NEWS BY CABLE.

Opunake Times, Volume V, Issue 201, 7 August 1896, Page 2

NEWS BY CABLE.

ENGLAND AND CHINA.

London, August 4.

The Times publishes an interview with Li Hung Chang. He wants England to concede higher import duties on the ground that the value of silver since the agreement with China was signed has been reduced one-half. The increased revenue would be largely spent on the purchase of military ;-.io •; s, creation of a new army and navy, and building warships in England on English lines, to be manned by English officers. The Viceroy states that he has already signed contracts for rifles in France and artillery in Germany. He expressed his surprise at the sympathy shown in England with Japan in the late war.

THE CHARTERED COMPANY. London, August 4.

The Standard says Mr Jackson, Secretary for Ireland in the last Salisbury Government, has been offered the presidency of the committee to enquire into the Chartered Company.

MATABELE WAR.

Capetown, August 4

Hurrell reports that he has cleared the country between Gwelo and Port Victoria of rebels, 200 of whom have been killed.

13 mtali settlers are urging a greater expedition in the extension of the railway from Fort Salisbury.

Colonel Plummer defeated 400 Mafcabeles in Chabez Valley, at Matoppo Hills. The enemy lost 30 killed.

AFFAIRS IN CRETE.

Athens, August 4

In compliance with a request of the Powers, Greece has stopped the despatch of military assistance to the Cretan insurgents.

CYCLING.

London, August 4.

In the cycling England v. Australia one mile race Parbly was first, Payne third, Megson fifth, and Lewis sixth. Time, 2min 5 4-6ths sec. In the five miles the men finished in the same order. Time, 14min SOseo. Parbly won easily in both events.

HAREFOED SENTENCED.

Sydney, August 4.

Hareford, alias Williams, who recently confessed to having murdered a man in Wellington, which, on enquiry, was found to be incorrect, has been sentenced to six years’ hard labor on a charge of wounding the constable who was conveying him from Newcastle to Sydney while under remand on a charge of larceny.

THE STOKES AFFAIR. Bbussess, August 4.

The Superior Council of Congo is hearing the British appeal _ against the acquittal of Major Lothaire on a charge of murdering the trader Stokes.

THE TRANSVAAL.

Capetown, August 4.

Kruger, in an interview upon the result of the recent trial, 'said the judges were evidently undecided as to the identity of the leaders of the raid. He declined to interfere and ask for mitigation of the sentences because Dr Jameson had not admitted his guilt.

THE SOUDAN EXPEDITION. London, August 4.

Members of the Empire Club carried a resolution deeply regretting the injurious testimony given by Viscount Wolseley, Oommander-in-Ohief, before the Royal Commission, that the Indian native army was inferior.

London, August 4. News has been received that M. Andree, the Swedish feronaut, who lately started to explore towards the North Polo, has left Spitsbergen in his balloon.

The World’s Congress of Socialist Workers demands nationalisation of collieries, railways, and factories. Burns describes the meetings as ghastly failures.

The landlords estimate that 120 Unionist peers will support the amendments in the Irish Land Bill.

Warren, lieutenant on the Herraione, formerly on the Nelson and Ouracoa, was drowned in the naval manoeuvres in attempting to rescue an engineer who attempted suicide. The science scholarships have been renewed in the case of Rutherford, of New Zealand.

New York, August 4

A small rowing boat, containing two men, has safely crossed the Atlantic. The voyage occupied 55 days.

Washington, August 4.

Thirty-six States adhere to the democratic movement in favor of gold solely from a desire to defeat Bryan. Cairo, August 5.

Information received from Abyssinia states that the natives pillaged a caravan conveying assistance to Italian prisoners and compelled it to return.