GENERAL SUMMARY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4671, 15 June 1893, Page 1

GENERAL SUMMARY.

AUCKLAND, Junk 14. President Richardß, in addressing the Iron and Steel Institute, London, on May 24, at the annual meeting, said the year 1892 had been one of the worst ever known in the iron and steel industries. They were still greatly depressed, and the outlook was gloomy. The production of pig iron had^fallen off 600,000 tons, and steel rails were in the worst possible condition. The total falling off in the exports of metals and machinery amounted to 7,000,000 pounds; The steel markets were now swamped, and there was 'not enough work for half of the country's steel producing power. Professor Abel, who followed Mr Richards, spoke in an encouraging and hopeful tone, and expressed the opinion that there were signs of betterment. England, he said, was bound to remain the first iron shipbuilding country in the world. It was announced that Mr John Fritz, of Bethlehem, Pa.', will be presented with the Bessemer gold medal. While a train on the Tialu and Dingle Railway was going down a steep g;ade, on May 22, it jumped from the track, and fell fifty feet. Five passengers were killed instantly, and twelve more were wounded severely. , Secretary Chester Field, of the Hull Dock-labourers' Union, cut his throat on May 23, when the strikers resumed work. He* wa3 depressed at the result of the strike. The Union dock-labourers' strike at Hull haa been declared off, and the men went back to work on Tuesday, May 23. The settlement is the result ot mediation. The strike began on April 7. The terms of the arrangement under which the strike comes to an end are that the men obtain work as soon as places are vacant. Non-Union men are to be unmolested, and the employers are free to dismiss or to refuse to employ j Union men. It is also agreed that henceforth there shall be no Btrike on the part of the men, or lock-out on the part of the employer?, without a notice of twenty-one days previously. Mr Gladstone has offered the Poet Laureateship to John Ruakin. Mr Gladstone said, on April 25, alluding to Townaend's attempt to assassinate him, that neither the bullet of the assassin nor tbe incendiary words of Conservative leaders could prevent Home Rule being granted to the Irish people. "The nation," he said, " has at length become convinced that even the measure which we now offer is but a small meed of justice to an oppressed people." He was addressing the bearers of a resolution of confidence from the Presbyterians of Ulster. "I am comforted," he said, in conclusion, "to observe the existence of such enlightened opinion as this resolution portrays. It ■ ia a bearer of joy riding above > the sea of violence and intolerance which recently sought to overthrow law • and order in Belfast." He also made a ' thrust at the noble owner of Hatfield House, which during the week had been the Mecca of all the Ulster " sore-heads," and said he was opposed to utterances which, under the guiee of partizanship, excited to murder or treason. A grand demonstration was given to Lord Salisbury in Belfast on the night of May 24. A tremendous crowd from all the country round aboub assembled, and the Ulster Hall was filled to overflowing long before the time fixed for the opening of the meeting. Previous to the arrival of Lord Salisbury, Captain Kennedy, late of tha Coldstream Guards, created & furore by unfurling the Union Jack, under which, he said, the Grenadiers had fought at Waterloo, and under which flag, he added, the Royalists would fi^bfc in Ulster ; and he and many other officers of the British army would assist them. Lord Salisbury, in his address, said the Home Rule Bill would probably pass through the Committee stage, but the House of Lords held an impregnable position, representing, a: it, did, the loyalists of England and Ire> land. He asked the men of Ulster to bt firm. Lord Salisbury was enthusia3tieallj received, but it was Captain Kennedy with the Union Jack, who carried off' th< honours. The reception of tbe Prince of Wales ai tho Imperial Institute on May 17 was ii every way successful. The Duke of Yorl and the Princess May were repeatedly cheered by thousands of guests. M: Gladstone was present, looking tired an< i irritated. A hostile demonstration wai made by some Ulster Tories when he ap peared. The demonstration was compare tively mild at first, but increased rapidl; in volume and insolence. Despite the fac that the Prime Minister was the guest o the Prince, he was received with a Btorm o hooting and biasing whenever an* wherever he wa3 recognised. Before M Gladstone appeared the 18,000 or 20,00 persons at the reception were in the besto teaper.