NEWS BY CABLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3334, 6 February 1918, Page 36

NEWS BY CABLE.

PEERAGE LEGITIMACY TRIAL. The hearing of tho Waterford peerage case, wherein George Beresford, a gardener, asks for a declaration that he is tne lawful son of tho fifth Marquis of Waterford, who married Florence "Vivian after a divorce action in 1870, was commenced, and concluded last week. The respondents allege that George Beresford is the natural son of Georgina Tooth, and was born at Holborn Workhouse. Georgina Tooth was a sister of Mrs Vivian's cook, and out of sympathy Lady Waterford took tlio child out of tne workhouse, -and after her death the Marquis had tho child educated. The defence in tho euit was a total denial of the plaintiff's allegation. Witnesses swore that the son of the fifth marquis was still-born in March, 1873. It was buried in Broinpton Oernetery, and later was buried in the mother's grave in Ireland. Plaintiff suggests that tho body of another child was placed in the coffin, and that he was tho real eon. The register of the Holborn Workhouse was produced. It showed the birth of the child John Tooth, alleged by the defence to be the. plaintiff. The caso was dismissed. The court decided that the claimant was not the child of Lady Waterford. BY-ELECTIONS. A.t the Prestwich by-election Lieutenant Cawley (Coalitionist), son of the ex-member: (Sir E. Cawley, who was raised to the peerage), scoured 8510 votes, and Mr May (Co-operative candidate) 2832. The South Armagh by-election was hotly contested. Ic resulted in the return of Mr Donnelly (Nationalist), who polled 2316 votes, Mr M'Car tin (Sinn Feiner) polling only 1299. M'Carten, tho defeated candidate, participated in the Easter rebellion, and fled to America, whore he is now in prison for making false passport statements. EARTHQUAKES. An earthquake again occurred amongst the balance of the buildings at Guatemala City. There have been seismic disturbances every day since Christmas. The hoS; pita) and orphans' home have been demolished, and the sanitary conditions are appalling. Martial law has been declared. NEW SOUTH WALES LOAN. Tho New South Wales Government is issuing a new loan of £12,648,578 at par, bearing interest at 5 per cent. The Government is asking holders of per cent, stocks maturing in September to convert them into an equal amount of 5 per cents.; also cash applications at par. PLAGUE OUTBREAKS. The British Legation in 'China has received a medical report, urgently appealing for moro doctors to fight the plague, which is spreading southwards. Advices from the Caucasus state that plague has broken out in the Crimea. A republic has been started in the Crimea, and is being acknowledged by the entire population. GENERAL NEWS. During a fire at a spice merchant's warehouse in Vauxhall a wall collapsed, killing seven firemen. •»»JThe London County aad Westminster Bank has absorbed Parr's Bank. At Rugby New Zealand Field Artillery team (5 points) beat Public Schools (3). There is intense suffering in Eastern Canadian and American cities owing to tho coal shortage. The mercury is below zero. Train services are badly disrupted. Tho Warspite boys who were charged with setting lire to the training ship have been committed for trial. Tho defence suggested that the boys revolted against flogging. An S.O.S. (distress) signal has Deen received at an Atlantic port from an unnamed British liner in mid-ocean stating that the Arab firemen had mutinied. The Canadian Pacific liner Montreal (8614 tons) has been sunk. The crew -wore saved. The death is reported of John L. Sullivan, tho one-time world's champion pugilist. AUSTRALIAN NEWS. In tho New South Wales Legislative Assembly, Dr Arthur's motion urging the . Federal Government to commandeer all coastal and inter-State shinning and use it for carrying food was defeated by 56 votes to 13. Mr Holman has instructed Mr Wade to extend the Benefit of assisted passages to tho wivos of soldiers married in Britain who desire to emigrate. Mr Wade states that 2000 marriages wore solemnised recently, averaging 800 per month. NEW SOUTH WALES POLITICS. In tho New South Wales State Legislature Assembly Mr Storey (leader of the Official Labour party) proposed a vote of censure upon the Government for its broken conscription pledge, its secret recruiting memo, its coal contract, and the wheat elevator and silo contracts. Mr Storey hammered the Government over its decision during the late strike to assume control of the whole of the coal mines in tho State and its agreement with the Victorian Government to loa'so certain mines, including the erection of housas

for the miners sent from Victoria to work these- mines, tho details of which allegedly were kept secret. Tlio Victorian Government subsequently turned tho proposal down. He strongly attacked the National party over conscription, accusing it of going back on its promise not to support the reintroduction of the question. He alleged that' there had been victimisation in connection with tho strike. . Mr Holman made a spirited reply to these charg-os. AN EXECUTION. Albert Edward Budd was executed at tho Melbourne gaol on tho 29th ult. for the murder of his foster-sister. Mrs Annie Elizabeth Samson, the victim, wan 30 years of and of prepossessing appearance. She was the wile of George Samson, an engine-driver,.who enlisted and went to France early last year. There were no children, and after her husband's departure Mrs Samson had taken part in Red Cross and other patriotic work, and was also secretary of the Port Melbourne Political Labour Council. Albert Edward Budd was a single man, 38 of age. He had been adopted as a boy by Mr and Mrs Anderson, the father and mother of Mrs Samson, and was a labourer. He enlisted and served at the front, but had returned. He had been out of employment since tho strike. Budd had become infatuated with Mrs Samson, who resented his persistent attentions, and ordered him out of hor house. O'n October 20 Mrs Samson was found dead, in her house with her throat cut, the head being almost severed from the body. Later (but before Mrs Samson's death was known) Budd was found with his throat cut in his room at the residence of his foster brother, Mr William Anderson. He was removed to the Melbourne Hospital, where he recovered. Budd left two notes in his room stating, "I done tho deed. I am sorry for all relations, her husband, and friends," and adding that Mr Anderson and his sister should go round to Mrs Samson's house as fast as they could. AUSTRALIAN WHEAT. A conference at Sydney of those interested in the wheat harvest resolved to ask the Federal Government to approach the Imperial authorities and endeavour "to ge't the United States to provide immediately all the shipping space possible for the despatch of Australian wheat to the United States and Canada, to enable tho latter to make available an equal quantity from the Atlan'tio coast for the Allies. The Government Statistician estimates the New South Wales wheat harvest at 43,536,000 bushels. The total area sown was 3,833,200 acres, or 655,000 less than the previous season. The British Wheat Commission has decided to take the 1916-17 wheat crop, representing 3,000,000 tons, for which it is understood the Imperial authorities are providing ample shipping space to permit of its transportation by the end of the year. The commission may also purchase the 1917-18 croo.