CABLEGRAMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2369, 27 July 1899, Page 18

CABLEGRAMS.

HOME AND FOREIGN. LONDON, July 17. Sir H. S. King, member for Hull, intends to question the Government in the House of Commons why Prince Banjitsinhji, who is a son of the Jam of Navangar, has been deprived of the heirdom to his fathers estate. After his last visit to Australia Ranjitsinhji went to India with reference to the succession to the estate. A pigeon service is to be utilised in connection with the naval manoeuvres. Commander F. C. Sturdee, of H.M.S. PoTpoise, has been promoted to a captaincy in recognition of his services during the recent troubles at Samoa. July 18. The convicts at Dartmoor are in a rebellious state. Five attempts were made within the past fortnight to escape. The balance sheet of the Union Bank shows that the deposits amount to £1,483,784 ; cash investments, £4,662,047 ; bills and securities, £15,110,258. Rudyard Kipling, who is on a visit to London, was bitten badly by a dog. The Duke of Westminster has presented the 10,000 sovereigns won by his colt in the Eclipse Stakes to the Rhyl Hospital, Wales. The British Methodist centenary fund has reached the sum of £700,000. In connection with the Ritualistic movement, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, sitting as a Consistorial Court, are hearing arguments of counsel as to the legality of the practice of reserving the Sacraments. At the Bisley meeting Mr F. W. Williams, of New Zealand, won the Armourers' Prize, and he "was also seventh in the Alexandra Matah. The total quantity of wheat and flour afloat for the United Kingdam is 2,549,000 quarters, and for the Continent 1,260,000 quarters. A great flight of English and Belgian pigeous was made from Thurso last Tuesday, including birds belonging to the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York. None of the pigeons, however, reached their destination. During the progress of the test cricket match to-day some commotion was caused by the collapse of the roof of the refreshment shed, on which n number of spectators were standing. A waiter was injured. The House of Commons by a large majority rejected the bill prohibiting the manufacture for sale or the importation of margarine, coloured so as to resemble butter. , July 19. Sir Thomas Lipton'j? America Cup- yacht the Shamrock outsailed the yacht Britannia by 13 minutes over a 40 mile course. The Prince of Wales was on board the Britannia. At the tallow sales 1300 casks were offered, and 450 were sold. Prices remain unchanged. The Prince of Wales witnessed the trial of Couch's starting gate, and the working of the apparatus was photographed by the Princess of Wales. Great heat is being experienced in England, and several deaths from heat apoplexy are reported. Many Grenadiers who have just returned from service in the Soudan were . overcome by the heat while marching to the Aldershot manoeuvres. The Rev: F. W. Mac Donald has been elected president of the Wesleyan Conference, now sitting in London, for tha ensuing year. The Queen's Bench haVe ordered the Leicester Board of Guardians to appoint a public vaccinator. The decision involved an interpretation of the act. Mrs Gladstone was thrown from a carriage into a ditch at Hawarden. She is suffering from severe nervous shock. Lord Kitchener announces that the Soudan is already paying taxes five times in excess of expectations. July 20. Deane, the cashier of the Bank of Australasia, has been committed for trial for embezzlement. Lady Salisbury is slowly improving. She has received great expressions of sympathy. The Woolwich Committee of Experts, after inquiry into the defects of " Mark Four" ammunition, recommend the War Office to add antimony to the composition of the lead core, thus hardening the bullet and lessening the expansion. The Hon. John M'Kenzie, Minister for Lands in New Zealand, has undergone a serious operation successfully. He is progressing favourably. At the second trial between the yachts Shamrock and Britannia the weather was fine and the sea almost calm. The Shamrock established a lead of 12 minutes, and the Britannia then resigned. The great heat continues. In London the temperature is 86deg in the shade. The American visible supply of wheafa is 47.596,000 bushel^

July 21, The freedom of the city of London hai ' •been conferred on Mr Henniker Heaton.. The latter acknowledged the sympathetic assistance of English and colonial states-, men, and the splendid unswerving - support of tie press of the " English-speaking" nations. The Lord Mayor entertained Mr Heaton. A disastrous fire at Wycombe (Bucking-* hamshire) has rendered 50 families homeless. July 22; The Muchross estate, which includes the 'Lakes of Killarney, has been sold to Mr Thos. Gallagher, of Ballygoland, Greeacastle, Antrim, head of the great tobacco manufacturing firm of the same name, for £85,000. The Treasury is unable to formulate conditions for the coinage of silver by colonial mints until it is settled whether all the mints or only one is to undertake the.. coinage. The Treasury' favours the latter plan, and requires the colonies to indicate methods for overcoming the difficulties of' over-issue, the checking of undue exportation of coin, and the redemption 1 of worn, silver. At the Eastern Telegrafph Company's meeting, the Marquis of Tweeddale said ife was highly improbable that Marconi's wireless telegraphy would compete with cables. He noted Mr Chamberlain's assurance that! the Pacific cable would be worked on commercial lines at remunerative rates. The • j company did not fear ordinary opposition on equal terms if they received the same facilities for landing rights and fair play in regard to the collection and delivery of messages, though the Government's ability to obtain capital at 2£ per cent, placed a private concern at a great disadvantage. The company would otherwise be able to work as economically and efficiently as the Government. One of the company's principal objections to undertaking the Pacific, line was the belief that it was not a good commercial route, owing to the great length between Vancouver and Fanning Island not giving a sufficiency of speed to enable ib to develop a payable traffic. It was a risky operation to lay or raise a cable at such, a great depth. He complained of the gross inaccuracies of the opponents of the company. He cordially supported the ap1 pointment of a Royal Commission, to inquire- into the- question of foreign telegraph charges. The existing inequalities were , caused by the Egyptian, Indian, and Far East tariffs being practically controlled by European Governments. The greatest obsbaole to a reduction of the tariff is the necessity for obtaining the consent of these Governments. If the British Government lay the Pacific cable it should, in the spirit; of the International Telegraph Convention, charge the same tariffs as the present, unless European Governments consented to a reduction. If Great Britain secured that consent the company were prepared to give effect to reductions. Already the Australian rate was considerably lower than, the competitive Atlantic -rate, and but for Australian opposition would be lower still. The companies were quite ready to make further reductions to India, Egypt, Australia, and the Cape. News has been received that by the breaking of a connecting rod a serious explosion occurred wQiich destroyed the Bullfinch, while making a steam trial in the - Solent. Eighb of the crew were killed, and six injured. The Queen sent messages of condolence to the relative's and sufferers. At the Bisley meeting Private Prianix,. of the Guernsey militia, < Avon the Queenls prize with a score- of 336, after tieing with a Welshman and a Scotchman. The Queen's Edinburgh Mounted Infantry team won the Lloyd Lindsay match with 116 points. The New South Wales Lancers weie last; at the International University sports on the Queen's Club's ground. The Cambridge University beat those from the Yale and Harvard Universities by five events. July 24. The Times attributes a decline in consols to sellers unloading in anticipation of a reduction of interest in 1903. The new cold stores erected at Manchester for the Colonial Consignment Company were opened by the Lord Mayor. Among those present were the Hon. J. G. Ward and Mr Nelson. News from the Solent states that two more deaths have occurred as the result; of the explosion, on the Bullfinch. Wireless ■ telegraphic messages were exchanged with the fleet during I/he manoeuvres aver a distance ot 30 miles. Mr Goschen, referring to his offer to refrain from the projected expansion of the j navy if Russia would also refrain, stated that as Russia has taken no decision in the matter lie was no longer justified in deferring the British programme. " PARIS; July 17. On. the recommendation of M. Delcasse, Presideni Loubefc has conferred the Legion of Honour unon the German naval offices

who rescued a French sailor from ingThere is -a prospect of a great winehai'yesfc in France this year. M. Deroulede, president of the League of Patriots, made a violent speech in Paris. He denounced what he called the present false Republic. He had started the league with the avowed object of establishing a Plebiscitary Republic. He admitted the present demonstration was seditious, and that he was liable to prosecution, but he warned the Government that his supporters were ready for any action. The speech was received with frantic cheers by the crowd. July 18. The French Geographical Society awarded its gold medal to Major Marchand for his work in Africa. The officers who accompanied Major Marchand's Fashocia expedition have been reincorporated into the French army, and his Senegalese troops have embarked at Toulon on their return to Africa. Major Marohand was sent for his holiday to the provinces to avoid demonstrations in his honour, the probabilities of which are causing the Government anxiety. July 22. The city is excited over a report that the Czar had sent a telegram to Prince Louis Joseph Napoleon, one of the heads of the Bonapartist party, and at present a colonel in a Russian regiment, cordially hoping that each year would bring him nearer the time when he would realise the best wishes of his numerous French and Russian friends. BERLIN, July 20. The German Empress slipped on a wet plank and badly sprained her ankle. July 21. In the recent accident tlie German Empress fra/Cbured the fibula. She will be disabled for six weeks. TRIESTE, July 21. Admiral Dewey, who has arrived here on his ' way to America from the Philippines, on being interviewed, laughed at the Peace Conference. He declared that America would certainly not disarm. She was at present building 40 warships. A successful experiment in wireless telegraphy was made between here and Venice, a distance of 70 miles. ST. PETERSBURG, July 19. The Czar has decorated Herr Gruitch, late German Minister a.t St. Petersburg, and has warned ex-King Milan of Servia to cease persecuting the Radicals. ROME, July 20. A sharp shock of earthquake, lasting eight seconds, occurred here, and created a panic. The chief damage occurred in the suburbs, but there were no fatalities. The earthquake shocks alarmed the Pope, i who was having his afternoon siesta at his villa. His Holiness fled into the garden. Mount Etna (Sicily) is in violent eruption. July 21. Many churches in Rome have been closed. Numbers of houses were injured, and many families are homeless. July 24. Senor Pelloux, the Premier, has directed the courts to enforce a- drastic public bill, though Parliament has not sanctioned the measure, declaring it to be essential to counteract socialists. ST.JPETERSBURG, July 21. Lieutenant Boisman, who was attache to the Czarewitch, has committed suicide owing to tho Czar's reproaches for allowing the Czarewitch to cycle unattended. CAIRO, July 22. A reconnaissance of Egyptian troops ascertained that the Khalifa is in desperate straits for food and ammunition. He has very few followers. AMSTERDAM, July 21. At the Peace Conference the British and American delegates voted in favour of the use of asphyxiating shells and expanding bullets. The representatives of all the other Powers were opposed to the proposal. July 24. The Arbitration Committee adopted a scheme for submission tc the Peace Conference. BOMBAY, July 21. An injection of Professor Calmette's serum cui-ed a patient suffering from snakebite at Meerut. A British soldier at Allahabad has been sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment and discharged from the army with ignominy for striking a coolie. SHANGHAI, July 24. 'A Chinese mission, nominally with a commercial intent, sent to Japan, is empowered to discuss the question of an alliance. Li Hung Chang opposes the movement. TOKIO, July 18. Consular Courts have been abolished in Japan. The first trial before the native court is that of an American charged with murder. CAPETOWN, July 22. *Ir Cecil Rhodes deprecates tlr proposal &£ the Council of the British South African

Chartered Company to tax Ca"pe products entering Rhodesia. NEW YORK, July 19. The bicycle makers in New York have combined, with a capital of 40,000,000d01. July 20. Train strikers dynamited the elevated railway in Brooklyn, New York, breaking the pillars supporting the structure. The police ultimately dispersed the rioters by firing their revolvers in the air. Twenty-two leaders of the train strikers in Brooklyn lhave, been arrested for conspiracy. - T3ie elevated railway has been repaired. By a fire in a grain elevator at Brooklyn a quarter of a million bushels of wheat were burned. Tho trouble amongst the elevated railway employees has spread to New York, where many fights .have taken place with the police. One hundred arrests have been made. WASHINGTON, July 18. The American war correspondents in the Philippines protested against the rigid censorship of their telegrams by General Otis, thus suppressing the truth in regard to unsuccessful operations in the Philippines. July 19. The war correspondents' exposures of General Otis' s tactics have occasioned a violent patriotic outburst in America, affecting President M'Kinley's popularity. July 20. The serious agitation has at last induced Mr Alger to resign the Secretaryship of War. President M'Kinley accepts < the resignation shortly. July 22. A Reuter's agency states that an Italian, at Louisiana, shot an American doctor, whose friends lynched the Italian and five of the Italian's friends. Mr Hay, Secretary of State, has communicated with the Italian Government ex- ■ pressing regret at the lynching of Italians in revenge for shooting a doctor. Mr Elihu Root, a prominent New York lawyer, succeeds Mr Alger as Secretary for War. Obituaiy : Colonel Robert Ingersoll. [Robert G. Ingersoll was born at New York in 1833. The family removed to Illinois in 1845, where Robert studied law, was admitted to tho Bar, and entered political life as a Democrat. He was nominated for Congress in 1860, but was defeated. In 1862 he entered the army as colonel of a regiment of cavalry, and was taken prisoner, but was exchanged. Returning to civil life ho became a Republican, and in 1868 was made Attorney-general of Illinois. At the Republican Convention of 1876 his speech, in proposing Mr Blame's namo for the Presidency, aroused general attention for its eloquence, and since that time Colonel Ingersoll has been prominent before the country as a public speaker. He has often appeared upon the lecture platform in advocacy of views opposed to Christianity, and to the orthodox conception of the Bible, views which he has also maintained in contributions to periodicals. It is chiefly to this scepticism that he owes hia celebrity.] HONOLULU, July 21. Tho volcano Mauna Loa is in a~ state of violent eruption. OTTAWA, July 18. In the Dominion Parliament, Sir Wilfrid Laurier proposed an address to the Queen requesting an amendment of the Constitution enabling, in certain contingencies, a joint sitting of the Senate and Commons, a majority to decide the question in dispute. July 22. The Dominion House of Commons, by 77 to 41, rejected Sir Charles Tupper's resolution urging that efforts be made to secure preferential treatment for Canadian produce in English markets. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, in the course of a speech, said Canada was unable at present to dispense with the taxation on British goods. He did not despair of eventually realising Mr Chamberlain's idea of imperial free trade. July 24. Sir Charles Tupper strongly condemned America for delaying a settlement of the Alaskan boundary dispute. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the Premier, said the Canadian case was impregnable, and would ba maintained. He urged patience, and hoped ihe matter would be referred to arbitration..

INTERCOLONIAL. MELBOURNE, July 18. The railway revenue for the year has increased by £265,000 as compared with the previous year. The Eastern Extension Cable Company proposals provide that the cable from Perth to Glenelg be submarine, thus removing the annoying delays of an overland line. The route of the cable would be from Natal to Mauritius, - thence to Rodrigues and Cocos Islands, and on to Perth. The scheme is favourably received in commercial circles. July 19. Medor, charged with the Eastern Market murder, was acquitted on the ground of insanity. [On April 10 Gordon Emery Medor, an eccentric astrologer, after a prolonged drinking tiout attacked Annie Stevens, wife of the keeper of a phonographic parlour. He fired a shot from a revolver which wounded her in the arm, but with rare presence of mind she grappled with him as he tried to press the ttmizzle of the revolver against her temple, and succeeded in diverting the direction of the second bullet. Frank Spencer Stevens, attracted by the shot, dashed after the astrologer as the latter retired to his own rooms. Two more shots were heard immediately afterwards, and, after some delay, Barnet Freedman, another shopkeeper entered. He met Medor at the entrance of the inner office brandishing a revolver in his right hand and a long dagger, dripping with blood, in his left hand. Freedman attempted to secure. Medor, and in the scuffle the dagger entered liis right eye. A man nojmed Goodisson then seized JMedor. Sfevens was found lying face downwards on the floor of the outer office. His head was half severed from tho trunk by two vigorous slashes with the dagger. There had been ill-feeling between Medor and the other shopkeepers, who sometimes played practical jokes on him while he was on a drinking bout.] A man arrested has been identified as the perpetrator of the recent jewel robberies. July 20. The manager of the Eastern Extension Company has received a cable stating that the first section of the Land's End (Cornwall) to Capetown cable will be proceeded with at once. If the necessary consent is given by the Australian Governments, within two years these colonies will be connected with England via the Cape. July 22. The woman Butler has been committed for trial on the charge of murdering her father. SYDNEY, July 18. A syndicate has been formed in Sydney to work the gold deposits on Woodlark Island, New Guinea. The promoter hr-s just returned from a visit to the i&lanl, and reports that the lode is extensive and very rich. A ton and a-half of stuff yielded 60oz of gold. The repairs to the Perthshire are completed, and after coaling she resumes hrir voyage to New Zealand. The Monowai is undergoing repairs. The Oonah replaces her, leaving on Saturday. The Governor opened Parliament at noon. There was a large and brilliant attendance. The leading features of the Speech were as previously forecasted. The proposed bills include the establishment of a State savings bank ; relief for miners injured in mines and their dependent relatives in the form of a fund jointly contributed by the ininers, the mine-owners, and the State. In regard to the reform of the Upper House, the Speech states that in view of the early establishment of the Federal Parliament it would be useless to place in the forefront of the business of the session any •measure of constitutional reform affectingone House only. Reference is also made to the success of the Pacific cable negotiations. A caucus of the Opposition decided*to make no antagonistic move against the Government at present. The Legislative Council carried the Address-in-Reply. In the House, an amendment was moved urging the Government to hr.pose customs duties and remit certain proportions of direct taxation. Mr Barton strongly attacked the Government, chiefly in connection with the purchase of a private railway. He announced that he would not take active measures fgainat the Government while federation was proceeding satisfactorily. July 19. On the debate on the Address-in-Reuly,

Mr JNorton made a nerce attack an the Premier's action in connection with the negotiations with the Bank of New Zealand over the purchase of the Rosehill railway for £22,500, when Parliament author- | ised only £20,000. Mr Norton alleged, from information received from discharged officials of the bank, that Mr Reid had received accommodation from the bank to the extent of £2000, the only security being a life policy for £100 with no surrender value. He charged the Premier with corruption in the matter, as well as in connection with a transaction relating to the sale of a colliery, another of the Bank of New Zealand's properties. * Mr Norton further stated that he was prepared to place press copies of letters and shorthand notes relating to the whole business at the disposal of the House. ' Mr Reid, replying with strong emotion, ! said Air Norton's statements were infamous lies. He admitted that he had an account with the bank, which was transferred to ifc as an outside institution in preference to dealing with a bank with a local directorate. He also admitted having overdrawn the account, but had yet to learn that this was a criminal proceeding. When the matter came up he candidly informed the Cabinet of his financial relations with the bank, so that there could be no suspicion in the matter. In coming to terms with the bank, he had the report of the Railway Commissioners, dated 1896, advising the purchase at £25,000. The final negotiations were conducted by the Railway Commissioners and a representative of the bank. July -20. Mrs Vawser, the wife of a Broken Hill miner, drowned herself and child in a well. 111-health is assigned as the probable cause. In the Assembly the Premier showed that in evevy step of the negotiations with the- Bank of New Zealand he had consulted and had received the sanction of the highest and most trusted officials. So far from there being any secret understanding, it was known to every officer in the department. Ultimately it was agreed that the difference should be split, and that the bank be paid the sum of £22,500. He challenged anyone to say' that ;he had ever obtained a penny piece from the bank without paying interest. , He repudiated the least insinuation that the letter of credit which he had obiained in London had been given him by way of favour from the bank. Mr Barton; in the' name of the Opposition, strongly condemned the attack on the Premier, who, he said, had easily repelled all the charges made. The deoate stands adjourned, but before separating the House gave three cheers for the Premier. July 21. Governor Le Hunte, of New Guinea, has returned from' an extended visit to the group, and is favourably impressed with the prospects. He is receiving many applications for land. The steamer Perthshire has sailed for the Bluff. Negotiations between representatives of the owners, the underwriters, and Mr Mills (managing director of the Union Steam Ship Company) resulted in about £5000 being paid for the services of the Talune to the Perthshire. Mr Blair, the engineer of the Perthshire, has been presented with an illuminated address by the Queensland engineers. July 22. At the yearly meeting of the City Bank a dividend of 4 per cent, was declared, and £9098 carried forward. At the annual meeting of the jCommerpial Banking Company a dividend of 8 per cent., was declared, and £19,020 carried forward. Both reports are hopeful, and speak of improving business. BRISBANE, July 20. A Royal Commission v has been appointed to inquire into the administration of the Queensland police. The commission sets forth that, whereas certain crimes have been committed and the perpetrators have not been brought to justice, doubts have arisen

as to the efficiency of the criminal invest!' gation branch of the force. x PERTH, July 19. The body of Conway, a seaman on the City of York, has been recovered. Two other bodies have been seen entangled in the wreckage. It is intended to sell the vessel bj auction. July 20. The bodies of Baxter, the second mate of the ship Carlisle Castle, and Plantin, seaman, have been washed ashore. The vessel is breaking up. Her hull and cargo were sold for £323, July 21. A fourth body from the wreck of thi City of York has been washed ashore The official inquiry found that the wreck was the result of carelessness and want of judgment on the part of the captain. .There has been only one body washed ashore from the Carlisle Castle. ADELAIDE, July 23. The Inspector of Mines has.reported unfavourably on the recent gold discovery at Port Augusta. He says there is little prospect of a payable field. HOBART, July 22. - A barque has sailed for East London (South Africa) with 260,000 ft of railway sleepers and consignment? of apples and .potatoes, with which to test the Souft. African markets.