NEWS BY CABLE.

Southland Times, Issue 14334, 1 May 1899, Page 2

NEWS BY CABLE.

British and Foreign ~r INVITATION TO A TUBERCULOSIS CONGRESS. DESTRUCTIVE CYCLONE IN MISSOURI. AN EXPERT SPEAKS OUT BOLDLY FOR DREYFUS. FILIPINOS AGAIN DEFEATED; ARMISTICE ASKED FOR. STOCKS AND PRODUCE QUOTATIONS FATAL QUARREL BETWEEN FATHER AND SON. ANOTHER SPRING IN PIG IRON. TRANSVAAL AGAIN IN EVIDENCE. THE ANGLO-RUSSIAN AGREEMENT. CARDINAL MORAN’S VIEWS OF THE ORIGIN OF THE SAMOAN TROUBLE. THE CHURCH DISPUTES IN ENGLAND. SCENE IN THE COMMONS. HICKS-BEACH STANDS FAST. SOUTH AUSTRALIAN ELECTIONS AND REFERENDUM BOOM FOR WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY. (United Press Association. — By Electri cTelegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, April 28. Count Hatzfeld, German Ambassador to England, has invited the Australasian governments to send representatives to a congress to be held at Berlin on May 24th to discuss the prevention of tuberculosis. By a cyclone in the State of Missouri sixty persons were killed and a thousand injured. Four hundred houses were demolished. A thousand of the Doukhoborsti, the expelled Russian religious sect, have left Cyprus to settle in Canada. At the Newmarket First Spring meeting the One Thousand Guineas Stakes were won by Mr Lorillard’s Sibola: Mr Arthur James’ Fascination, 2 ; Mr Douglas Baird’s Musa, 3. M. Paleologue, an official writing expert in the French Foreign Office, accuses the War Office of falsifying a fresh document in the Dreyfus dossier, also with deliberately upholding the wrong rendering of the telegram sent by Colonel Pannizardi, Italian attache at Paris, asking the Italian Government to deny having had relations with Dreyfus, if none existed, although the War Office was informed of the correct interpretation of the telegram. He exculpates Dreyfus.

Sir W. T. Marriott’s claim of L 20,000 against E. T. Hooley’s estate as legal adviser to Hooley, has been reduced to L5OOO.

The Americans have captured Apalit, a qown beyond Calumpit, inflicting heavy losses on the Filipinos. The weekly returns of the Bank of England, published to-day, show the stock of gold, coin, and bullion to be L 29,134,000; the reserve, L 20,673,000; and the proportion of reserve to liabilities, 40 - G0 ; notes in circulation, L 27,399,000 ; public deposits amount to L 12,548,000; and other deposits, L 38,181,000 ; Government securities, L13,.388,000; and other securities, L 34,539,000. months’ bills are discounted at 2 3-16ths per cent. Consols, 110-|.

Colonial securities — New South Wales 4 per cents, 120 J ; 105£ ; 3’s, 100-f; Victorian 4’s, 114; 3£’s, South Australian 3A’s, 108; 3’s, 95|; Queensland 4’s, 113£|; 3|’s, 107|; New Zealand 4’s, 114|; 3j’s, 108 j; 3’s, 97; Tasmanian 3J’s, 107£ ; _ Westralian 3|’s, 104.

Wheat—The markets are quiet, but steady. Victorian cargoes (March shipments) are offering at 28s 6d; April shipment, 28s 3d. Sugar is firm—German beet, 12s 9d per cwt; Java cane, Ils. No. 1 Scotch pig iron, f.o.b. on Clyde, 60s 3d per ton. Silver, 2s 4{-d per oz. Wool—The Bradford market is quiet. Common sixties are fetching Is 9Jd ; super, Is Butter—There is a slump in the market for Danish, which is selling at from 96s to 98s. Australian is nominally 98s to 100 s. Rabbits — The market is firm ; colonial are worth Is. April 29. Received 30th, 5 p.m. In the House of Commons Mr Chamberlain said Britain had informed President Kruger that the dynamite concession was a breach of the convention. President Kruger’s reply will shortly be published. The anxiety respecting the Transvaal is increasing. The Daily Chronicle says Kruger’s obstinacy and disregard of warnings are likely to have disastrous results. The Filipinos have asked for an armistice for the purpose of holding a native congress with a view to arrange 'peace. General Otis demands their complete surrender. The Morning Post states that the Anglo-Russian agreement has been signed. Russia undertakes not to obtain or assist others to obtain railway or other concessions in the Yangtse Valley in China, Britain giving a similar pledge in regard to Manchuria. Negotiations are proceeding with a view to settle the disputes regarding the Persian Gulf, Abyssinia and Afghanistan. Russia denies having secured the port of Banderabbas in the Persian Gulf.

Received 30th, 5.15 p.m.

The Bishop of Hereford presided at an important meeting, attended by many Commoners, evangelical, broad, moderate and high churchmen. Sir Edward Clarke declared that there was no historical grounds for questioning the authority of the Privy Council with regard to church matters. Reso-

lutions were adopted: that the presence in the Lord’s Sacrament is a purely spiritual one; that the establishment of confessionals be condemned, and that the jurisdiction of the courts must be upheld.

A remarkable scene occurred in the House of Commons. While the education vote was under discussion Sir John Gorst attacked the policy of his own department and showed animus towards the Duke of Devonshire. Several members suggested his resignation and Sir H. Campbell-Banner-man complained that Sir John Gorst’s conduct was almost an affront to the Commons. April 30. ~ Received Ist, 0,50 a.m.

In the House of Commons Sir M. Hicks-Beach, replying to a question by Mr T. B. Curran, member for North Donegal, with reference to the wine duties, admitted that the New South Wales tariff was relatively favourable to Britain—but L4so—amount represented by the duty on New South Wales wines—was not sufficient to justify a departure from a settled fiscal policy. Received Ist, 1.5 a.m.

During a fog a steamer collided with and greatly damaged the lightship on Goodwin Sands., The latter utilised Marconi’s wireless telegraphy and obtained help from Ramsgate.

Australian.

SYDNEY, April 29. Eastern news states that recently the Americans nipped in the bud an elaborately organised plot for a secret rising of the old militia forces in Manila, its object being a general massacre of the foreigners. One hundred and twenty-five of the leading spirits were arrested. Aquinaldo has refused to accept the Spanish offer of half a million dollars to release the Spaniards still held in capitivity by the Filipinos. He demands seven millions.

There is a prospect of a deadlock over the Brisbane athletic championship meeting. Queensland insists on holding it on August sth and 12th ( , while New South Wales and Victoria have agreed upon the 12th and 14th. There is a prospect of inducing New Zealand to fall in with the latter dates as Queensland’s attitude is considered to seriously affect New Zealand competitors, it being argued that nothing less than a month’s absence from home will, otherwise, suffice them. April 30. Received 30th, 5 p.m. In the course of a speech Cardinal Moran characterised the trouble in Samoa as not warfare but deliberate murder. He knew on good authority that the natives were anxious to become British subjects,; that the Germans were willing to forego any little differences so as to allow the Samoans to be under British protection, but there was a third power—a very dangerous power—which has taken up an aggressive attitude. America seemed bent on making the Pacific Ocean a new American lake. He looked upon this as very dangerous, not only to the natives of the islands of the Pacific, but to the British Empire. It was clear to him that the Americans fomented the disturbance to suit their own ends. He stated that Admiral Pearson admitted to him that he would have liked to go to Samoa, but the Imperial authorities ordered him to Remain at Sydney. The Cardinal expressed the opinion that if Admiral Pearson had been in charge bloodshed would have been prevented. Received Ist, 0.50 a.m. The railway revenue for the quarter shows an increase of about L 17,000 as compared with last quarter. Mr Reid, on behalf of the Premiers of Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, Tasmania and New South Wales, has instructed the Agent-General to make certain representations to Mr Chamberlain with reference to the duties on colonial wines. The contents of the message have not been disclosed. MELBOURNE, April 29. In a fracas at Yarra wonga between a butcher named Green and his son, the latter cut his father’s hand almost off, and he died as the result of bloodpoisoning. The son has been arrested on a charge of murder. ADELAIDE, April 29.

Ward was found not guilty of the murder of an Indian at Mount Mary on the ground of his insanity. He will be imprisoned during the Governor’s pleasured April 30. Received Ist, 1.5 a.m. The Referendum votes on the Commonwealth Bill and household suffrage for the Legislative Council, taken in conjunction with the elections throughout the colony, lent unwonted interest. Very few returns' are complete, but the personnel of the metropolitan representation is practically unchanged. Premier Kingston has been elected for West Adelaide, though Batchelor, a labour candidate, headed the poll. The figures to hand so far indicate majorities of about six to one in favour of the Commonwealth Bill and two to one in favour of the Legislative Council suffrage.