CABLEGRAMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2232, 10 December 1896, Page 13

CABLEGRAMS.

BRITISH AND FOBEIGN. London, November 30. The British and South Africa Chartered Company's additional capital of one million sterling has been subscribed. The taking of evidence by the Pacific Cable Commission will probably be finished by Christmas. A large number of experts have been examined, and it 1b intended to call Messrs Beeves and Pl&yford. The -hearing of the charge of criminal libel against Lady Scott and two men named Oockerton and Kaßt has been adjourned for a week owing to the illness of Kaßt. Lord Kelvin warmly approves of the establishment of permanent observatories on Mount Wellington (in Tasmania) and Mount Eosciusko (in New South Wales), especially favouring the former. He also favours the extension of the Queensland meteorological system, and is in sympathy with the proposed Antarctic expedition. • , December 1. The committee of the Frczsn Meat Asaooiation .are discussing a scheme pro- - pounded hy Mr Weddel for cold scning > sheds. The Dock Company express willingness to erect these, and the charge would be Id per' carcase. The underwriters are favourable to tbe proposal, which, it is believed, would materially reduce damage to the meat and facilitate the assessment of damage. The experiment of tea culture in tbe Caucasus has proved aucc9ssfnl. The Times Odessa correspondent telegraphs thai it is expected that tea-growirjg in Russia will prove, a powerful rival in the European markets. Sir Matthew W. Ridley, Secretary of State for the Home department, has informed the governor of -the gaol that Dr Jameson is to bo released immediately. The doctors advise that be is in a fit state to be moved from the prison Infirmaiy. The Medical Journal says Jameson is in a nervous condition, and his recovery will be slow. , j Mr Hobley has presented St. Paul's with a gold communion service as thanksgiving for tbe Queen's record roign service. It is the costliest in the world. Very cold weather is being experienced, and several deaths have occurred in London ! from this cause. - The commander of the warsbip Alecte on the West African station was fined lOOOdol by the Liberian Court for hostility towards British vessels. Tbe fine was only paid after a threat by tbe customs officials to seize the vessel 4n satisfaction of the fine. , Pecembar 2. ' A conference of representatives of Di>eentIng churches carried a resolution demanding tinse'etarian control and teaching in Stateaided schools. J ■ p • • • The premises of io firms in Foster square, Bradford, were " destroyed by < fire. -The damage is estimated at L 300.000. As the result of the inquiry into the Works department by the committee of the London County Council, four officers have been dismissed. In his evidence before the Pacific Cable Commission, Mr W. P. Reeves supported the route suggested by the Sydney Convention. Mr Playford's evidence was on the same lines as expressed by him before the Ottawa Conference. He urged the claims of South Australia. Dscember 3. The P. and 0. Company's report bkow3 that the profits for the year amounted to L 180.952. The sum of L 6952 is to be carried forward. The pasaenger revenue was the Highest ever reached, the outward business being especially buoyant. The Standard says that the Emperor and Empress of Germany, accompanied by two of their eldest sons, will attend the celebrations to be held next year in honour of the Queen's record reign. ~ The Daily News states^ that the Porte has disbanded eight battalions, and reduced the pay of the military by 25 per cent. • The Times announces that the decision of the Appeal Court' at Alexandria will not Affect'-the advance'of the Soudan expedition. ■ Dr Jameson- was released from Holloway Prison yesterday, and was driven to a private sanatorium. . The prospectus of the Kapai- Vermont Mining Company is being issued, There are 110.000 shares. A modus vivendi has been arrived at between the London and India Dock Companies' Joint Committee and the P. and 0. |in regard to dook charges. The project of the P. and 0. Company for building their Jwn wharves in the Thames has therefore flan shelved* -

In the course of a speech before the British Empire League the Duke of Devon- . Bhire said the Government attached the highest importance to the renewal of the | naval sgceement with Australia as being a ! step towards general Imperial defence. Ha hoped a conference would be held in London Bhortly to discuss the whole question, whea the colonies should not hesitate to undertake a very moderate share of the expenses allotted them. Obituary • Bishop TufnolJ. December 4. News has been received that heavy floode [ have been experienced at Montaarrat, during which 75 people were drowned. December 5. At the annual meetieg of the New Zealand ! Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Mr Edward M*rtin, the chairman, in his address said he believed that the whole of the deficits referred to in the report occurred prior to the new company being formed. There bad, he said, been no depreciation »ince, and the board was now discussing a readjustment of the capital. The policy of the company was not to acquire new properties bat to consolidate and improve the existing ones. A severe south-east gale was experienced at Brighton, and the chain pier was carried away. Mr A. B. Miles has been appointed manager of George Webster's estate, and' a member of bis firm proceeds to Australia to administer it. Mr Conyngham Greene, formerly secretary to tha British Legation in Teheran, and who succeeded Sir Jacobus de Wet as British Agent in the Trausvaal, has declined to receive from the British residents an address, as he objects to an expression contained therein hoping that he would assist in maintaining the supremacy of the Empire. Some of the Unionist papers in London condemn the action of Mr Greene. December 7. Lord Elgin reports that partial rains are improving the lodian crops, and prices are falling. Two hundred and beventy thousand are err ployed on relief works. The National Agricultural Association at Birmingham passed a resolution in favour of a zollverein of Great Britain and the colonies. ' Pabk, November 30. Frenob merchants propose to take advantage of the German deck strike to divert trade to Marseilles. Socialists at Oarmaux pelted and hissed Jures, a prominent Socialist Dapnty. Fights occurred in the streets. Dacember 1. The Chamber of Deputies haa carried a motion ordering the release of M Chaufin, a Socialist member of the Chamber, .who .waß arrested at Cartnaux on a charge of assaulting an opponent with' a loaded stick. . M. Gochery, Minister for F,inanc?y,askß-the Chamber to devote the sum of eight millions sterling to the, construction of warships, of which amount he proposed to expend two millions next year. The Chamber of Deputies, by a majority of 99, rejected a motion to denounce the Concordat. December 3. The Socialists in the Chamber of Deputies ! propose to reduce the Army and Navy Estimates by 22 million francs, and are also opposed to calling out the reserves. December 6. The Brest Marine Artillery, in celebrating I All Saints' Day, attacked the foot .artillery with-stones and sabres. Many men of both companies were wounded. Inquiries have been ordered. Berlin, November 30. The German courts have been directed to deal rigorously with foreigners who are found guilty of fomenting strikes. December 3. ! Two pressmen are being tried in the Berlin Court on a" charge of libelling Count Eutenberg, Baron Marsohall yon Bieberstein (Minister of Foreign Affairs), and Prince Hohenloha (Chancellor). The libel was contained in an article on the Czar's Epeech at his reception at Brt?lau, which alleged that Eutenterg, acting in the interests of England, had put forward a false version of the Czar's sentiments. December 4. After January the United Spates Government have decided to admit German vessels free of tonnage duty. A maritime newspaper states that Gdrmany will reoiprocate. December 5. The trial of two local newspaper men revealed a conspiracy to injure Marshal yon Bieberstein, Foreign Secretary, by foreign officials through newspaper articles. Herr , Touech, Chief Secretary of Police, is said to be the chief officer implicated. His agent.

Litzom, as editor, has confessed that, under 1 direction, he published an article alleging that Count; yon Euleaburg spread a false version of the Czar's speeoh at Brealan in the 1 interest of Great Britain, and declaring that Marshal yon Bieberatein desiied the fact known. December 7. In consequence of the allegations against him in connection with the newspaper prosecutions, Herr Tansch, chief of the German police, has been suspended. Vienna, December 6. Two military officere, who insulted a party of citizens in Olrau'z, were afterwards waylaid and severely maltreated. Constantinople, December 2. The Porte has agreed to the tentative employment of foreign officers in the Cretan military. December 7. The Young Turkish movemant is extending despite the constant arrests of members of the party, who are punished by torture and exile. Rome, December 2. The Marquis Budini stated in the Chamber of Deputies that political and military necessity demanded the retention or Kassala, but Erythrea would present a peimansnt danger if maintained. As th«y mubfc transform the military into, a. civil government and make it a commercial colony, it was impossible to keep within the Massowah-Keren-Astnara triangle. The Government were at present unable to solve the problem of frontier defence, and, desired the views of i Parliament on the subject". December 3. News from Zanzibar states that the Somalia killed Celchi, the Italian consul, and wounded the captains of two Italian warships and six other officers. Thfe Chamber of Deputies, by a majority of 157 votes, carried a motion expressing confidence in the Marqnls Rndini. The Duke of Sarmoneta, Minister for Foreign Affairs, will move for the abandonment of the colony of Erythrea. December 4. The Somalia are said to be in great force. The Italian troops are forming a camp 15 miles inland. December 5. The Government have decided to send a punitive expedition to Somaliland. Athens, December 6. Greeca refused the Porte's demand to recall the conitul in Crete. The Porte is promoting disorder among Christians on the island. December 7. Twelve thousand Gre*k reserves are mobilising. It i 6 believed this step ia taken owing to the menacing situation in the Balkans. " , Caieo, December 2. , The Appeal Court at Alexandria condemned, the action of the Government In using Caisse de la Dstte reserve funds for the expenses of the Soudan expedition. December 3 Lord Oomer has. informed the Khedive that Great Britain will advance • half a million towards the cost of the Soudan expedition. December 7. ,The amount advanced by the Caisse de la Dette towards the cost of the Dongola expedition has been refunded. The Khedive has expressed a lively sense of gratitude for British aid in regaining the lost provir.ee. Calcutta, December 3. The plague in Bombay ia Increasing. 'Bombay, December 4. Several Europeans have died here from the plague. St John's, Dscember 3. The Newfoundland Government have taken over the control of the railways in the island. They bad hitherto been in private hands. Zanzibar, December 3. In an engagement between Italians and ( Somalis, in which the Italian consul (Cecohi) was. killed, the former made & heroic defence, and lost 14 of their men and the Somalis 18. Shanghai, December 5. Loh Feng, who has been Li Hung Chang's interpreter, has been appointed Chinese envoy to England. Capetown, December 7. The Boers in Northern Natal and the adjacent Orange Free State districts are arming and laagering. They profess to be afraid' of a native rising. New Yobk, December 6. Mapleson's Opera Company have collapsed in New York. The season's losses amount to L 23.000. A movement ia on foot to present Mr , Bayard, the American Minister to Great I Britain, with a national Christmas gift.

December 7. At Mr Bayard's request the project of a Christmas gift has been abandoned.