NEWS BY CABLE.

Southland Times, Issue 13773, 7 June 1897, Page 2

NEWS BY CABLE.

British and Foreign OUR GOVERNOR EN ROUTE. SPAIN’S CUBAN DIFFICULTY. THE TRANSVAAL’S DRACONIAN LAW IS TO BE REVISED. MR SEDDON AS A SEER. NEWCASTLE COAL TRADE. VICTORIAN FROZEN MEAT PROPOSALS. FINANCIAL DEALINGS IN S.A. A RECORD REIGN PROPOSAL THAT IS NOT WELL RECEIVED. RINDERPEST THE CAUSE OF MORTALITY IN THE TRANSVAAL. LABOUCHERE ASSAULTED. FRENCH RIGHTS ON BRITISH COAST THE GERMAN SLANDER CASE. N.Z.L. AND M.A. CO: FINANCIAL PROPOSALS. SUBJECTS FOR THE COLONIAL PREMIERS IN LONDON. (United Press Association— By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. ) LONDON, June 4. In the House of Commons, in committee on the Employers’ Liability Bill, the Right Hon. J. Chamberlain carried an amendment permitting the > commutation of a pension at theg endg °f a y ear at of either employer or workmen, an arbitrator to settle the amount to be |paid in lieu of pension. The Earl and Countess of Ranfurly and family left yesterday en route to Wellington via Canada.

Sir J. Gordon Sprigg, Premier of Cape Colony, has left Capetown [for London to attend the Jubilee festivities. The Hon. Wilfred Laurier, Premier of Canada, has started for London to take part in the Jubilee. Immense enthusiasm was displayed at Ottawa on the occasion of his departure. The Queen Regent of Spain has summoned Marshal Campos, the former commander of the Spanish troops in Cuba, to a consultation on the subject} of [the revolution in that island. . Jt is expected that Senor Sagasta, who was Premier before the Canovas Cabinet came into office, will be asked to form a Ministry. A Commission is to be appointed to revise the Grondwet or fundamental law of the Transvaal. ;„■? t

The London newspapers express great appreciation of the action of Cape Colony in agreeing to vote a subsidy to the British navy. The Times congratulates the Cape Parliament on its following the excellent initiative set by Australia. The Japanese Minister considers the reply of the Hawaiian Government in regard to the restriction of Japanese immigrants is not an excuse for the exclusion of Japanese from Hawaii.

At (the military tournament New South Wales Mounted Rifles defeated New South Wales Lancers at wrestling on horseback. The South Australian new 3 per cent, loan is quoted at Nineteen yachts have entered for the Emperor William’s Jubilee Cup race from -Dover to Heligoland on 22nd June. At the Epsom Summer meeting the Oaks resulted as follows Jennings’ Limasol, 1; Lord Rosebery’s Chelandry, 2 ; Lord Ellesmere’s Fortalice, 3. The London Bank of Australia bill has received the Royal assent. In the course of a press interview Mr Seddon said he foresaw the establishment of an Imperial Council at which colonial delegates would be heard on all matters affecting colonial interests. Latest. LONDON, June 4. A detachment of the South African Chartered Go’s police have arrived to take part in the Jubilee celebrations. A suggestion was made that the Government should mark the record reign by releasing Irish dynamiters, but Mr Gerald Balfour, Secretary for Ireland, is not disposed to fall in with the suggestion. Reports are to hand of appalling mortality amongst the natives of Northern Transvaal, arising from the pollution of streams and eating cattle infected with rinderpest. In December last G. Brook, an ex-Con-gregationalist minister, brought an action against Truth (Mr Labouchere’s paper), claiming damages in respect of an article accusing him of imposture by means of begging letters. The trial resulted in a verdict for the . defendant newspaper. Yesterday Brook’s son met Mr Labouchere on the street and assaulted him. Justice Sir Vaughan Williams has sanctioned the Queensland National Bank rearrangement scheme. Sir VV. Whitney, Premier of Newfoundland, is negotiating with Lord Salisbury for a settlement of the French shore question. By the Treaty of Paris French fishermen were granted certain rights on the coast of Newfoundland, and now claim exclusive rights to fish along the coast from Cape John to Cape Ray. Frequent troubles have arisen over these claims.

The trial in Berlin of Tausch and Lutzow has concluded. Tausch was acquitted and Lutzow sentenced to two months’ imprisonment. The faot that Baron Marschall Von Bieberstein has taken a holiday is accepted as an indication of a possible Ministerial crisis.

Terrible distress exists amongst the Greek fugitives in Thessaly and Epirius. They are compelled to subsist on grass and other herbs and many are in a state of nakedness. June 5.

The committee of A and B debentureholders in the N.Z.L. aud M.A. Co have recommended a scheme for the readjustment of the capital account. The directors are of opinion that the scheme removes all possibility of a call and puts the company in a thoroughly sound position both as regards interest and assets. Meetings to consider the scheme will be held on June 16th. In the course of an interview with Mr Chamberlain Mr Seddon learned that an informal conference between the colonial Premiers and the authorities of the Colonial Office will begin after the Jubilee celebration. The subjects to be discussed will be trade relations between Britain and her colonies; proposals with reference to the investment of trust funds ; increase of the Austrahsian auxiliary squadron and improving colonial land defences; legislation with reference to the exclusion of aliens from the colonies; questions bearing upon the administration of affairs in the Pacific, chiefly Samoa. Mr Chamberlain thanked the colonies for their splendid response to his invitation to participate in the Jubilee celebrations and was delighted at the great change in British feeling in regard to the colonies, it was not a question of sentiment, but of constitution. He alse referred to the increasing value of the trade between Britain and her colonies.

The N.Z.L. and M.A. Go’s readjustment is on the following lines :—Prior lien debentures to remain untouched; “ A” debentures to receive 70 per cent, of present stock in new 4 per cent, debentures on 40 per cent, of which the interest is a fixed charge ; 10,000 preference pound shares • [to be issued to trustees, who will issue against these a million certificates, of which 30 per cent, each go to A and B debenture holders—one certificate for every ordinary fully paid up ehare, and one for every two preference shares. The scheme reduces tbe fixed yearly interest on debentures from L 145.000 to L 104,000; cancels two and a half millions’ worth of debentures and shares. To provide for deficiencies aud readjust the capital account hereafter capital to the amount of L 3,301,320 in paid shares, capital being written down to L 138.375 uncalled capital renders liable call but directors are opinion scheme removes possibility of call.

Australian MELBOURNE, June 5. In the course of.an interview between the Minister of Agriculture and representatives of meat exporting firms it was agreed that there should be State supervision and control over all meat exported, and it was suggested that the Australian governments should devise a scheme for inducing the erection by private enterprise of cool stores in the different centres of population in Britain. ADELAIDE, June 5. With the ■ exception of a very small amount the whole of the Treasury bills which fell due on J une Ist have been dealt with. The holders of half a million’s worth of the bills have taken stock in the new loan, while 1(300,000 worth of bills have been paid off. It has been decided to reduce the rate of interest on deposits in the Post Office Savings Bank from 3 J to 3 percent. Latest. SYDNEY, June 6. A conference of Newcus >e coal owners and miners’ representatives was held to consider a request that the owners in the district should form themselves into a vend, with a view to raising the selling price of eoal, with a consequent increase of the hewing rates paid to the miners. The men also desired certain concessions with reference to filling small coal. The conference was representative of both sides and the proceedings were marked by good feeling. After each had stated their case Mr Gregson, superintendent of the A. A. Company, who was chairman and spokesman for the owners, admitted that the output of coal had increased but the price had decreased and the trade was in a bad state. Owing to the kesn competition it was im. possible for the owners to enter into a general agreement amongst themselves, some of the companies being worked at a loss, simply for the benefit of the miners. The only answer that could be given was that the "owners could not at present grant an increase of the hewing rate, and could make no allowance in regard to filling small coal. This was the final and unanimous decision of the owners present and of some not at the conference.

The effects of the betting decision were apparent at the winter meeting of the Jockey Club yesterday. The attendance was very poor and the bookmakers were also less in evidence. A number, whose names were taken by the police, risked proceedings and freely accepted cash bets. The majority, however, confined themselves to booking bets.