NEWS BY CABLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3330, 9 January 1918, Page 36

NEWS BY CABLE.

DISASTERS ON RAILWAYS. An astonishing accident occurred on a Lyons passenger train, which, ran into a largo cylinder of chlorine which had fallen from a goods waggon. The train stopped, and its passengers were enveloped in the fumes, 60 haying to be sent to hospital. A telegram from Vienna reports a grave disaster to a passenger train at Sambor, in Galicia. It caught firo when going at full speed, and the safety brakes refused to act. Terrible scenes of panic followed, and many persons wero killed and injured. A train was held up at Pitahaya, Mexico, and 107 of the passengers and. crew were massacred. DESTROYED BY EARTHQUAKE. Eighty per cent, of Guatemala City was demolished by an. earthquake, which started on Christmas Day and continued for two days. Thousands are homelese. A terrific earthquake on Sunday, following the earlier shocks, completely destroyed the city There are now 125,000 persons homeless, and many dead. Deep fissures haveopened in the. middle of the city. The theatres, asylums, and gaola collapsed, and many of the inmates were killed or injured. There was an indescribable panic. The final shock literally wiped out the city The seismograph at the Sydney Observatory distinctly recorded the Guatemala earthquake. Old Guatemala, or Antigua, the capital city of the Central American Republic of Guatemala, founded in 1524, was destroyed by a flood from the Volcan de Agua in 1541. Refounded in 1542, it was almost completely destroyed by the great earthquake of July 29, 1773. The capital waa then removed some 24 miles away. The town of Antigua grew up about the ruins of the old capital. ARCTIC EXPLORATION. The report that Stefansson (commander of the Canadian Arctic expedition) is at Fort Yukon is incorrect. The Canadian Marine Department understands that he is still aboard his ship at Herschell Island, and probably he intends to travel overland to Fort M'Pherson, and meet the Royal Mounted Police _ patrol from Dawson. The results of his discoveries are not expected to -be available until summer. The object of the Stefansson expedition was to determine whether in the unexplored area of close on a million square miles in the Arctic Circle, north of the known Canadian territory, represented by a white patch, on the maps, contains any large land mass. The principal vessel under Stefansson's command, the Karluk, was crushed in the ice, and Stefansson and some of his men made their way to the mouth of the Mackenzie River. Eight men were lost after the Karluk foundered. On the arrival of a relief ship Stefansson pushed north and found new land north of Prince Patrick Land, and made some remarkable discoveries One of them was a tribe of fair-complexioned Eskimo, possibly 'the descendants of early Scandinavian voyagers. They were found to be very primitive, polygamous, and with very littie regard for human life. A party of six mapped the Arctic coastline of Canada for a long distance, and made geological and topographical surveys. Large copperfields were discovered, and much scientific data collected. THE AMERICAN MEAT TRUST. At the Labour Food Conference Mr Bevan (Dockers' Union) said that, when in England, Mr Massey had arranged with the Government that New Zealand mutton should be taken at one price from the freezer, and at another from the ship's side. American meat agents in Australia and New Zealand had offered from Is to 2s per head more for live cattle than the British Government paid for dead. Although the Americans were apparently landing carcases at the loss of Is per head, they obtained the right to release them in this country, and also the right to handle Argentine meat, thus making 3d per lb on the cost. ' , The conference passed a resolution, demanding that the School Feeding Act be applied throughout the country; also, that boots and clothes be supplied to needy children. They also protested against ingA SOCIALISTIC RECONSTRUCTION. The Labour reconstruction report includes a minimum wage of 30s for a 48-hours' week; a lery on capital to «pay off the national debt; an outlay of £300,000,000 upon a million new cottages; the _ progressive elimination of private the State to be the heir to all private riches, except quite a moderate amount for a testator's family,; no protective tariff; and home rule throughout the Empire. HIGH WAGES. The granting of a war bonus of 122 per cent, to skilled engineers last October has created a tangle of claims from other industrial sections, accentuating the labour difficulties. Meanwhile, the exorbitant wages earned

t>y piece-workers fan tho flame. Instances are emoted of men at Sheffield earning £3O to £45 weekly. Tho now bonuses, at the present rate of progression, aro estimated to cost tho country £100,000,000. A VERY COLD SNAP. Unprecedented cold was experienced in New York City during the dosing days of 1917, 15deg below zero being registered, which is the lowest on record. Snow tied up tho traffic, and there was a severe- shortage of coal causing widespread privation. At Montreal the record was 23deg below zero, and at Ottawa 32deg. Many people have been frozen to death and hundreds maimed by frost-bites In New York. Tho temperature for nearly a week has been at zero. Tho coal shortage is holding up 150 steamers in port at New York. Tho authorities are using tugs to dear the ice-floes and release the barges which are held icebound at the piers, laden with coal. THE WOOL TRADE. A deputation from the Wool Textile Association waited on Sir Albert Stanley, President of the Board of Trade, respecting the Imports and Exports Control Bill, asking that the Government control of wool be not continued for three years after the-war, and suggesting that the term be six or twelve months, with an extension if necessary. Sir Albert Stanley replied that the Government was not wedded to a term of three years, but the tonnage difficulty would not eiid with the war. The Government having granted permission to import Argentine wools, a syndicate at Bradford is arranging to purchaseseveral thousand bales, if freight is obtainable, The first wool auction in the United States has been held in Boston. One million pounds of Australian wool Was sold. Best scoured realised two dollars per lb, and greasy 70 cents. WORLD'S WHEAT YIELD. The International Agricultural Institute estimates* the world's wheat yield for 1917, exclusive of Russia, the Central Powers, and Australasia, at 998,638,000 cwt, being 8.9 below the 1916 yield. GENERAL ITEMS. Wireless calls were received at Vancouver from the steamship Shinyo Maru somewhere in the Pacific The calls say the ship is in distress and on fire. A later message stated that an American from a Pacifio port was standing by the Shinyo Maru. The fire is partly extinguished. A series of explosions and fires destroyed an important part of Norfolk City, Virginia, the damage being estimated at two million dollars. Five arrests have- been made. The city is now under martial law. It is understood that the Government intends taking over the British Museum as the Air Board offices. Vesuvius ■ is again in violent eruption. TEreo torrents of lava are pouring down the mountain. The Palace La Granja, in Spain, has been destroyed, and the houses adjoining are afire. A few treasures have been saved, but the losses are immense. King Alfonso has dissolved the Spanish Parliament. \ The elections have been fixed for February 17, and the meeting of the new Parliament for March 11. Sir Edward Morris, Premier of Newfoundland since 1909, has resigned, and Mr William Lloyd becomes the new Premier. Sir B. Morris is lively to be appointed the Newfoundland Commissioner at London. A barony has been conferred upon him in recognition of his distinguished services to the Empire. _Senhor Pais has been appointed Provisional President of Portugal, pending the Vote of a new Congress. The Orient Shipping Company's offices and stores at Tilbury Were burnt, tho damage being estimated at £IO,OOO. The workshops were saved. Playing Rugby, the New Zealand Command Depot (24 points) beat Bath (5 points). Newport beat tho New Zealanders by 15 points to 5. In a Rugby match the New Zealand Field A r t mcT y beat Wigan by 9 points to 6. ■*. The nine months' British revenue is 4 £400,650,303, including Customs £53,110,000, Excise £28,204,000, Property and Income Tax Super Tax £67,907,000, Excess Profits £148.945,000. There is an increase of £69,000,000 as compared with the nine months of 1916. The Sunday papers state that Mr Lloyd George will shortly undertake the organisation of the diplomatic service. The Daily Chronicle's Parliamentary correspondent predicts that Lord Crewe will bo appointed Ambassador at Paris and Mr Henderson at Petrograd. The latter is not likely to accept the appointment, owing to tho Labour party being in a critical stage of evolution. AUSTRALIAN NEWS. The Sydney steamer Cabo has been sold to the Chinese Government, conditional upon the consent of the Federal Government being obtained. The death is reported from Sydney of Rear-admiral Walter B. Bridges, in his 75th year. Entering the British navy at the ago of 14 years he arrived at the Crimea just as tho war was closing. He saw service in many quarters, advancing in his profession, and was in command of tho Australian station for some vears. At his own request he was permitted to retire in 1888 with tho rank of rear-admiral. He purchased tho Trawalla Estate, near Ballarat, and thoro achieved some success as a eheop breeder. He was very hospitable and liberal in his donation to religious and charitable causes. Tho death has occurred of Mr John May, member for Flinders in tho Queensland Parliament, who was killed when boarding a train. Mr E. A. Eva. recently manager for the Union Steam Ship Company in Fiji, has been appointed manager of the Commonwealth Steamship I mo. Mr Eva is a native of Dunedin, where he is well known. Sydney firms interested in tho copra trade are concerned over unoffie-al rumours that America intends fo prohibit the importation of copra. Since the outbreak of war the United States has boon tho •principal market It is understood that the object is to divert tho-large amount of tonnage engaged In this trade to the carriage of wheat and other products. Now South Wales experienced a heat wave cTtiT'npr the closing rlavs of the last year. The exceptional plenitude r>f grass was favourable to bush fires, which owr

wide areas have swept the Wagga, Hay, and* Forbes districts, Including considerable quantities of standing wheat. The heat was broken by steady rain, which much lessened and checked tbe exuberance of the New Year’s Eve crowds in Sydney. The New South Wales bankruptcy petitions this year totalled 301, with liabilities amounting to £227,663, as compared with 393 petitions and £383,448 liabilities last During the post year the new buildings completed in tne Sydney metropolitan area totalled 6401, at a cost of £3,596,000, as compared with 6283 and £4,479,000 for the previous year. The figures show a decline of 50 per cent, since 1913. The Victorian Postmaster-general’s report for the year shows a profit of £IB,OOO fromthe telephone business, as compared with a-loss of £270,000 during the preceding year. This is the first time the telephone business has shown a profit, and it disproves the contention that increased charges would decrease the use of the instrument. The returns show a likelihood of a surplus sugar crop of 100,000 tons in Australia. It is expected, however, that a part of this surplus will be required to make up the deficiency in next year’s crop. The Queensland Government has embarked in life assurance business. The congregation of the Baptist Church at Rockhampton, has decided to give its minister three months’ notice, In _ view of the'prominent part he took against conscription. The Sydney Morning Herald states that the Christmas trade was fully equal to that of pass years. The tradesmen complain of the spendthrift habits of women in buying finery since the war. One declared that it was a criminal shame the Way in which money was thrown about. Applications have been made to the High Court by Messrs Ryan (Queensland Premier) and Theodore that Mr Hughes be committed to prison for contempt of court in connection with the publication of a telegram which, the applicants claimed, tenged to interfere with a falx' and impartial hearing of tne criminal charges against applicants. The case has been referred to the Full Court. A SOUTH AUSTRALIAN SCANDAL. The report of a South Australian Royal Commission of Inquiry into the purchase of land for soldiers and other purposes by the Vaughan Government states that the evidence points to the conclusion that Mr A. W. Styles, then Chief Secretary in the Vaughan Ministry, betrayed his trust as a Minister, and assisted a land agent, enabling the latter to make a profit of £4OOO. Referring to the proposed purchase of land for £290,000, the Royal Commission states that the land is not worth £168,000, - and that the Government valuator wilfully put an untrue value on the land. AUSTRALIAN REVENUE RETURNS. The Federal revenue for the half-year ended December 31 has decreased by £1,447,860, as compared with the corresponding period of last year. The revenue for the half year of the State of Victoria increased by £541,911, as compared with the previous corresponding half-year. The half-year’s revenue of South Australia increased by £355,080, as compared with the corresponding half of last year. The half-year’s revehuo of Western Australia decreased by £457,445, as compared with the previous half-year, making an accumulated deficiency, exclusive of £1,436,353 transferred last year to the deficiency account, of £1,081,814. The" decrease in the New South Wales State revenue is attributed to the strike. Queensland’s revenue has decreased by £371.769. as compared with the corresponding half of 1916. The half-year’s revenue of Tasmania increased by £50.000 compared with the corresponding half of the previous year. PACIFIC CABLE BOARD. The Pacific Cable Board reports that during 1916-17 the receipts' exceeded the expenditure by £90,926, but the contributions to the Renewal Fund were increased to £90,000,. while £IO.OOO was contributed to the Provident Fund to meet the depreciation of securities wherein these were invested, leaving a surplus of £4231. Nearly •9,000.000 paying words o>f international traffic were transmitted, while in addition 0,500,000 words respecting wounded soldiers were sent free. The traffic between Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Isles amounted to 1,795,200 words. The amount of the International business represents the cable’s maximum capacity, and cannot 1 be materially exceeded unless new systems are invented to Increase the speed on long