NEWS BY CABLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3278, 10 January 1917, Page 36

NEWS BY CABLE.

REUNION OF CHRISTIANITY. Private advices state ' that the Pope is about to appoint a commission to roliew the movement begun by his predecessor, Li o XiiL, for a reunion of Christianity and the cultivation of friendly relations with the Anglicans. A public announcement is expected shortly. SHI PPING DISASTERS. The steamer Lennox was wrecked in a fog in the Irish Channel. Tin: crew were saved. The British steamer Thistleban lias been wrecked off Alexandria. Tho Leyland liner Nestorian went ashore in tho fog, and is a total wreck. The crew were saved. 'liic Japanese steamer Hakaka Ma.ru was wrecked in a blizzard at Chcfoo. Owing to the terrible seas those of the crew and passengers who escaped drowning were marooned for three days. Then the captain of tho iStampe, of tho Netherland harbour works, with a number of Chinese in a tug, gallantly rescued 50 out of 4CO. IMPORTANCE OF SCIENCE. Sir Alfred Keogh, in the course of a speech at the London University, insisted upon the necessity of teaching classics, history, literature, and modern languages as well as science, but deplored the lact that members of tho Cabinet, while great administrators, were in ignorance of the elementary facts of natural science. He added: •'i work with them, and find in discussing scientific qucstiors that it is difficult to get low enough to reach their level." Mr Massey presided. TRADE STATISTICS. Tha imports during 1916 into tho United Kingdom "were valued at £549,152,679, being an increase of £97,259,320. The exports were £506.546,212, being an increase of £121,677,764 as compared with 1915. Tho imports during December were £75,406.306. being an increase of £5.079,391; and (he exports were £39.928,460, being an increase of £5.980,941 as compared with December, 1915. Clearances from the bankers' clearinghouse London, for tho year 1916. totalled £15,275,040X00, an increase of £1,367,321,000 as compared with 1915. IRISH AFFAIRS. Tho Belfast Telegraph denies the rumours that Sir E. Carson is negotiating for tho settlement of the Irish question. The Ulster Unionist Council is not aware of any pourparlers. The Ulster Unionists, moreover, are not prepared to let their position in tho Empire be decided by tho Dominion War Conference. Lord Wimborne's office as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland precludes it's interference. Lord Wimborno is not responsible for the report that he is submitting a scheme to tho Imperial Conference. MAKING DYES. Tho Leeds University and Educational Committee has organised a scheme of research into the possibility of making dyes for printing photography. Already important results have been achieved _in the preparation of two dyes, the sensitising powers of which are identical with the original German products. Tho preparation of other dyes 'is progressing. TR A MWAY A OCIDENT. Eleven people wore killed and 40 injured by a crowded passenger train crashing into a light engine at Rablue station, between Edinburgh and Glasgow. GENERAL ITEMS. Sir Henry Dalziel has purchased the Pall Mall Gazette. A tiler, the murderer of M. Stucrgkh, the Austrian Prime Minister, hanged himself in his cell, but was cut down before life was extinct. Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward have conferred with Mr Bonar Law on tho question of tho double income tax. They pressed the point that the tax should be imposed only where the income is earned. A further conference has been arranged. A violent earthquake has taken place at Abruzzi, Italy. It damaged specially heavily Avozzano. Poschina, and Ajelli.

The British Government lias taken over the control of the Irish railways as from the Ist. Lord Curzon (Lord .President of the Council and member of the War Cabinet) lias married Mrs Duggan. The Daily Express believes that the Now Year's honours include a new Imperial Order especially associated with ihe Empire. Miss .Shanks Shaw has bequeathed £311.000 to the Glasgow hospitals, including £IOO.OOO lo the Royal Infirmary. The death is reported of Sir Frederick William Borden, ex-Canadian Minister of Militia, at the age of. 70 years. Born in Canada, ho studied medicine and began practice in 1368. He became Hon. Sur-S'eon-general to the Imperial Army in 1911. Elected to the Dominion House of Commons" in 1874. he became Minister of Militia in 1896 in the Laurier Ministry. Ho was knighted in 1902. The Mexican situation is rapidly assuming a grave aspect. President Carranza has finally refused to resume conferences until the American troops are withdrawn unconditionally. The Dominions' Commission's report is completed, but if is doubtful whether it can be published forthwith or whether it will he reserved for the Tmnerial Conference. from which the commission originated. It is unlikely that it will he dealt with at the forthcoming War Conference. AUSTRALIAN NEWS. The report of a. committee concerninp: death and invalidity in Now South Wales shows that tuberculosis is still too prevalent, as it resulted in 3F74 deaths during 1914'. There is considerable unrest it; the farming industry, the absence of any farmer-' representative on the Wheat Hoard being the primary cause. It is stated that, unless the farmers' demands are conceded, next season's wheat crop will be curtailed. many farmers declaring that they will refuse to crow wheat. The State Wheat. Office continues to receive reports of attempts in burn or otherwise damage wheat stacks throughout Xew South Wales. The Government is eall'ng tenders for the erection of a hulk-handling of wheat systern, with a terminal elevator of three milPnn h.n*hf'l capacity in Sydney, and one of 80 000 bushel capacity in Newcastle, besides

country elevators with a total capacity oi 12 million bushels. The estimated cost of the installation is £2,000,000. The Sydney Daily Telegraph, in a financial review, forecasts brjftbti r prospects for 1917, particularly in the demand for Australian products 'and facilities for moving them. A large number of forged £5 note? are still circulating in Sydney, and many vvero passed at trie horse races. Tho Dean of Newcastle (New South Wales), in a sermon, declared that tho decay of' pure family life in the district was a menace. Statistics showed that 43 petcent., of the marriages in tho Commonwealth were forced marriages. The first appraisements of wool in Sydney by Government appraisers under the Imperial Government purchase scheme have been issued. They cover over 90C0 bales. The prices range as high as 25.U1, and ate apparently slightly lower than those ruling at the October sales. A traancar full of passengers got out of control on an incline at. Camberwell (an eastern suburb of Melbourne), left tho rails, clashed into a tteo, and overturned. One person was killed, and 17 were injured, while many others are suffering from shock. Tho Westralian gold yield for tho year was 1.061,398 o!! fine of the value of £4,503,531,' a decrease of 148,7120 z as compared with 1915. Tho New South Wales Income Tax Commissioner is conducting a most careful combing-out campaign. Special officers tiro scouring till corners of the State, and those who escaped making returns in previous years aro likely to strike trouble. The residence of a well-known Gorman resident at Mosman, Sydney, was seriously damaged by an explosion —it is supposed of a bomb—at midnight. Tho police aro investigating. Tho Tasmanian finances for the half-year ended with a credit of £20,569. Tho South Australian revenue for tho half-year was £1,957,391, being an increase of £200.321 over that of tho corresponding half of 1915. Tho Western Australian revenue for the half-year was £2,298,181, being an increase 0f_£24,974._ The expenditure was £2,985,726, being an increase of The deficit was £566,874. The bank clearings in Sydney last year totalled £422,372,000, an increase of £64,563,000 upon those for the previous year. In Melbourne tho bank clearings for last year totalled £357,788.000, an 'increase of £58,493,000 upon those for the previous year. In the Sydney metropolitan area last year 6283 buildings were completed at a cost of £4.479,000, as compared with 7632 and £5.124,000 for the previous year. Six o'clock closing of hotels came into operation in Tasmania on the 6th inst.

A cloudburst caused further floods at Bridgewater, Tasmania, with much damage to property and the hop gardens. DROWNING ACCIDENTS. Numerous drowning fatalities are reported throughout Australia. A family were paddling- in the Manning River, when two girls were drowned. At Adelaide seven young men were sailing-, when the yacht overturned. Three swam ashore, but four are missing. FED IvR AT i REV E X UE. The Commonwealth revenue for the halfvear was £8,114,000, an increase of £141.000. The Rose Office earnings were £2.644.000, an increase of £236,000. The year closed with 91,824 old-age and 24.769 invalid pensions, while 21.942 war pensions have been granted, carrying an annual liability of £890.000. The amount paid for maternity allowances during the half-year was £332.000. The Australian note" issue is £46.660,000, against which there is a gold reserve of £16,600,0-00. DAYLIGHT SAVING. The Daylight Saving Act is working satisfactorily as far a.s general business is concerned, but theatres and picture shows, which are also saddled with the burden of the amusement tax, complain of reduced attendances amounting in some cases to- 40 per cent. People show a tendency, in the present hot weather at any rate, to spend the extra leisure surfing rather than staying in town. _ The- dairying industry is not enamoured of the new hours, which mean shortening their already short light to catch the earlier trains, and cows, the habits of which are not regulated by the clock, show an objection to having their rest broken, and arc yielding less miLk. Like all innovations, the daylight saving scheme is not meeting with universal approbation. It came in with a heat wave, which continues to lend zest to the growing list of disabilities voiced through newspaper correspondence. While obeying business behests, there is a distinct disinclinaton in private life to recognise the changed clock hours. Housewives and boarding-house keepers complain that diners have struck against having the evening meal until the cool following sunset. This spells a longer day and heavier duties for domestic workers. Another disability in the hot climate is retiring an hour earlier into heat-soaked houses, which, however, is very generally ignored. Early-morn-ing workers protest that they are compelled to retire before dark, so that for an hour's working time gained they lose three hours of good sleep.

PRO POSED NATIONAL GOVERNMENT. Tt is understood that negotiations between Mr Hughes and Mr Cook for the formation of a national party terminated in further developments, and have boon postponed until the Liberal party moots shortly before the reassembling of Parliament on February 7. Tt is generally agreed that Mr Hughes will not attend the Imperial Conference. Tho indications are that general nlections of both Federal Houses will be held in April.