CABLEGRAMS. BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Otago Witness, Issue 1970, 26 November 1891, Page 34

CABLEGRAMS. BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

London, November 17.

The Marquis of Salisbury expresses his willingness to arrange with the Sultan of xurkey for a convention for regulating the affairs of Egypt. The Gisborne Harbour Board's stock has fallen L 2, and Otago Harbour Board's stock LI.

The Argentine Budget shows a small surplus, but the Minister of Finance states that the Argentine is at present unable to resume the payment of the national debt. The value of the wool clip is estimated at six millions sterling. It is reported that the Government of the Dominion of Canada will offer a subsidy of a million dollars for a fast line of steamers between Canada and England. The liquidator of the Panama Canal Company reports that a new company must be established, otherwise the liquidation will be final. It is understood an American syndicate is anxious to purchase the works, but that Congres3 is opposed, being convinced that the future of navigation to China and Australia by the American route would be best served by the Nicaragua Canal scheme which is now under way. * The damage by the tornado in the Argentine is estimated at a quarter of a million.

It is stated that the Czarewich will pay an official visit to Paris in January.

The German estimates provide for £60,000 for field railways and £440,000 for the fortification of Heligoland.

November 18.

The Norwegian elections have resulted in the return of 58 members of the Left, 26 of the Right, and 14 Moderates. Steen, the Radical leader, has an absolute majority, and demands separate foreign Ministers for Norway and Sweden. The Austrian Government threatens to prosecute the authors of the recent panic who spread about the false report which had such a disastrous effect:

The Russian squadron was feted at Algiers. Terrible distress was caused by the recent earthquake in Japan, and assistance is being sought from England. Captain Parkes, of the Royal Artillery, has been selected as Commander of the Forces in New Zealand, and sails in a month. There is a great epidemic of typhoid fever in Dublin.

The fever is taking its normal course with Prince George of Wales, and the symptoms generally are favourable. It is thought that the disease has in all probability really entered its second week.

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Anarchists painted the words " Long live anarchy" in red upon the Italian Embassy in Paris. The famine-stricken peasants in the provinces of Kharkov and Ekaterinoslav, South Russia, have risen in revolt, and much bloodshed resulted. In consequence of the outbreak of peasants in Russia, large bodies of troops are being drafted to Kharkov. The Cologne Gazette says the famine in Russia has nothing to do with Germany maintaining her army in a state of readiness for war. A great fire in St. Louis, United States, almost completely destroyed blocks in Broadway and Franklin avenue. The damage is estimated at a quarter of a million. In conseqnence of Wells' success there has been a great influx of gamblers to Monte Carlo, but they have not been successful in imitating him. It is stated that the object of the visit of M. de Giers to Paris was to arrange an alliance between France and Russia.

At the annual meeting of the London Chartered Bank of Australia it was stated that the low prices of wool are causing the formation of meat export companies. The Edinburgh Medioal Journal says Dr Stuart's report on Koch's discovery is one of the ablest that has been produced. '

The total quantity of wheat and flour afloat for the United Kingdom is 2,716,000 quarters, and for the Continent 1,884,000 quarters. For off the coast cargoes of New Zealand wheat 43s is offered.

Victorian butter is selling at from 108s to 116s per cwfc, while the best quality realises 1208. "

Mr David Gray, of Peterhead, considers the prospects of reviving whaling in the Antarctic Ocean good. If an expedition is to be sent out it ought to operate in November, December, January, and February. The estimated visible supply of American wheat is 55,200,000 bushels.

Wheat is firmly held. Bishop Selwyn has made up his mind to resign, as he finds the injuiy to his leg will prevent him doing work in Melanesia. November 19.

The Guardian says that the attitude of Australian synods with regard to reunion with the Home Church occasions grave misgivings. If the Australian church gives up her historic episcopality and recognises Nonconformist ministers as equally authorised it is certain to subject her bonds of union with the mother church to a, disastrous strain. Before the proposals are considered an appeal ought to be made to some central authority of the Anglican Church.

November 20.

Prince George of Wales continues to improve. His temperature is lower and his strength fully maintained. There is deep national concern at the illness of the young Prince. The New Zealand and Australian Land Company have declared a dividend of 10 per cent., and carried £15,000 to the reserve ftmd.

Whalley, a deceased Blackburn solicitor, is alleged to have defrauded his clients of £100,000. Dr Charters has been nominated as moderator of the Church of Scotland, and Dr Blaikie as. moderator of the Free Church. Eighteen regiments, comprising almost the total force in Rio Grande, Brazil, have joined the Junta's forces, and the movement is largely in favour of a restoration of the monarchy. The Government of the Dominion of Canada have decided to place a million settlers in the North-west Territory within the next five years.

Marquis Rudini, Premier of Italy, proposes to reduce the time of service in the standing army to two years. The Times denounces the alarmingly dangerous condition of the British army. Ex-King Milan is receiving money with which to pay his debts, also other pecuniary assistance. In consequence of this assistance he resigns the control of the present King and all rights to the throne. The Russian Government have decided to send 40,000 infantry to reinforce the Russian troops stationed on the Polish frontier. It is reported that Messrs Rothschild are taking up the balance of the unsold Russian scrip, amounting to 125,000,000fr. In the South Australian Assembly Premier Playford stated if Lord Oarrington made the statements attributed in the cable messages from Home they were quite unwarrantable. The Paris Journal dcs Debats states that the Government will- introduce a bill in the Chamber of Deputies for the establishment of a board to prevent disputes. M. Clemenceau's motion for compulsory arbitration was rejected by two to one, and a vote of confidence in the Government carried by three to one.

M. de Giers dines with President Carnot and the French Ministry. Admiral Gervais has stated on authority that the Russian Minister's errand was to promote peaoe. • The Salvation Army's self-denial week produced £22,000. Lord Hartington, in the course of an ad,dress to his constituents, said the principles of Liberals nowadays were akin to those of democrats in foreign countries, and not like the historic Liberalism of England. Home Rule would be a surrender to revolutionary pressure. The situation in China is reported to be improving. M. de Giers is at Paris. He declares the report that he intends to sign a treaty of alliance with France is baseless. The Standard, however, thinks the visit is ominous.

Shares in Dalgety and Co. are quoted at £6 15s; New Zealand and River Plate Mortgage Company, £5; Otago and Southland Investment Company, 5s (ex div.) ; Robert Campbell and Co., £4 15s. New Zealand long-berried wheat, 46s 3d (weaker). In New,' Zealand hemp there is nothing doing. Canterbury frozen mutton, 4|d ; Wellington do, 3§d. South Australian wheat is weaker at 46s 9d ; Victorian, quiet, at 46s 3d. The wheat market is easier, owing to the non-appearance of the threatened prohibition of export by Russia, which is fully discounted.

The German Lloyd's steamer Eider, which was overdue from New York, has arrived. She met with an accident to her engines.

Sir Gavan Duffy is willing to stand for the constituency of Monaghan at next general election in the M'Carthyite interest.

Messrs Bloom and Douglas, owners of the ' yacht Beadle, were arrested in Honolulu, having in their possession 50,000 sovereigns, alleged to be the proceeds of a bank robbery in Sydney. The accusers failed to sustain the charge, and the prisoners, who were released, have, it is believed, gone to Japan.

Mr David Powell, who at present holds the position of deputy-governor of the Bank of England, will succeed Mr Wm. Lidderdale as governor of that bank in April. The Irish Catholic declares that a widespread scheme is in existence in Ireland, its object being to induce young men to join secret societies.

Lieutenant Livraghi, of the Italian army, has been acquitted on the charges preferred against him of having submitted natives in Massowah to barbarous treatment.

Emm Pasha is at Ungongoro, within the British sphere in Africa, and is reported to be continually at war with the natives. Influenza is raging in St. Petersburg, and the hospitals are crowded. The Penrith municipality, in New South Wales, is in financial difficulties, and unless the Government render some assistance it will probably be placed in the hands of a receiver. Sir A. Blytb, the Agent-general for South Australia, resigns in December. November 22. The Economist considers that the policy of Mr Ballance's Government jeopardises a large portion of the 75 millions of British savings invested in New Zealand, which is quite unrepresented in the Colonial Parliament. It further considers that damage is done to New Zealand interests by the depreciation of the value of land. The National Observer refers to Lord Oarringbon's Bristol speech in uncomplimentary terms, and asserts that while he was Governor in Sydney his indiscretions were concealed under a sporting exterior. The Saturday Review ridicules Lord Carrington pretending that English Conservatives are foes and Liberals friends of the colonies.

Up to the present Prince George has had no delirium, and sleeps fairly well. Ib is alleged that the disease was conveyed in oysters he partook of in Dublin. The sons of General Sir H. F. Ponsonby, late private secretary to the Queen, are suffering from typhoid fever at St. James' Palace.

Three of the English banks and Sir Graham Berry (the Agent-general) concur in the opinion that a great risk will be run in issuing at present even a portion of the Victorian sewerage loan, and that there is not the slightest chance of raising two millions even at a low minimum and on easy terms.

Mr David Gray, of Peterhead, is endeavouring to form a syndicate in London, with a capital of £25,000, to develop whaling in the Antarctic Seas.

A severe outbreak of influenza has taken place among the Russian Imperial suite in Livadia. There are 100 severe cases in Dartford and many in Bordeaux.

The English wheat market is changing a little for the worse, and the American is also declining, but the Continental market remains firm. Forward business in Australasian wheat is inactive. There have been large arrivals of foreign wheat, but there are no Australasian cargoes off the coast or at the ports of call.

Tallow: Medium mutton, 255; do beef, 24s 6d.

Rabbitskins are in steady demand, but New Zealand have declined Id.

The statement is officially published that there is sufficient grain in Russia to suffice for the needs of the country till next harvest. In order to recoup the farmers for losses caused by the prohibition of the export of wheat and rye, the Russian Government will grant them 60,000,000 roubles ou6 of the cash reserves, which now amount to 220,000,000 roubles. The situation in China is improving. The Roumanian Government have purohased 200,000 Mannlicher rifles. It is rumoured that the Redmonds will shortly visit Australia again. Bishop Selwyn is about on crutches, and is making slow recovery. Brigands entered a train near Moscow, killed the postmen, and stole £5000. The Tories in the Austrian Reichstag are in favour of the Government exercising a supervision over the_ business, of stock exchanges. The persecution of the Jews in Russia has ceased, and immigration into Russia is resuming its normal proportions. The relations between the French and Malagasy are strained, and a rupture is feared. Lord Herschell considers'it impossible for the House of Lords to go on without some reform being introduced. The Rev. Dr Olutterbuck has been sentenced at Bath to four years' penal servitude for obtaining £16,000 by false pretences. A commission has been gazetted in Canada to which will be entrusted the work of settling Irish and Scotch crofters in Canada. London landlords, in the guise of ratepayers, are setting up a hostile agitation against the school boards and county councils.

Mr Chamberlain denies Mr Gladstone's accusation that he is a renegade, and at the same time he accuses the latter of having abandoned his party. The Daily News challenges unionists to openly merge with the Tories. Lord Hartington contends that the unionist majority will be maintained at the general election.

The fear of a protective tariff being adopted in New South Wales is causing a glut of shipping to that colony. The various lines of steamers are being largely supported. A despatch to the New York World says it is intended to sue Balmaceda's Cabinet and Congress individually for the sum of nine millions, the raising of which was illegally authorised by them. The debate in the Senate on the tariff was opened by M. Lacour, who urged that it would have the effect of isolating France. M. Dauphin argued that gates should not be left open to foreign countries which were closed against France.

Governor M'Kinley, of Ohio, speaking at a banquet, asserted that America's best foreign trade was done during the years in which there bad been a Protective tariff. Exchanges from Europe showed that the purchases of the latter country were 24,000,000d0l in excess.

A memorial has been published in favour of abolishing Greek at Cambridge University; but it is not likely that the authorities will' take any action on it, as the vice-chancellor points out that the same proposal was before the council lately, and was negatived. The marriage of Sir Samuel Wilson's son with Lady Churchill, daughter of the former Duke of Marlborough, took place on the 21st. The ceremony, which was of a brilliant character, was attended by the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge, Princess of Teck, and many other society notables. The Prince of Wales presented the bride with a diamond brooch.

The Daily News thinks that Australian securities will reassert their real merits, despite the rivalry of American railway stocks, provided that the market is not flooded with them. It urges a temporary abstention from borrowing, and remarks that the largest and wildest members of syndicates have gone in for New Zealand s scarifies.

Grant, a Dane, has been found guilty of blackmailing various titled ladies in England by threatening to murder them. Sentence has been deferred.

[Charles Grant, alias Le Grand and French Colonel, a tail well dressed man of military appearance was arrested on the 26th September. He described himself as an engineer, and had not been long out of gaol. The letters he wrote to Mrs Baldook, an invalid, and Baroness Bolsover, were of a frightful charaoter. Written with red ink they contained a demand for £500, failing compliance with which the writer threatened to dash out his victim's brains with dynamite. After a warning that serious consequences would follow any attempt to communicate with the polioe, whose faculties were evidently limited, as shown by their failure to trace the murderer of seven women in. Wbitechapol. the letter went on : — " Understand, I am firmly determined to have it or your life. If you estimate your life so low that you would not pay £500, then I mast leave you to your own reflection. Do not believe it is my intention to blow your brains out with a revolver; that indeed would be madman's work. No, madam ; a thin cake of dynamite placed between some moist f eliminate of silver, the whole placed between the doormat and the floor upon which you have to pass, or under your seat in church, or even under the cushion of your carriage, will immediately explode the moment the weight of your body come upon it, and dash you to pieces. I have sent a letter like this to nine other ladies for the purpose that, if you do not pay, I will dash your brains out, and you will then serve to the others as an example of what they will have to expect if they do not pay up." Mrs Baldock's son-in-law communicated with the polioe, and a decoy advertisement was inserted that the request would be complied with. But Grant was. suspicious, and wrote a second letter to Mrs Baldock's daughter saying that be was satisfied that the lady was in treacherous communication with the polioe, and that if the money was not sent he would certainly find means to kill her. The polioe suoceeded in tracing Grant or Grands and he was arrested. He used very threatening language to the detective, stating that if he had seen him before he would have blown his (the detective's) brains out. He also promised that as soon as he was released he would put six inches of steel into the detective's back, and while a train was drawing up at the railway station he made a sudden attempt to push the detective under the train. He had with him a leather bag containing a revolver, a brass knuckleduster, and a metal whistle. At his lodgings were found a parcel of gunpowder, two bottles containing liquid, and a cigar box fitted with two very powerful springs like an

infernal machine. The contrivance was exhibited, and worked in court, and oooaaioned considerable sensation.]

November 23.

The wheat market is hardening.

Mr Davitt appeals to the Irish Secretary Mr Jackson, to release the dynamiters now in gaol. Mr John Redmond alleges that their treatment in prison is horrible and inhumane.

Mr Balfour contends that Home Rule would absolutely ruin the Protestants in Ireland.

The Irish Secretary, Mr Jackson, has been re-elected.

Mr Dillon, in the course of a speech at Mitchelstown, said that force had succeeded in wringing redress for Ireland in the past, and could be repeated if necessary. Prince George of Wales is progressing favourably. His mother has returned from Livadia, and is at his bedside; and the Queen is visiting him. The Chronicle says that London is paying every year a million more than it ought for the worst water supply in Europe. It expresses the hope that Lord Carrington will lead a party of progression in the London County Council. The rosy statement regarding the condition of Russian finances is doubted on the Continent.

St. Petersburg, November 18. The financial crisis is severely felt, and is affecting even the Imperial Bank. November 20. The Budget of the Russian Minister for War arid. Marine is 10,000,000 roubles heavier than usual, despite the presence of famine in the land. November 21. The Central Committee of the Famine Relief Fund, of which the Czarewitoh is president, will receive a loan of 40 million roubles, without interest, from the Imperial appanages The Czar to-day ordered the prohibition of the export of wheat. Berlin, November 19. Messrs Nordmeyer and Michaelson, bankers, of Hamburg, have failed with liabilities at £750,000, whilst the assets are only trifling. Both bankers have been arrested. The political uneasiness in this city is having a depressing effect on the Bourse, and German loan debentures fell 1£ per cent. — an event almost unheard of before. November 23. Baron Pilsach, President of the Municipal Council at Apia, one of the Samoan officials denounced by Mr R. L. Stevenson in a letter to the Times, has resigned, but the German Government will not accept his resignation. They are now parleying with the other Powers interested, and urge his retention, The Russian Government are seeking monetary assistance in Berlin. A particularly severe type of influenza is raging at Hamburg, where 40 deaths occur daily from the disease. The epidemic is spreading throughout Germany and France, and all the schools are being closed. Paris, November 18. The number of miners on strike in Northern France is 34,000. The French Government have granted a million francs to assist in eradicating the phylloxera. November 19. The miners' strike has extended to the Nord. Those on strike in the province of Pas de Calais are over-awed at the extensive military precautions to prevent disorder. November 20 The Deputy from Basle urges the French Government, to assume the management of coal mines. M. de Freycinet proposes arbitration, which the strikers are willing to accept. They demand pensions for pitmen. November 21. La Paix states that there is no truth in the allegations that a treaty or alliance between Russia and France has between signed, but it admits a complete verbal understanding has been arrived at between the Grand Duke at present in Paris and President Carnot.

The French Naval Budget proposes to increase the Mediterranean fleet from 30 to 50 vessels, and also to increase the Northern Squadron.

PABis, November 23.

M. de Giers and M. Ribot have had a conference. The Figaro says that they share moderately peaceful ideas on foreign affairs. M. de Giers has gone to Berlin. Washington, November 18.

Mr S. Trutter, the Government immigration agent of the United States, has discovered that there is a regular system in Europe of shipping to America the blind, halt, criminals, idiots, and prostitutes. Vanoouveb, November 18.

The Alaska Court has ordered the confiscation of the schooner Ethel, seized while sealing in Behring Sea. The owners of the vessel have appealed against the decision, and considerable interest is manifested in the case, as the validity of the modus vivendi is involved.

Capetown, November 18.

Fighting has taken place between the rival factions in Damaraland, resulting in 54 persons being killed.

Teheran, November 21.

The outbreak in the province of Mazanderan has been suppressed. During the event 220 persons were killed. The leader of the revolt was captured and brought here.

Zanzibab, November 21.

Emm Pasha is marching on Wadelai, and it is reported that an English captain has been sent from Uganda to prevent Emm removing the store of ivory left behind when Mr Stanley rescued him. The English position in Uganda is said to be weak, and the natives are reported to be restless.

Vienna, November 23.

From motives of economy the Austrian Government will not build any warships next year.

Rangoon, November 23.

The Chinese troops, overawed by the threat of the British officials to disarm them, have recrossed the Kampoung, on the borders of Northern Burmah.

Ottawa, November 23.

Ottawa, November 21.

The remission by Canada of the sugar duties has resulted in a loss to the revenue of 2,000,000d0l in four months. The Dominion Treasurer declares that Canada is willing to accept reciprocity with the United States, but would not agree to any discrimination against England.

Valparaiso, November 23.

The Chilian Government are effecting the gradual withdrawal of the paper issue, and reducing the army and navy. Month Video, November 21. The Uruguay Republic is neutral in connection with the Brazilian revolt.