HOME & FOREIGN CABLES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXV, Issue 10016, 5 December 1908, Page 2

HOME & FOREIGN CABLES.

[By Electric Telegraph.—Coi'yiuoiit.J (Per Press Association.) Received December 5, at 8 a.m. Rome, December 4. In connection with Signor Fusinalo's motion of confidence in the Government in the Italian Chamber, Signor Fords described Austria's action as an effective violation of the treaty of Berlin. The abandonment of Novibazar was, ho said, insufficient compensation and Austria, ought to evacuate Spetzia. Austria's .position on the Adriatic would bo greatly strengthened by facilitating licr future designs in Salonika, besides preventing the formation, of a. great Serb State. Italy liad I::'<m unable to oppose the annexation of the occupied provinces or to obtain compensation, but could join the .conference with full liberty of judgment. Although Italy wished to remain loyal to the triple alliance loyalty was daily more difficult. Owing to Austria's extraordinary and excessive armaments the situation was such that Italy was within danger of war. The Government ought to complete the defences of the country.—.(Applause.) Jlr J. 'D. Archbold, vice-president of the Standard Oil Trust, testified that the Trust owns or controls companies with a capital of £65,660,000. Received December 5, at 8.10 a.m. London, December 1.

In the House of Lords, the Karl of Erroll .mid 1 Viscount Sfidleton challenged Sir Haldane's statement that the army was now 90,000 men stronger than in 1905. Lord Lucas, Under-Secretary lor War, justified ill- Haldane. The Council of the Schools Protection Committee have issued an important manifesto urging all friends of national education to prevent ccclesiasticism securing the right of entry to Council schools. Dr Clifford! declares that tho Government had hotter fling the Bill to the winds than yield further. The Daily Telegraph states that tlie majority of the Cabinet are prepared' to increase the grants to contracting-out schools by 2s edit is reported that the only optimists of the Cabinet regarding the Education Bill are Sir Asquith, and Sir lluncima.il. The others are [indifferent, and some are hostile to the compromise. Tlie Daily News declares that there will bo no tears even if the Education Bill disappears. Great prices were realised at the sale of Lord Amherst's library. Tho first volume of the Slazarin Bible fetched £2050. It is believed that Sir Pierpont Slorgan bought the famous 16 Amherst Caxtons. It is officially announced' that (lie Education Bill has been abandoned. The Cabinet's decision, which was practically unanimous, was due to the impossibility of arranging tho contracting-ou.t terms.

A large and influential' committee has I .been formed- irrespective of parties to oppose the extension of the franchise to women. Durban, December 4. The Natal Slcrcury, - foreshadowing the ending of -coolie importation, declares that South Africa, whether federated or unified, will not permit the importation of coolies 'longer, and rolies upon Queensland's example in dealing with the colored question Ottawa, December 4. The Toronto Sfail, discussing Earl Roberts' warning, urges Canada to reduce the expenditure on her militia by a million and to spend it in the purchase of four cruisers for the Atlantic, thereby defending her coastal and river, fronts. Paris, December 4. Some discussion has arisen in Paris regarding the official report from Tahiti to the effect that the British Consul had granted Henderson to Elizabeth Ducie and Oens to another concessionaire. It is stated that Oens, according to one map, is French and according to another is British. Port an Prince, December 4. Foiled in their attempt to assassinate General Alexis tho mob at Port an Prince pillaged tho shops and: houses and fought among themselves. Four ot the riotens were killed. Ultimately General Poidevin with a party of soldiers and citizens fired on the mob,' killing 12, and order was restored. London, December 4. Reports affirm that Austria is increasing her army in the south to 60,000 men. The Daily Telegraph's Paris correspondent states that Britain, France, and Russia are about to address -Austria with firm representations regarding her menacing preparations, and l emphasising Servia's prompt and effective compliance with their recent- appeal. St. Petersburg, December 4. Brigands kidnapped Herr Herman Newfeld, a wealthy German resident at Holb-st-adt, Caucasus, and conveyed him to the village of Petrovsk. They refused £2OOO ransom, and demanded double. Mounted police with a couple of machine gims bombarded the robbers stronghold, killing the ringleader. He it Neufeld, throwing himself to the ground, was uninjured, and was rescued. London, December 4. Arrived—Turakina ffhd Waimate, from Wellington.