NEWS BY CABLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3314, 19 September 1917, Page 36

NEWS BY CABLE.

TERRIBLE FLOODS IN CHINA. Floods in tho Chi-li province of China (in which Peking is) have rendered 3, QQO,QQQ people homeless and destitute. Many wero drowned, and there was tremendous destruction of property. There are also great floods in the Honan, Hu-peh, and Hunan provinces. Much of Northern China is impassable, except in boats. Three million persons have been drowned.

KING GEORGE'S NARROW ESCAPE

The King narrowly escaped an accident at Hounslow. A soldier who was learning to drive a large array lorry lost control as the King's car approached at considerable speed. A collision was avoided by the narrowest margin, the varnish being'scratched off the King's car. GENERAL ITEMS. -The New Zealand Land Company will pay a final dividend on its preference stock of 2 per cent., on the ordinary shares a dividend -of 5 per cent., and a bonus of 5 per cent. The State of Maine defeated -woman suffrage by a two-to-one majority. It is unofficially announced that Britain has accepted the offer of the Federal Government of Australia's 10,000 tons of surplus butter at £7 9s 4d per cwt. Sir Walter Edward Davidson, Governor of Newfoundland, has been appointed Governor of Now South Wales. A Liberal amendment for giving the voto to all women was defeated by the Canadian House of Commons by a Government majority of 12. Tho imports into Great Britain for August increased by £24,475,977, and exports by £2,083.392. while re-exports decreased by £3,204.744, as compared with last A ugust. The Morning Post's Shanghai correspondent states that the Entente Ministers have agreed to China's request that the Customs duty be made effective at 5 per cent, to postpone payment of the Boxer indemnify for five years. Russia, however, is only postponing payment of one-third of her indemnity. The' Powers also agree that Chinese) troops be stationed at places forbidden in the Boxer protocol. AUSTRALIAN NEWS. Tho Bill repeating the Daylight Saving Act has been passed by both Houses of tho Federal Parliament. Both Houses of the New South Wales Parliament passed through all stages the Bill doubling the taxes on bookmakerd* registrations "and betting tickets, and reiraposing the super-tax of 3d in the £ on incomes' received during 1917. CURTAILING SPORT. Senator Pearce has announced tho Federal Government's proposals for the curtailment of sport. Metropolitan race meetings in Victoria will be reduced by two meetings, in" New South Wales by 37, in West Australia by 18, and in Queensland by 72. The number of trotting, pony, and country meetings will also be reduced, while unregistered meetings will not be permitted lioxin? contests of 20 rounds will be allowed only once a fortnight.