NEWS BY CABLE.

Opunake Times, Volume II, Issue 67, 22 February 1895, Page 2

NEWS BY CABLE.

ROME AND FOREIGN. London, February 19. Queensland has joined the other colonies in the cable guarantee. Ottawa, February 19.

The Canadian Government is actively urging the construction of the Pacific cable, fearing If the United States construct a cable the Dominion will be excluded altogether, as the Eastern Extension Cable Company are willing with an Imperial subsidy to connect New Zealand and Fiji, then the only vacant link will be Hawaii to Fiji. Vienna, February 19.

The death is announced of Archduke Albrecht, grand uncle of the Emperor of Austria, etat 78. Shanghai, February 18.

The news of the suicide of Admiral Ting and two other high Chinese officers has been confirmed. Fifteen thousand Chinese were attacked at Haiching, and were repulsed with the loss of a hundred. The remainder of the forts and ships at Weihaewai are reported to have surrendered on the 13th. Shanghai, February 19. The Emperor of China has condemned to death all the military and civil officers at Weihaiwei, and has authorised the Governor of Shantung to behead them without consulting the Emperor. The Japenese have captured six gunboats in the Weihaiwei harbor. The Japenese have landed at Chefoo. The bodies of Admiral Ting and three Chinese captains, who committed suicide during thd" attack on Weihaewai, were conveyed ashore. The Japanese flagship fired minuteguns, and the whole fleet saluted as a mark of rsspect to the dead officers. Washington, February 19.

Twenty-five American coasters are overdue. It is feared they have been lost in the gale. It is-estimated that fifty per cent of the cattle in Texas have perished in snow storms. Hundreds of Cherokee families are living on prairie dogs and horses to avoid starvation. Melbourne, February 19. The Colonial Treasurer has decided to further reduce the rate of interest on deposits in the Government and Post Office Savings Banks to 2£ per cent on deposits up to £IOO and 2 per up to £250. No interest will be allowed on deposits above the latter amount. This step was taken to check the temporary deposit of large sums, pending investment, which are practically of little use to the Treasury and for the receipt of which the institutions are not intended.

According to the Argus, for forty years there has been no equal to the last four years for falling prices and disaster in the wool industry, in almost every branch from the grower to the manufacturer. It is estimated that the present clip sold at prices ruling throughout the season in Australia, and the last London series would only realise half that amount, say twenty million sterling, instead of forty million sterling, if the clip bad been sold at prices ruling for the average of eleven years from 1866 to 1877. About half this enormous fall has been sustained within the last five years. The Leader says that Hartwell, a well-known South Australian sportsman at present in England negotiating the sale of Carbine is receiving 10 per cent commision, The Rev. Prior Vaughan brother to the Cardinal Archibishop of Westminster, arrived here .charged with a beneficent mission in the colonies. The Rev. Prior Vaughan is the founder of a new missionary order in England. Sydney, February 20.

The original of Captain Cook’s journal has been presented to the museum. The writing is clear and distinct and contains a record of the voyage which led to the discovery of Australia. Various entries are signed in a firm hand “ James Cook.”