CABLEGRAMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2303, 21 April 1898, Page 17

CABLEGRAMS.

BRITISH AKD FOSEIQN. London, April 12. An engine collided with a volunteer train Rt Bisley and seriously injured 25 men. The German racing clubs have decided to adopt the Australian starting machine. The Austrp-Hungarian institutions are U3ing A local invention. Laudatory reviews have been published of Mr W. P. Reeves's book entitled, "Story of New Zealand," published in the Empire series. April 13. Renewed fighting has taken place in the hinterland of Sierra Leone between the British force and the revolted natives. Fifty men of the West India Eegiment are missing. April 14. At a meeting of Irish landowners in Dublin, at whi,ch the Duke of Absrcorn presided, it was resolved to ask Parliament to consider the landlords' claims to Government compensation. By the death o£ Captain TJrquhart, who was killed in the recent battle in the Soudan, Mr H. H. Champion, the well-known social advocate, of Melbourne, inherits an estate worth L7OOO a year. Mr T. Playford, Agent-general for South Australia, is ordering copper wire to duplicate the overland telegraph line between Adelaide and Pert Darwin. Lady Mcxix bas purchased Mr W. Kelso's racehorse Survivor for 2000gs. The shareholders of the British South Africa Chartered Company propose the appointment of Mr Cecil Rhodes, Mr Alfred Beit, and Mr Maguire to the directorate of the company. The report of the Chartered Company, presented to a meeting of the : shareholders, speaks hopefully of the future of Ehodesia, and states that it is proposed to borrow a million and a-half. j April 15. ! The North British and New Zealand Investment Company's balance sheet shows a I profit of L 2063. A dividend of 2A per cent, has been declared. The Times St. Petersburg correspondent wires that Privy Councillor Peroneff and his j daughter have bean sentenced to Siberia for life for selling to Austrian agent military documents relating to the defences of. Eusna. Five others, mostly officials, received lesser sentences. April 17. The Very Eev. Dominic Murray, prior of the Augnstinian Monastery, Echuca, Victoria, has been appointed Vicar Apostolic of North Queensland, in succession to the late j Bishop Hutchinson. i From Vienna it is reported that the construction of a waterway from the Baltic to the Black Sea has been decided upon. The canal will start from the Gulf of Riga, and will join the Biack Soa near Kherson ; the •cost (to be 220,000,000 -roubles (about 84^ millions sterling). The Times says that if, New South Wales rejeots the Federation Bill the prospects of | federation will be indefinitely retarded. ] The Duke of. York commands H.M.S. j Crescent during the season's mar ceuvres. ] Paris, April 13. j Queen Victoria, who,is oa her annual visit ! to the South of France, has had an audience with President Faure. Proposals of a conciliatory nature have been made by the French Government in regard to West Africa. The differences as to the occupation of Boussa have been reduced to two points. April 14. M. Faure, the President, visited Qaeen Victoria at Oimiez, near Nice, to-day. The Prince of Wales afterwards visited the President. Bbblin, April 12. An article is published in the Cologne Gazette strongly censuring President Kruger in connection vifeh the administration of Transvaal affairs. The newspaper advises Kruger not to irritate England, the protectorate power. • April 14. The German press declares that Germany will not grant favoured nation treatmeut to the British colonies unlesß German imports are admitted on the same terms as the British. April 16. Despite the intervention of the Qaeeu, the Czar, and Kaiser, a separation between the Grand Dake of Hesse and his wife has virtually been decided upon. St. Petersburg, April 13. Eighty-six-students and Socialist agitators have been arrested in this city. ' - Constantinople. April 16. Foreign ambassadors at Constantinople sent a Joint Note to the Porte requesting the evacuation of Thessaly within a month. Athens, April 13. The Austrian troops and fleet have been withdrawn from Crete. A serious fracas has occurred between the Turkish and French troops at Canea, Crete. Rome, April 16. The Chamber of Deputies has authorised the prosecution of four deputies concerned in the Cavalotli duel, April 18. Signor Crispi haa been re-elected to the Chamber of Deputies for Palermo. Teheban, April 14. Shah Mohamed, leader of the gang who murdered Mr Greaves, official of the Persian telegraph service, has been captured. Tokio, April 11. The Japanese Budget for the year discloses a deficit of L 8.000.000. Calcutta, April 15. Four of the Moslems concerned in the Bombay plague riots have been sentenced to transportation for life. One was sentenced to death, Ottawa, April 11. Sir William Van Home, President of the Canadian Pacific Railway, intends to employ White Star liners and Teutonic liners on the Vancouver-Yokohama line, and the Empress liners on the Vancouver-Australian route. He also hope 3to reduce the time between Liverpool and Quebec to three and a-half days. April 14. Canada has appointed a Minister to act trith Sir J. Pauncefote in negotiating a sealH»g treaty with &c United States,

April 16. The Toronto branch of the British Empire League passed a resolution in favour of preferential trade between Britain and the colonies, and also declare! that Canada ought to contribute to Imperial defence more liberally. »