NEWS BY CABLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3327, 19 December 1917, Page 44

NEWS BY CABLE.

THE IRISH PROBLEM. Mr Do Valera, the recently elected Sinn Fein M.P., in the coure of a remarkable speech in County Cork, said that Nationalist Ireland, whether desiring separation from or inclusion in the Empire, ought to march shoulder to shoulder with either party, and should not doubt others' motives. _ It is generally believed that this speech signifies that the Sinn Feiuers are anxious to pave the way to an understanding if a satisfactory settlement is offered to Ireland. HIGH PRICES FOR MEAT. The meat trade is in a critical state. Butchers are keenly competing for an insufficient supply of cattle. Fat bullocks aro realising £9O per head, although tliG corresponding value of a bullock should be £25 under the fixed prices of dead meat. The butchers threaten to close their shops unless prices are fixed for live stock. DEATH OF A NOTED' IMPOSTER, Samuel Crawford, known as the Rev. Arthur Worthing.ton, the religious impostor, who attained so much notoriety in NewZealand, and was later imprisoned at Melbourne for forgery, died suddenly in gaol. SCARCITY OF GOLD. The New York Times Washington correspondent states that, owing to the scarcity of gold, the Allies, America,, and neutrals are considering a proposal to introduce bimetallism, based on the silver value of a dollar (4s 2d) per ounce. AMALGAMATIONS. The amalgamation is announced of the National Provincial—Bank and the Union of London and Smith's Bank, under the title of the National Provincial and Union Bank of England. The shareholders' confirmation is necessarv. The combined deposits - amount to about £150,000,000. Five British iron and steel companies, with a weekly output of 20,000 tons of steel, are amalgamating. GENEROUS GIFT. The daily press states that the Duke of Westminster is presenting Eaton Hall: as a gift to the nation. Eaton Hall was built in 1870-1 for the then Marquis of Westminster (grandfather, of the present duke, who. succeeded him) to designs supplied by the famous architect Waterhouse. It is situatednot far from the town of Chester. GENERAL ITEMS. The British steamer Frankby (4182 tons) is a. total wreck at the Azores, and 21 of her crew are missing. The New Zealand Field Artillery is having a remarkable season at football, having, so far scored 150 points to 12 in 13 games, none of which they lost. Royalist troops from Swato, China, defeated' the Southerners. A Japanese warship landed marines to protect Japanese subjects. Official: The standard rates for ordinary seamen, who have spent 12 months in sea sei-.vico will be £7 per month, and for ordinary seamen after two years £8 10s. The Bristol City Council, is expending£l,32s,ooo on a scheme for enlarging the Avonmouth docks, this being necessary owing to the growth of the port's business. Dean Henson, of' Dm-hani, has been appointed Bishop of Hereford. Dean Henson was born in 1863. He is an able dialectician and a preacher of repute. He was canon of Westminster Abbey from 19C0 to 1912, and sub-dean of Westminster in 191112, being appointed Dean of Durham in the latter year. Ho was honorary - Professor of Modern History in Durham University. At San Antonio (Texas) 13- negro soldiers were hanged and 41 sentenced to life imprisonment for participation in a riot at Houston on August 8, in which 17 persons were killed. The Port of London Authority is asking the Government's permission to increase the addition to tariffs to 50 per cent., in order to raise the dock labourers' war bonus jo 18s a week and to make a proportionate increase to other employees' wages. 'I ho death at Belleville. Ontario, Canada, of Sir Mackenzie Bowell, who was Premier of Canada in 1894-95, is reported. He entered Canadian politics in 1867, and firstheld Ministerial office in 1878. He would have reached the age of 94 years on the 27th inst. AUSTRALIAN NEWS. The Federal Arbitration Court refused the Steamship Owners' Federation's application to cancel the Waterside Workers' Federation. The court's grounds were that the union had amended its rules for the better control of members. Mr Hughes states in connection with, the sale to the British Government of 30,000 tons of butter and surplus cheese that the ' Food Controller (Lord Rhondda) has agreed to increase the price of butter by Is per cwt if it is graded above 90; also to increase the price of cheese by per lb. A commissioner of the new Federal Police Force has been appointed, with headquarters in Melbourne. His duties cover the whole Commonwealth. The Government of the State of Now South Wales has accepted tenders for the erection of country wheat silos and a Sydney terminal elevator, costing£l,l72,ooo. Work'will be commenced immediately. Cable advice received in Melbourne reports the death in. a_ hospital in Franco of ITughic Mehcgan, champion boxer. The deceased was for many years prominent in

glove-fighting circles in Australia, and won quite, a number of prize-fights. He enlisted with the Australian forces. WHEAT, FLOUR. AND POLLARD. The New Zealand Government had advised the Minister of Trade for Australia that, having purchased the New Zealand wheat crop, it intends to prohibit the importation of wheat, flour, and pollard as from the end of February; up to which time reasonable applications for import will be acceded to. KAURI TIMBER COMPANY. The annual meeting of the Kauri Timber Company was held in Melbourne on the. 14th, when the report and balance sheet were adopted and the retiring directors were re-elected The chairman stated that the profits showed a considcraklc improvement on those of the preceding year, while the liabilities showed a reduction of £24.260 after three years of the war, and were. lower than 'they had ever been. The war calls in New Zealand made it difficult to obtain suitable labour to carry on bush work to the extent desired, and the uncertainty regarding freights rendered it difficult to fix contracts. TRADE WITH CHINA. Speaking at a civic welcome in Sydney, Dr G. E. Morrison, official adviser to the. Chinese Government, strongly urged thedevelopment of Australian trade with China. Failing the appointment of a Resident, ho suggested Australia sending a general commissioner of inquiry. Recent happenings had cleared the atmosphere with regard to China's treaty obligations, and any attempt in the direction he suggested would have a .warm welcome from the Chinese authorities.