NEWS BY CABLE.

Southland Times, Issue 13936, 29 December 1897, Page 2

NEWS BY CABLE.

British and Foreign BY SEA AND LAND TO AUSTRALIA: LARGE PROPOSALS. CRETE AGAIN : THE TURKISH TROOPS TO BE WITHDRAWN. AFFAIRS IN THE SOUDAN. THE ENGINEERS DEMAND TO CONTROL THE SPEED OF MACHINES. WARNINGS FROM KLONDYKE. THE MELBOURNE PATRICIDE. PROBABLE DISASTER IN A MELBOURNE SEWERAGE TUNNEL. [United Press Association— By Electric Telegraph—Copybight. ] LONDON, Dec. 27. The Standard states that the TransSiberian railway will enable the journey between England irhd Australia to be shortened by ten days. That journal advises the P. and O. Company to reduce the time between England and Bombay and the return journey from Australia to Colombo by six days, suggesting the construction of a railway across India as an alternative. la the action Huddart Parker v. the N.Z. Shipping Co, judgment was given for LI 100, plaintiffs giving security for repayment in the event of an appeal against the judgment proving successful. The foreign Ambassadors in Constantinople have virtually agreed to a new scheme of autonomy for Crete, involving the withdrawal of Turkish troops from the island. The officers of the Egyptian army have advised that 12,000 troops will be required for the Anglo-Egyptian campaign in the Soudan. Six hundred Askiri tribesmen have joined the Egyptian garrison sent to invest Kassala upon its cession by Italy to Egypt. Count Matsukata, Japanese Premier, and Marquis Saigo, Minister of Marine, have resigned. It is likely that Count Ito, Premier at the time of the late war, will again become Premier. The ballot amongst the members of the Associated Engineers’ Society resulted in 150 branches unanimously voting against the employers' proposals with regard to freedom of management in their works, and, excepting two branches, all rejected the proposed compromise for making 51 hours a week’s work, by large major.ties. Australian. SYDNEY, Dec. 28. Private letters from miners at Klondyke warn Australians from going there owing to the rigorous climate and the difficulties in reaching the field. They admit that Klondyke is wonderfully rich, but say thousands of Americans and Canadians are ready to rush the field when spring comes. It would, at any rate, be wise for Australians to make provisions for returning in the event of failure. MELBOURNE, Dec. 28. The man Gregan and his son were drinking together. The latter knocked his father down for making a disparaging romaik about his dead mother, and left him lying in a passage all night. He went in the morning for a doctor, but the man was then dead. Received 28th, 11 p m Mossop, inspector for the. Board of Works, together with workmen Porter, Stephens and Hoare descended a shaft into the South Yarra tunnel. Hoare subsequently re-

turned, stating that his companions were in danger from gas. A relief party, consisting of McKenzie, one of the contractors, Gibson and Hoare, went down, bub McKenzie and Hoare were driven to the surface and Gibson was overcome. The captain of the South Yarra Fire Brigade in a smoko jacket, went down and searched the tunnel to the limit of his hose, but saw no bodies. Another attempt is being made.

[The following cables received last week were mislaid.] LONDON, Dec. 21. The United States and Canadian Commissioners to the Behring Sea Conference have agreed to a settlement of a majority of the claims. The Daily News states that the compensation to be paid by the United States is likely to amount to a million dollars. The German squadron, which recently left Kiel for Kaiochou, has arrived at Plymouth. Her Majesty entertained Prince Henry at dinner last evening. The War Office authorities are making an urgent call for volunteeis for the British rifle corps in Uganda. At a meeting of contributors to the London hospital funds initiated by the Prince of Wales, the Prince himself presiding, the meeting expressed a detire that a permanent hospital fund should be established, and that searching enquiries be instituted with ,a view to; securing wise administration of the fund. The committee’s proposal to distribute among the larger hospitals in London L 22.000 derived from the annual subscription, and L 38,000 from the sale of stamps, was adopted.