BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2914, 19 January 1910, Page 24

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

LONDON, January 11. The British savings banks are introducing hardened steel money-boxes, whereof the post offices will keep the keys. The boxes will bo periodically opened, after the manner of the home safes system in the United States, where it has resulted in the saving of a hundred millions sterling during the last decade. Captain Charles Madden has been appointed Fourth Sea Lord, vice Admiral Win-sloe, who will shortly assume chief command of the China unit. A Chicago court has decided that a landlord's 'refusal to-’ renew a tenants leas© owing to the birth of a child is illegal because it promoted race suicide. The verdict has encouraged other tenants to object to clauses in leases not allowing children in flats. January 12. The Union Bank of Australia has declared a dividend of .10 per cent, and a bonus of 2 per cent. The sum. of £IO,OOO has been added to the colonial premises a 'count, £20,000 to the reserve fund, and £38,879 has been carried forward. The Earl of Crewe announces that the British Government has agreed to grant the British Cotton-growing Association £IO,OOO a. year for three years for experimental' purposes-. Madame Sarah Bernhardt will appear at the Coliseum during next September arid October at a salary of £IOOO a week. The Coliseum is virtually a music-hall. It is estimated that £14,600 may be payable under the Workmen’s Compensation Act to 115 relatives of the Waratah’s crew. It is reported that Mr Skelford, a wellknown engineer, has discovered on the borders of Uganda, at Lake Magadi, territory containing a deposit of 20 square miles of solid soda. The country also abounds in big game. January 13. Mr Peterson, manager of the Canadian Pacific Irrigation Colonisation Company, read a paper before the Colonial Institute on the Pacific Company’s project, already announced, for providing ready-made farms , for settler's of Calgary, with loans to settlers for the cost- of further improvements. Dr Shiver, of Munich) was almost exhausted through holding Hermann Binner, a guide, of Zermatt, by a rope ever a precipice on the Breithorn for two hot*3jrv.y’Hen some Itaban smugglers, who

were crossing the pass, rescued them both. The German Colonial Office states that the average production of diamonds in German .South-West Africa' is £IOO,OOO (? per annum). The rights of all German companies are assured against greedy attacks from Cape Colony by thd Government proclaiming a monopoly. There is therefore no further danger of the diamond fields passing into Ji.ng.lish hands. The Head Masters’ Schools Conference defeated by a large majority a resolution which was opposed to military training in schools. " January 14. The chairman of the Bucknall steamship lines states that a. break in Australian wool freights will certainly impose a serious loss upon Australian lines. The action is as foolish and ineffective as it is unnecessary. January 15. Hr Ludwig Mond’s fortune has been sworn at £1.000.000 Abdal Aziz’s jewels have been redeemed from pawn for £60,000 by the present Sultan of Morocco with part of the latestloan January 16. Snow fell for 18 hours in New York and Chicago. A coal and milk famine is imminent. Through the Head Masters’ Association, Earl Roberts has advised English youths when, emigrating to Canada to leave their arrogance and’“Superiority at home. PARIS, January 13. Edmond Rostand, the French dramatist, ha.s realised £26,000 for the rights to publish in serial form his farmyard play “ Chanticleer ’* before its production on the stage. BERLIN, January 13. The Hotelkeepers’ Union has issued a manifesto imploring would-be suicides not to patronise hotels. VIENNA. January 11. A Russian hanker hanged himself here. His pockets contained £150.000 in notes and securiti es. ST. PETERSBURG, January 13. It is officially announced that cholera, has completely disappeared from St. Petersburg. January 15. Owing to the issue of a police decree forbidding speeches against the Government’s vodka monopoly the Fan-Russian Anti-alcohol Congress lias collapsed. CONSTANTINOPLE, January 12. Hakki Bey, the new Grand Vizier, has re-formed the Turkish Cabinet. The Sheik-uMsl am and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Finance, and Public

Works remain unchanged. Shevket Pasha becomes Minister of War, and Kopasses Effendi (a Greek) takes charge of Mines and Forests. NEW YORK, January 11. American campaigning methods are being exposed in the course of a. case wherein Mr William Clark, a well-known journalist, is suing Mr Lewis Chanler, formerly Lieutenant-Governor of New York State, for £SOOO, for booming him (Chanler) for the Presidency. The management of the Opera House is inaugurating a system of wireless telephones and employing dictographs and radiophones. The music can be heard over a distance of 85 miles. January 15. The late Mr Pullman, of Chicago, left £3,600,000, bequeathing to- each of his sons only £6OO yearly because he considered that they were lacking in the requisite responsibility for the right use of- considerable wealth. WASHINGTON, January 12. The Marquis of Villadolar, the Spanish Minister at Washington, has been recalled at President Taft’s request for creating a disturbance, because under the new rule lie was not- admitted to- an audience among the Ambassadors. OTTAWA, January 13. The Hon. Mr Brodeur, Canadian Minister of Marine, is seriously i'll. Mir Brodeur is suffering kom intestinal nicer, accompanied by hemorrhage Grate anxiety is expressed regarding his condition. January 15. Canada is issuing a loan of £4,000,000, bearing interest at 3| ner cent, at 99. It will be mostly used for conversion purposes. The underwriters of the Indian loan will receive about half the loan. as*