CABLE BREVITIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2288, 6 January 1898, Page 9

CABLE BREVITIES.

Greece is engagiag Austrian officers to reorganise her army. .

A great fire occurred at King's Lynn, Norfolk. The damage is estimated at L.150,000.

President Kmger made a Seres attack upon Mr Cscil Rhodes, whom he etigmatieeel as Transvaal's greatest opponent.

Russia has begun the construction of a railway from Merv, in the Transcaspian territory, to Kushk, a distance of about 200 miles.

Great distress prevails in Vienna. Thera is also widespread discontent amongst the lower classes in the country districts throughout the empire.

A borub exploded daring a performance in the German Theatre at Olinulz, Mcravia.

Great alarm was caused, but fortunately only little damage was done.

Et ports have reached New York that Spauiah troops failed to prevent the landing of a filibustering expedition at Bahia Honda, Cuba. Fierce fighting took place. Tbe casualties on both sides numbered 1000.

A dissolution of the Greek Cbatnber o£ Deputies! is imminent. It is unlikely that the Greek Government will proceed with the prosecution of the leaders of the EthDike Hetairia, or Greek National Society.

General Galboni, French Rssident at Madagascar, ha 3 imposed a poll tax of 3|f upon every male in Imarnia, the central province of the island, besides taxing the rice fields and houses of tha Malagasies.

Ths prosecution in the casg of seven members and ex-members of tbe French Chamber of Deputies charged with complicity in thß Panama Canal frauds has been abandoned. The only accused now to fes

triod are MM. Arton, St. Martin, Marat, aa£ PI antes.

Petersen, Tate, and Co., contractors for ft 20-knot steam service between Liverpool and Canada, hare deposited with the Canadian Government 100,00030 las a guarantee of their hena fides in regard to carrying out the coatract.

The Afrikander Band, or Dutch party in the Cape Parliament, has protested against tha proposed contribution or a battleship to the Imperial Navy, and prefers tha payment of a yearly subsidy of L 20.000 towards tha construction of an all-Briti&h cable to England.

Australian steamship companies (says the Sydney Daily Telegraph) are already preparing for the expected rush of miners from the colonies to the Klondyke goldfislds in the e*rly part of next year, and several large steamers have been advertised for service on fche berth in anticipation.