CABLEGRAMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2455, 3 April 1901, Page 13

CABLEGRAMS.

BRITISH AM* FOREIGN. LONDON, March 25. An avalanche descended upon the villages of Simplon and Senz, in Switzerland. Several people were fatally crushed, and others were rescued after enduring terrible sufferings for three days. France has begun the construction of two ironclads, each of which is to cost one million and a-half sterling. Their tonnage will be 14,865, their speed 18 knots an hour, and each will carry 50 guns. Earl Cadogan retains the position of LordLieutenant of Ireland for another year. Lord Salisbury, the Prime Minister, is suffering from a chill. The betting on the University boat race is now 11 to 8 on the Oxford crew, as the result of a splendid trial. The death is announced of Charlotte Yonge, authoress ; aged 78 years. Charlotte M. Yonge was the only daughter of the late Mr W. C. Yonge, of Otterburne, Hants, and first became known to fame as the author of " The Heir of Radclyffe." That popular story was followed by "The Daisy Chain," " Heartsease," " Magnum Bonum, ' " Nuttie's Father," end a remarkably long list of ether novels and stories for the young, many of them imbued with strong High Church feeling. One of her latest books, " Tha Release," was an addition to a very charming series of old-world taks-'with a historical background, of which the most notable are . '• The Dove m the Eagle's Nest," " The Prince and the Page," " Stray Pearls," ■ and " Unknown to History." Miss Yonge was also the author of several works of biography, among- them a " Life of Bishop Patteson," and her contributions to educational literature include " Landmarks of History," " The Kings of England," " Stories from the History of Many Countries," and numerous other volumes. She edited the " Monthly Packet" for many years. March 26. The reported defeat of the mad Mullah, who was raiding the Abyssinian border, is contradicted. The Abyssinians lost many men in the desert from thirst, and finally retired to Webb's River. The British force of 1500 at Addis-abeba will advance against the Mullah at the beginning of April. Lord Salisbury's health has improved. He goes to Beaulieu (France) shortly for a change. Sir M. Hicks-Beach, Chancellor of the Exchequer, will deliver his Budget speech on April 18. Consols are quoted at £95 2s 6d. The House of Commons, by 253 votes to 176, negatrved the London County Council's Water Companies Purchase Bill. Signor Zarandelli, Italian Premier, assured an American journalist that the Triple Alliance would not be renewed without ripe reflection. It was imperative to dissipate any idea of Italy's animosity towards France. Thirteen Italian warships, commanded by the Duke of Genoa, will shortly visit Toulon and Marseilles. The libel actions brought by Mr Arthur Chamberlain, chairman of Kynoch's Ammunition Company, against the Star and Morning Leader has concluded. Mr Arthur Chamberlain was awarded £200 damages, whilst Mr Neville Chamberlain's action was settled out of court for £1500. March 27. Sir W. Laurier, Canadian Premier, and Sir Gordon Sprigg, Cape Premier, have been made Privy Councillors. March 28. _ Lord Rothschild has presented the New Zealand Government with two shire horses worth £1500. Lord Salisbury Is suffering from an attack of influenza. Countess Russell has obtained a divorce. There was no defence. The American visible supply of wheat is estimated at 76,350,000 bushels. Sir J. Pauncefote, British Ambassador, informed Mr Hay that a visit from American warships to Melbourne at the opening of the Federal Parliament would be welcome. The betting on the Oxford-Cambridge boat race is 2 to 1 on Oxford. March 29. Astronomers are flocking fo Sumatra to witness the total eclip.se of the sun on May 18. Mr Arthur Hepburn Hn&tie, a solicitor, has obtained a divorce from his -wife. Major Rankin, of the Queensland contingent, who went to England towards the end of last year, was made co-respondent in the case. The Telegraph Construction Company's cable steamer An&lia left the Thames yes-

terday with the Diuban-Mauntius section of ths Cape cable. Nearly every borough in England is raising a memorial to the late Quean, besides paiticipating in the national memoral Mr Maurice Lyons, who is returning to Queensland, has handed the Imperial opal to the King's jewellers. Some v eeks ago Lyons offered to present the opal, which is valued at £50,000, to the King for his regalia in the name of the Commonw ealth of Australia. He h^ commib&ioned Sir Robert W G. Heibert to formally make the piesentation, if it be accepted. Maich 30. The depth is announced of James Stephens, of Dublin Mr John Redmond telegraphed to the Nationalist newspapers that the party deeply sympathised -with the family, and felt profound soirow at the disappearance of the heroic figure of the old Fenian chief. March 31. The smallpox epidemic in Glasgow is declining. April 1. Fresh cases of plague were reported at Capetown yesterday. The patients are four Europeans and 12 coloured persons. Lord Salisbury is taking more nourishment, and is stronger. The quarterly revenue amounts to £53,748,719, including customs (£9,126,026), excise (£10,508,000), stamps, (£1,915,000). Subscriptions to the Mansion House national memorial to Queen Victoria have reached £35,000. A fire broke out in the sailroom of -the American gunboat Petrel at Cavite. Lieu-tenant-commander Roper vent to the rescue of the occupants, but was suffocated. Twenty-two men who were prostrated are 1 ecovei ing. PARIS, March 28. President Loubet reviews the French and Italian squadrons at Toulon on April 10. March 30. A French expedition killed the rebel chief Fodi Kabba and 160 followers at Mandirka, Senegambia. The explosion of the magazines killed Kabba's 40 wives. The Biiti&h lined the Gambia frontier to prevent Kaibba's escape because he shielded the murderers of two officials. The Chamber of Deputies, by 296 to 254 votes, adopted the Religious Associations Bill. BERLIN, March 30. The Kaiser, speaking at a banquet of the Alexander Regiment of the Prussian Guards, in toasting the Czar, said that if recent » attempts to disturb the cordial friendship of Germany and Russia had been momentarily successful the fault was not his. He would ever strive to maintain the traditional relations. March 31. The German press are dissatisfied with the address given by their Emperor to the officers of the Emperor Alexander Regiment of the Prussian Guards. Exception is taken to that portion in which he declared that the regiment would crush with their bayonets any attempt at insubordination in Berlin. At the second trial of ex-Lieutenant Ruger, who was previously sentenced at Metz to 12 years for having shot Captain Adams dead, the sentence was reduced to six years' imprisonment. [The crime for which ex-Lieutenant Euger has been sentenced was committed on the Emperor's birthday, when some elderly officers, including the army surgeon (Dr Ruger), Captain Adams, and ex-Lieutenant Euger, were sitting at table quietly conversing. Captain Adams had drunk freely, and commenced to knock down the glasses, whereupon he was restrained by Dr Euger and his brother by catching his hands. Captain Adams immediately strxick tha surgeon, who at once left the room, Captain Adams also going home. A message was received by ex-Lieutenant Euger that one of his brother's children, who was ill, was worse, and kno.v/mg that his brother was going to fight a very good shot, he procured his revolver, proceeded to Captain Adams's dwelling, and, as the captain entered the room, shot him dead before two officers had time to deliver a challenge from his brother.] ST. PETERSBURG, March 29. . The Czar has appointed M. Koni to succeed M. Bogoliepoff as Minister of Public Instruction. Koni is described as a Liberal and a humane man. CONSTANTINOPLE, April 1. An 'earthquake shoek — the direction being from east to west — was felt in Constantinople at 9 o'clock this nibrning, and five minutes later at Odessa. NEW YORK, March 26. Through a tornado at Birmingham, in the State of Alabama (U.S.A.), 25 persons were killed and 500 injured.