Cable News.

Temuka Leader, Issue 4014, 21 February 1903, Page 1

Cable News.

HOME AND FOREIGN. LONDON, February IS. Mr Austin Chamberlain states that the Government are unlikely to deal the old age pensions in ]<JO3. The Colonial ofli.ee, at Mr W. P. .Reeves' instance, call the special attention of the War Oflieo to the .importance of meat tender forma reaching the colonies in time to enable firms to compete direct. An influential mucting"of naval experts, including several members of the House of Commons was held at Westminister, and decided in favour of the creation of a North Sea squadron with a naval base on the north-east coast as a reply to Germany's naval activity. By an explosion of guncotton in Woolwich Arsenal a workman was killed, and Captain Partridge and three workmen were seriously injured. A,meeting of Nationalist members of the House of Commons held in Dublin expressed deep regret a.t Sir Gavan Duffy's death, and appreciation of his services to Ireland, it also urged the Government to give- legislative offect to the Land Conference resolutions. The Blue Book docs not indicate tho origin of the suggestion of Anglo-Ger-man co-operation in Venezuela. LONDON, February 19. Mr Copeland's reply to criricisms on Australian finance was of a vogorous and? caustic character. He said that the scandalous suggestion of repudiation was a more villainous slander than anything which had been printed by the pro-Boer Press. Lord Charles Beresford has accepted command of the channel squadron. The Duke of Devonshirel speaking in the House of Lords said that it was impossible to deny that certain elements of risk and danger still existed in connection with the Venezuelian question. NEW YORK, February 18. Ten inches of snow have fallen in New York. Five thousand men are engaged clear ng the streets. SOFIA, February 18. M. ,Danefi, Premier of Bulgaria, made an emphatic declaration in tho Sobranga that Bulgaria would assist the Powers in the pacification of Macedonia. AUSTRALIAN CABLES. SYDNEY, Feb. 18. The Wakatipu was floated at midnight and towed to the wharf. The fires round Dungog continue. Many settlers in the ranges are ruined by their grass being burned, and stock destroyed or dispersed. The later hot weather in the western districts has burnt up the grass which followed the December rains. Good rains have fallen in the south and eastern divisions of tho State. Two men were foun)d staving in the domain. One man died after removal to the hospital. Indignation has been croatcd at Strathfield and Durwood owing to tho discovery that a retired squatter living in the latter suburb is suffering from leopresy. February 19. The report of the C'oonambie typhoid outbreak shows that the trouble arose in a shop doing considerable business in summer drinks, amongst which a favourite called " milk shake " formed part. Two employees were seized with typhoid,, but continued dispensing tho beverages for sonic timo though ill. Later cases arose within households where the disease original ly occurred. Rain has extinguished the bush fires at Dungog, One hundred and fen entries] including Major Taylor and several New Zealandors have been received for tho Sydney £IOOO bicycle handicap. The vital statistics for last yeai show 13,000 births and 5937 deaths. The death rate now stands at 11.8.1 per thousand, a decrease on the previous year's rate. Cancer ..and phthisis show an increased rate, while pneumonia increased by 2J per rent. The marriage rate is higher than for ten years past. Twenty per cent, of marriages were contracted at matrimonial agencies. A mullock pass at the south mine Broken Hill, suddenly burst away killing John Rowe, and seriously in* juring Win. Rowe. Hosking, McGowan and four others had a narrow escape. The charge of murder against Alex Johnston for failing t» procure a medical attendant for his wife, the outcome of a, belief in faith-healing, broke down, the judge holding that there was neither legal or moral justification for the charge PERTH, February 18 A man named Barass surrendered on hearing that a warrant was out. for his arrest in connection with the bank note robbery. He states that his only connection with the case was that he sold Jones his interest in the theatrical company, whiTh he had formed for a tour of the Eastern States, for which he received £3OO. All the stolen property except £1776 has been recoverFebruary 19. Another plague patient is dead, and an additional case is reported. HOBART, Feb. 18. Sir E. Barton is touring this State and delivering addresses. IiIELBOURNTC, February 19. A serious outbreak of antharax among cattle has occurred at Draybrook. It is estimated that twenty dairies and one thousand cattle are. within the affected range.