NEWS BY CABLE.

Southland Times, Issue 14332, 28 April 1899, Page 2

NEWS BY CABLE.

British and Foreign RUSSIA PUTS OUT ANOTHER TENTACLE. i LORD KITCHENER IN HIS NEW DOMINION. COMBINE FOR CHEAPER CABLE SERVICE. BACKING FOR THE UITLANDERS. IRON MARKET EXCITED. AMERICA’S MISERABLE WAR. AN UNCHRISTIAN PRAYER. WESTRALIAN PRODUCERS AGAINST FEDERATION. MORE DREYFUS GARBAGE. (United Press Association. — By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, April 29. The Times of India declares that Russia has secured the right to eventually occupy Banda Abbas, a seaport on the Persian Gulf, at the most northerly point of the Strait of Ormuz and the objective point of her railway to the gulf. Sirdar Kitchener reached Berber after an 800 miles camel ride. Everywhere the tribesmen expressed gratitude at their deliverance from the Khalifa, and are steadily repairing ravages of the Dervishes. The Court of Cassation declined to confront Roget with Picquart as requested by the latter, whose evidence at the revisionary proceedings contradicted the statements of Roget. \ In the House of Commons Lord George Hamilton stated that the sugar duty which has been imposed by the Indian Government is equal to five-thirteenths of the bounty given by European governments. A number of members of the House of Commons and representatives of the various colonies have formed a committee with the object of securing a cheap imperial telegraph system. The South African League, sitting in congress, has cabled the Imperial African League, which includes fifty members of the House of Commons, that they will support the Transvaal Uitlanders in their great petition to the Queen for redress of their grievances. At the tallow sales 673 casks were offered and 30 sold. Prices remain unchanged. The pig iron market is excited. At the Newmarket First Spring Meeting’the race for the Two Thousand Guineas was won by the Duke of Westminster’s Flying Fox; Lord W. Beresford’s Caiman 2 ; Baron de Rothchild’s Trident 3. Further fierce fighting has taken place at Calumpit on Luson Island. The Filipinos, after losing heavily, were driven from the entrenchments, and fled to the hills. Eight Americans were killed. The Coglan incident has closed, Germany being satisfied with America’s explanation. The Samoan Commissioners have sailed from San Francisco. The 1 American Commissioner asserts that they are already in accord on the main issues of the trouble.

The Rev. Dr J oseph Parker, in the course of a sermon, preached in the City Temple in connection with the Cromwell tercentenary celebration, created a sensation by declaring that though the Sultan of Turkey was the Kaiser’s friend, his (Dr Parker’s) prayer was “ God (damn the Sultan.” The American visible wheat supply is estimated at 49,189,000 bushels. Radical members, during the discussion in the House of Commons on the Budget proposals, unfavourably criticised the increased wine duties on the ground that they are likely to be injurious to British trade. April 27. Received 28th, 12.50 a.m. Six thousand Americans engaged the bulk of Aquinaldo’s army at Calumpit. They shelled the enemy’s trenches, forded a river and advanced in extended line, steadily firing continuous volleys into the trenches. The Filipinos used two modern guns with modern shrapnel, but had the wrong range. Seventy Filipinos were killed. The Trans-Siberian railway has been opened to Irkutsk. The Samoan Commission left by the American cruiser Badger. Before the Court of Cassation Col. Freystaate deposed that Henry’s evidence convicted Dreyfus. Berthon deposed that when General Billot doubted the guilt (sic) of Henry he perpetrated forgery to convince him. Cuignet said he was convinced that Paty du Clam was the chief author of Henry’s forgery. Charavey declared that the bordereau was the work of Esterhazy.

Received 28th, 12.55 a.m.

The wine traders of the city have protested against the increase of duty as likely, to cause a disturbance of buying and selling, and to inflict special hardship on Australians. Several speakers at a meeting threatened to abstain from making clearances of French wines. It was resolved to seek an interview with Sir M. Hicks-Beach on the subject.

Australian.

MELBOURNE, April 27. A deadlock has occurred in connection with the Admiralty eoal contracts owing to the coal merchants refusing to bind themselves to supply coal that may be required in time of war at the price accepted as the basis in time of peace ; consequently the annual contracts have, so far, not been renewed. The New [Zealand polo team defeated a mixed team, representing the principal Victorian clubs) by seven goals to two. HOBART, April 27. The Billinghursts, who lived unhappily, quarrelled on Saturday. The man disappeared till yesterday, after wounding his wife. He also threatened

the children’s lives, but they smashed a window and escaped into the bush in their bedclothes. PERTH, April 27. A large meeting of producers resolved that until Westralia’s industries are more developed it is undesirable to join in the federation of Australia.