CABLEGRAMS. BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Otago Witness, 14 December 1893, Page 36

CABLEGRAMS. BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

(Per Pbess Association.) London, December C. New South Wales fanded stcck is still selling well, and over L 40.000 worth was sold in the colony last month. The Cbristian Brothers' Schools in Ireland decline to adopt compulsory attendance of pupil 3 , on the ground that their schools are not endowed by the State. In the House of Commons Mr Sex' on and his colleagues opposed the Government compelling the Brothers to comply with the act. The man Schneider, in whose house at Hampstead a box of dynamite was found by the sheriff, is director of a projected dynamite company, and it is now believed the packages of dynamite found on the premises were trade samples. This season's supplies o£ American and Canadian apples for the British markets are virtually nil, and in the face of this fact the prospects of Australian shipments, both as regards demand and price, are excellent. A team of South "African cricketer 3 will visit England next year. Three more arre3ts have been made in connection with the recent dynamite outrage in Dubin. The War Office is arranging with the chief military hospitals in Great Britain to teat the suitability of Victorian tinned butter. The Admirality has selected a committee to test aad experiment with Victorian tinned butter at certain stations on the homeward route, and also to test the article at the officers' mess-tables. The total quantity of wheat and flour afloat for the United Kingdom is 2,930,000 quarters, and for the Continent 1.19G.000 quarters. The American visible supply of wheat is 9,600,000 bushels. There is an alarming increase of influenza, in London, and many deaths have been recirded. December 7. The debentures of the Queensland Investment Latd and Mortgage Company fell Ll2 10s, and are now quoted at LG ss. In the House of Commons Mr Edward T. Gourley, member for Sunderland, asked a question as to the soundness o£ the defences at Gibraltar, and declared they were not equal to those at Toulon. The Secretary of the War department declined to answer the question, explaining that to publish matters in connection with the defences would cause public mischief. A deputation, consisting of medical gentlemen, several members of society, and clergymen, waited upon Home-secretary Asquith, and urged that as the punishment of dLunkards had failed to remove the evil, legislation be enacted for the compulsory detention of drunkards during their recovery. Mr Asquith replied that a bill dealing with the question was in course of preparation. He deprecated compulsory detention, except in case* of habitual inebriates. Harding has been matched to row Bubear on the Thames. Professor T\ndall3ufferedfrom insomnia. Sir Wilfrid Lawson and other members of the House of Commons demand that the Local Veto Bill shall extend over the entire kingdom. Sir Charles Russell and Sir R. E. Webster have been created Knights of the Grand Cross for services in connection with the Bshring Sea Commission. News has been received that a diamond weighing 130 carats has been found in the Jaegersfontein mine. The British cargo steamer Jason has been wrecked at Boston. Life lines thrown from the shore missed the vessel, and 86 of the crew were drowned. The London police deny the discovery of dynamite in Schneider's house, and also that he has been arrested. Two brothers named Rorique are being tried at Brest, France, on charges o£ piracy and murder. It is alleged that during the voyage of the schooner Nuiroahiti in the South Seas they shot the captain, poisoned the crew, and enslaved a number of kanakas. The coolc of the vessel revealed the crime. The Chinese Government express satisfaction at the agreement between Sir Mortimer Durand (the British Commissioner) and the Ameer of Afghanistan respecting the Oxus frontier. Sir W. T. Marriott, M.P. for Brighton, resigns his seat in the House of Commons. M. Zinarrlelli having failed to form a Ministry at Rome, the King is consulting M. Crispi. Professor Tyndall's wife administered chloral in mistake for magnesia. His body is to b a cremated. The Committee of the Reichstag have adopted reciprocal commercial treaties with Servia and Roumania. The engines of one of the warships recently purchased in New York by the President of the Brazilian Republic have been wilfully di?abletf. The Bsichsrath has passed the Workmen's Insurance Bill. Under its provisions employers will be compelled to pay 90 per cent, of the premiums. The Australasian shipping companies are contemplating raisirg measurement freights by the mail steamers to 35 4 per ton. It is reported that the Admiralty will builJ immediately one first-class cruiser, fc-ur battle ships, and 14 torpedo- catchers of the H-tvoc type. The Daily News asserts that Sir G. Portal's report recDmmends that Uganda should be included in the Zanzibar protectorate. The evidence taken at Tahiti in the charge against the Roriquea of murder and piracy is being read in the court at Brest. Tee prisoners allege that the cook's story is an invention. Admiral Commerell and Maxim, the military inventor, inspected the Bosphorus fort?, and upon receiving their report the Sultan ordered the forts to be immediately strengthened. The Union Mortgage and Agency Company of Australia show a profit of L 20.400 for the year. The dividend wi'l be paid on ordinary shares, and only a half year's be paid on preference shares. The directois attribute tau shrinkage in the revenue to the di ought, the low pries obtained for wool, and general degression. j la the ccurae of an application to the ]

Supreme Court it was stated that if the result of the liquidation of the Federal Bank in Adelaide is equal to the other colonies creditors will be paid in full, and half the paid-up capital will be returned to the shareholders. The imports of the United Kingdom for the last month show a decrease of L 3,100,000 and the exports an increase of L 895.000. The body of the late Djwager Duchess of St. Albans has been cremated. New Zealand long-berried wheat (ex warehouse) 29s 3d, steady; South Australian do, 30?, restricted; Victorian do, 293 Gd, quiet. Frozen mutton : First qualßy, 4|d per lb ; second quality, 3|d per lb. Lamb: First quality, 4^d per lb. The hemp market is quiet ; 125 bales of New Z aaland were bought in. Danish butter, 122s per cwt. Queensland frozen calf, 2Ji per lb ; pork, s|d per lb. Sugar : Best German beet, firm, 12s 9d ; Java, quiet, 15s 63. No. 1 best Scotch pig iron (f.o.b. in Clyde), 43s 7£d. Three months' bills are discounted at 2r] per cent. The market is steady. Dacember 9. An Australian wheat cargo has been sold at 28?. The quotation of 95A- for 3.J per cent. New Zaaland inscribed stock is ex div. The Queensland Investment and Mortgage Company debentures have risen to 70. Arrangements are being made to extradite Jabez Spencer Balfour from Buenos Aj re?. The first sea-going ship passed through the canal from Liverpool and reached Manchester on Friday. Outward freights to Australia have been raised 2s 6 d by sailing vessels, 5 s by ordinary steamers, and 10i by mail steamers. Lord Cromer has been offered the Ambassadorship at St. Petersburg, rendered vacant by the death of Sir R. Morier. The Swiss National Council has granted a million for the permanent occupation of the forts commanding Sfc. Gothard. The dispute between the Victorian Treasury and the Associated Banks respecting the loan raised in 1891 was" referred to Mr Childers, who av/arded the Government L2IOO. Mr Audley Coote will attend the Paris Cable Conference. He states that the company will be prepared to lay a through cable when sufficient money is raised to take the line as far as Samoa. A Parisian woman, a patient in the late Dr Charcot's institute, fired three times with a revolver and wounded a doctor. The plea has been raised of hypnotic suggestion. Sir J. Thompson is willing to enter into a reciprocal reduction of duties with the United States, provided ii will not affect the allegiance of Canada to Great Britain. Mr Gladstone, replying to a deputation, gave a pledge that next session a measure would be brought in granting full local option. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile debenture stock is quoted at 88J. It is doubtful whether the statutory meeting of the company will be held b jf ore January, in consequence of the intervention of the Christmas holidays. The shareholders of the English, Scottish, and Australian Chartered Bank have re elected the old directors. Mr C. J. Hegan, the chairman, made a favourable statement as to the prospects of the bank, and announced that the old shareholders had taken 44,159 new shares. A London syndicate is prepared to make an immediate advance to the Melbourne Board of Works of L 200.000, pending the raising of tlig LBOO.OOO loan to be issued early in the year, provided the security to be given is quotable on the London Stock Exchange. The syndicate will not accept deposit receipts as security, because they are not so quotable. Lord Jersey read a paper on New South Wales before *the Imperial Institute. In somewhat guarded terms he remarked that Australia's greatest drawback was want of population. He advocated construction of irrigation works, though he thought it doubtful whether money could be borrowed for the purpose at present. Under sagacious leaders trades unionism would not be dangerous. He advised a healthier recognition of the rights of capital ; and praised Sir G. R. Dibbs's financial courage, but Sir H. Paikes, in his opinion, was the greatest political force in Australia. He doubted whether a Federal Government for Australia would be established in the near f ature. Sydney, hethought.oughttobe made a free port. He declared that a drawback to the vintages of New South Wales was that they ware not uniform. The proper remedy, in lU opinion, for strikes was a board of conciliation, a statement which was received with cheers. The paper concluded by predicting a great future for New SouHi Wales. The Times asserts that the affairs of the New Oriental Bank are managed in the worst possible wsy. The Batter Committee ask the Victorian Government to urge the P. and O. Company to ba more prompt in their delivery of consignments of butter, as delay causes loss to shippers. The company deny that there is any delay In the Education Act the age of compulsory attendance at elementary schools has bsen raised froTi 10 to 11 years. The House of Lords, by a large majority, have agreed upon the introduction into the Employers' Liability 811 of a clause providing for workmen contracSing themselves out of the provisions of the bill. The Radicals have compelled Mr Gladstone to alter the Parish Council Bill in the direction of disestablishment. The difficulties of the measure increase as it progresses. December JO. In future the English, Scottish, and Australian Bank will undertake short-dated deposits, and it is intended to close some of the branches in the colonies. Lady Somerset and cther3 are urging the Government to transfer 100 habitual inebriates from the prisons for the purpose of maintaining farm homes. During the Btrike 15,000 tons of foreign coal were imported, principally from New South Wales. Mr C. B. Harness, president of the Medical 13 ittery Company, in addressing the company, said be courted the fullest inquiry Jnto charges levelled againat him, and waa

confident he would gloriously vindicate his character. H.M.S. Crescent replaces the Orlando as the flagship on the Australian station. The Observer considers the change advantageous to Australia. In the House of Commons Mr George W. B. RusselJ, member for Biggleswade, has introduced a bill empowering India to borrow L 10.000,000 sterling, as the closing of the mints has reduced the value of bills. Lord Brassey declares it is impossible to longer postpone an increase to the Mediterranean fleet, and simultaneous with the declaration is the official announcement that H.M. ships Benbow and Gleaner are under orders to reinforce the fleet. Tallow : Medium mutton, 275 ; beef, 20s 3d. The Eaglish wheat market is inclined to buoyancy, Continental is a liUle brighter, and American is improving. For Australian forward shipments sellers are asking 29i, but buyers will not give more than 28s GI. For Australian wheat (off coast) sellers want 28a 9d, buyers refuse to give more than 253 3d. F..r New Zealand wheat (off coast) sellers are asking 27s 6d, but buyers want it for 26i Gd. The cargo of -wheat by the barque North, from Lyttelton, sold at 265. Australian and New Zealand butter unchanged. A shipment of pork by the Tekoais selling at s :^d. i December 11. The Queen of Hawaii is said to be unwilling to re-enter on the Thrcne unless she has American protection. An infernal machine was discovered on board the coffee steamer City of Washington on her voyage to Mexico. New York porters are suspected oE having placed it there. The Berlin press advise the adoption of an international agreement dealing with Anarchist outage?. A disturbance, the result of a feud between the Welsh Fusilliers and a Highland regiment stationed as Aldershot, bas taken place, and many were seriously injured. The officers were stoned. Two arrests have been made. The Tongariro's butter from New Zealand has arrived in good condition. It is understood that aa American syndicate is willing to ooparate with the London syndicate to underwrite the balance of the Melbourne Board of Works loan, provided a prompt decision is arrived at in the matter. December 12. Mr Sydney Buxbon, Parliamentary Undersecretary to the Colonial OfBc?, has iostiucted Sir Henry Loch to prevent the British South Africa Chartered Company seizing auriferous lands in Matabeleland. The Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works has refused a syndicate's tender for £900,000 worth of bank deposits*. Paris, December 9. The trial of the brothers Rorique for piracy and murder has concluded, and each of the accused has been sentenced to death. The Government is founding a system of river torpedoes similar to Russia. December 12. News has been received that the troops under Captain Hendy in Western Africa are surrounded by natives. Assistance is being sent from Sierra Leone. Berlin, December 7. The Russian Government claims the right to make Kilia (the north arm of the Danube river) navigable, but the commission which was appointed to consider the matter oppose the claim. Rome, December 8. M. Zanardelli failed in his effort to form a Cabinet, owing to his inability to suitably fill the portfolio of Minister for Finance. He could not find a member of the House willing to assume the office. Decembar 12. Signor M. Crißpi has succeeded in forming a Government. Maquay and Hooker's Bank in the city has suspended. A riot broke out in Gaardinillo, Sicily, and the troops were attacked. The latter fired, killing eight and wounding 14. Tli3 mob then seized the town clerk and his wife, beheaded ttern, and placed their heads on pikes. Tne custemi officer stationed at Bin, on j the Italian frontier, prevented the residents using fireworks during a religious festival. The mob became enraged and seized the unfortunate man, drenched him with petroleum, arid burot him to death. St. Petersburg, December 10. Upwards of 50 persons have been arrested in connection with the Nihilist plot at Warsaw. Many of those arrested were flogged with the knout. The leader of the conspiracy confessed. Antwerp, Dacsmber 11. The Hanseatic grain warehouses have been destroyed by fire. The damage is estimated at 6,000,000 francs. Calcutta, December 9 The Chambers of Commerce in B argil have taken evidecce which goes to s''iow that 300,000,000 (? rupees) will be required to meet all claims in the event of the abolition ot opium production, and even that will not appease the discontent or prevent disaster. Capetown, December 10. King Lobsngnla has reached the Bubi river, where he is lying ill. He has abandoned Ihe idea of crossing the Zambesi, and is said to ba anxious to come to term^. Washington, December 8 It is rurnoure 1 in the city that the policy for the restoration of the Monarchy in Hawaii has failed, the Queen decliniag to make the promises required of her by the United States Government. December 9. It is reported that the President has sent orders t? the United States Minister in Hawaii reversing the policy for the restoration of the monarchy. December 12. The Comrnittea of Ways and Means recommend that the duty on wire should be reduced to 20 per cent. New York, December (5. Madame Melba's debut here as Lucia was a great artistic triumph. Buenos Ayres, December 9. Congress has sanctioned an extradition treaty with G eat Britain, which affects Jabez 9?encer Balfour,