LATE WIRES.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 18, Issue 44, 31 May 1907, Page 5

LATE WIRES.

[By Telegraph—Special to Guardian] ♦

NEWS FROM WELLINGTON. . Wellington, Last Night. , The now celebrated Land Bill i provides constant food for discussion ■ and meditation, without apparently i getting any nearer to bedrock requirements or becoming more satisfactory to those who make their living from working the land. The Farmers’ Union have recently held a meeting where various strong opinions were expressed on the merits of the clauses of the Bill. Very few level-headed settlers are in accord with legislation which does not take effect for ten years after it becomes law. They think it seems like beating the air, as during that long interval no one can say what amendments will be passed. An excitable foreigner was yesterday fined £2 by the Arbitration Court for a breach of an award. On hearing his fate he exclaimed : “ What for ? If I had nothing you could not take it! ” He retired muttering execrations. One of the coldest snaps visited us here this week, accompanied by heavy rain and a fearful gale. It has now moderated, but the atmosphere is still little above freezing point. Shipping arrangements here have been sadly disarranged all the week, the south-east gale preventing even the largest and most powerful steamers from leaving port. There is a great scarcity of cement in New Zealand. The Auckland Harbour Board have had to order 1500 barrels from England. What a pity the cement works at Picton did not turn out a better financial success. •The New Zealand bowlers defeated a Streatham team by 18 points to 22. Three rinks of Australians defeated Streatham by 74 to 45.

A Warning' to America.

JAPAN WILL NOT STAND ANY NONSENSE. London, May 30, A telegram from Tokio (believed to be inspired by the Japanese Foreign Office) states that a repetition of unprovoked attacks on Japanese at San Francisco will have serious results in respect to the relations between Japan and America. New York, May 30. San Francisco newspapers continue to stir up trouble, freely predicting that the time will come when America must light Japan.

The Butter Bill.

DEFINING BUTTER SUBSTITUTES, London, May 30. The special Committee to whom the Butter Bill was referred by the House of Commons have agreed to an amendment that only milk-blended butter shall be recognised as a butter substitute. All imitations of butter are to be classed as margarine.

Transvaal Finance.

IN A BAD STATE. Pretoria, May 30. At the opening of an Intercolonial Council, at Pretoria, Lord Selbourne, High Gominissioner, said the financial position of the Transvaal and Orange River Colony had materially grown worse. The Budget showed a shortage of £IBO,OOO, while the estimates for the coming year anticipated a reduction in revenue and expenditure of £700,000.

Drought in Australia. Sydney, May 30. Owing to the drought in the Wagga district some flocks have been reduced 50 per cent. Lambs and old ewes are being killed off because of the shortness of feed.

The Timber Trade at Greymouth. Greymouth, May 30. Over two million feet of timber are awaiting shipment at this port, and there is quite a block. Harbour improvements are needed, there being only two berths with deep enough water to load vessels. More rolling stock is also required for the railway. The timber trade keeps increasing, the sawmillers having orders for over two million feet of white pine for Sydney.

Auckland Poultry Trade. Auckland, May 30. Mr Hyde, the Poultry Expert, says the Auckland poultry trade has advanced with leaps and bounds. The increases for this year, as compared with the figures for last year, show 15,000 poultry, and 1,125,000 eggs. The industry, if continued to be pushed along on proper lines, would take its place alongside the butter and frozen meat industries,

The Strikes on the Rand. TROOPS CALLED OUT. Pretoria, May 30. Since the military have been summoned the strikers on the Rand are quieter; but they are confident of the result, declaring that the employers will be compelled to feed Chinese and Kaffir coolies until a settlement of the dispute is arrived at. London, May 30. Mr Churchill states that the presence of many Chinese on the Rand adds to the insecurity, and justifies Lord Selborne in acceding to the Transvaal Government's request for troops. Reuter’s Johannesburg correspondent states that cavalry completely garrison the reefs, enabling numerous half-hearted strikers to resume work.

LATE WIRES. [By Telegraph—Special- to Guardian]