NEWS BY CABLE.

Opunake Times, Volume II, Issue 61, 1 February 1895, Page 2

NEWS BY CABLE.

HOME AND FOREION. London, January 29. A committee of shareholders hi the Bank of New Zealand, appointed to examine into the possibility of resisting the call, reports that Cozens Hardy advises that the call is legal, but there is no liability for note issue. The Hon. Mr Ward has cabled that no further call is contemplated. A Chinese gold loan of three millions sterling, at six per cent., has been arranged in London. At a meeting of the promoters of the Londonderry Mine, the chairman said they would be unable to exhaust it iu a generation. Lord Fingall said the present reef would produce 20,000 ounces to the ton, and 20 feet deeper 600 ounces. The secretary states that 480,000 shares have been applied for. The manager of the Melbourne Butter Chilling Company is convinced that it will be necessary for the butter producers to unite aud limit the number of distributing agencies in London, in order to regulate supplies and prevent the ruinous sacrifice. caused by the smaller men underselling the market. The steamer Escurial was wrecked in a gale on the Cornwall coast. A lifeboat which went to her assistance was driven ashore. Eighteen of those on board the steamer jumped from the rigging, and endeavoured to swim ashore, but ten were drowned in sight of the spectators. During the earthquake at Kuchan, in Persia, a mosque collapsed, and entombed 600 people who were praying in the building. Only a small number were rescued.

The Daily Chronicle condemns the removal of Judge Williams as the most serious scandal in the annals of British justice this century. It demands that he shall be instantly replaced. Other newspapers publish articles of a similar strain. Washington, January 29. Troops have been withdrawn from New York, as the Brooklyn tram strike is collapsing. The President’s message to Congress states that last year £170,000,000 in gold was withdrawn from the Treasury for shipment abroad or hoarding at home. Thorough radical remedial legislation was imperative to prevent gold being entirely banished from currency. The Treasury ought to issue bonds, payable in fifty years, create a sufficient reserve to redeem and cancel legal tender notes. The speech has only made a small impression. Sydney, January 29. There has been great destruction of property by floods in the Maitland district. Railway communication is still interrupted. The Morpeth district is one stretch of water for miles, and not a farm has escaped the inundation. A man named Corbett was drowned in the flood iu the Manning River. The flood is the heaviest since 1876, and farms are submerged in all directions. Admiral Bridge stated, in the course of an interview, that he considered the harbor defences of most Australian ports sufficiently strong, and did not think the Imperial authorities would raise any objection if it was decided to make the auxiliary squadron purely Australian. He expressed himself confident that everything would be done to meet the wishes of the people of the colonies. However, such a departure needed the gravest consideration, and there were many reasons against the proposal. The Australian squadron was in a thoroughly efficient state, but the agreement under which the vessels of the auxiliary squalron were restricted to Australian waters, whether it was in time of peace or war, without the consent of all the colonies, seemed a possible element of danger, and might cause publicity and delay when promptitude and secrecy were necessary. The position of Australia with regard to outside attack looked safe enough at present, but it was impossible to tell what the future might bring forth. They should look ahead. If England were engaged in war, Australia would be greatly concerned, as' the first aim of the belligerent powers would be to cut off food supplies, and cripple the Au’stralian trade. A destructive flood has occurred at Bingara, 350 miles north-west of Sydney. The bank of a creek collapsed and forced the water into the township, where a largo number of houses were flooded, several families being rescued with difficulty by means of boats. Many houses were considerably damaged, while great destruction resulted to property of all descriptions. Farmers are heavy losers, a wide area of crops "being submerged. The water is now subsiding. The Hon. Mr Garrard, who has just returned from a flying visit to New Zealand, stated, in ihe course of an interview, -that he was somewhat disappointed with his visit. The industrial system appeared to him to work fairly well, and he thought it would continue to do so if politicians would only leave it alone. He was sorry to say a member of the New Zealand Parliament seemed to be more of a labour agent than some members of Australian Parliaments. It would be better, also, if Ministerial influence was not so marked. To him it appeared that the effects of legislation fulfilled its contentions and equalised the comforts of life more, Daring a violent thunderstorm at Wurrumburrah, nine out of a team of eighteen camels were killed by lightning. The drovers had a narrow escape.

A party of Chinese keeping up their New Year at Hillston were attacked by larrikins. They offered a desperate resistance, and in the fight that followed two Chinamen were killed and two dangerously wounded.

Perth, January. The main shaft of the Menzies mine is down 120 feet, and the reef is three feet wide. It shows gold in the wall, demonstrating a downward tendency of the reef. The lode maintains its rich character. Nearly two hundred men are working on the alluvial find. The Menzies results are so satisfactory that many miners are throwing up reefing to go digging. The scene of the recent large alluvial find in the north-west is Surdier’s Fall. About a hundred are going. Good gold is being obtained, and three men got 2700z5. Tokio, January 28. The Japanese have declined the offer of a Tartar chief to furnish 60,000 men to capture Moukden in revenge for cruelties practised by Chinese soldiery on the inhabitants of Manchuria.