went to Wongamii, three to I'icton, and two to Christchurch. Wangnnui Union won the senior fours, youths' fours, senior pairs and senior sculls; Picton Kowing Club the maiden fours, junior clinker pail's and junior fours.- Wauganui Rowing Club the senior double sculls, and Christchurch Union the maiden double sculls and maiden, pairs.