TELEGRAPHIC.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5861, 1 May 1897, Page 6

TELEGRAPHIC.

I [Per Press Association.] A CHARGE DISMISSED. LONDON, April 29. The Free Presbyterian Church Synod rejected the petition against lan M'Laren, who was recently cited by a minister to * appear before the Synod on a charge of heresy. SIR GEORGE GREi r . April 30. Sir George Grey is dying. • THE RECORD REIGN PROCESSION. The Agents-General have secured a stand for colonial visitors along the line of route of the Queen's jubilee procesaion. DR PETERS. BERLIN, April 29. The Government has refused to prosecute Dr Carl Peters, who was recently dismissed from the Imperial service for cruelty to natives in East Africa, on the ground that his conduet ■was not opposed to native law. COLONIAL SUGAR COMPANY. SYDNEY, April 30. 1 The Colonial Sugar Company's halfyearly report showed profits amounting to .£85,500, making, with the balance brought forward, .£174,000. A dividend of 10 per ' cent was declared, and the sum of •was carried forward." The production of sugar for the past season was considerably larger than in any previous • year. The refineries are fully supplied with raw sugar till the new crop is available, and the demand is satisfactory. In anticipation of the company's New South Wales mills being closed in 1899, in consequence of the removal of the duties, the company has purchased the Mackwade mill and plantation in Queensland. At the Sugar Company's meeting Mr Knox, the chairman, said that in view of the closing of the New South Wales mills it was intended to acquire other properties in Queensland and Fiji. The company was watching with interest the experiments in Australia and New Zealand in growing beet-sugar. So far, there was no evidence to show that sugar could be made more cheaply from beet than from cane. AMALGAMATION. ! MELBOURNE, April 30. The Directors of tho Trustees, Execu- >■' tors and Agency Company, and the Perpetual Executors' Trustees Association have completed negotiations for amalgamating. NON-PAYING RAILWAYS. The Commissioner of Railways has decided to close the Camberwell to Ashburton, and Lancefield to Kilmore railways, two non-paying outer circle lines.