Page 3 Advertisements Column 1

Waikato Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1501, 7 March 1903, Page 3

CABLEGRAMS. [BY FbKCTKIC TEIiKOU\?II COPVUIGIIT J HOME & FOREIGN. FOOD SUPPLY IN WAR TIME, London, March 0. Tho Hon. A. J. Balfour, replying to a deputation in favour of hppoiutment of Royal Commission on tho question of the supply of food in war time, said he recognised the importance of parrying, if possible, tin obivious danger of the country s dopeudence uuon foreign Status. What was feared was not the exclusion of food or raw material, for it was not likely a great exporter like tho United S'aloi woidd tolerate capture of merchandise and their own ships, but what was feared was that the cost of fond and war material, under certain considerations. It was a question of price, and would ultimately be the question of insurance. After discussing the capacity of noutr,l shipping, the difficulties of a cie.ition o< a corner in food stuffs and other points, Mr Balfour said he was glad. WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY. London, March G. Mr Gerald Balfour, addressing the Lifeboat Institution, said the difficulties associated with wireless communications between lighthouses on tho coast, relating to national dofenee, rendered a comprehensive _:-au imperative. EGG PRESERV'::''. Londoi hi?. ::h G. Mr Ellis, of New Zealand, h >s disposed of his rights in the.egg preserving patent for the whole of Europe excepting Russia. Australian Items. BIBLE BURNING. BRISBANE, March G. Father. Ronoier has a letter in tho press, in which he asks Mr Burns if tho case were reversed and ho became possessed of a quantity of Catholic Testaments and hymn books all battered, torn, soiled worn and no longer acceptable to anyone, what would ho do with them I' He adds, ' So far as we Catholics are concerned, we would feel deeply indebted to him if he quietly committed them to the flames and saved them the risk of being used for vilerlpurposes. _ In his letter to the Suva Times Mr Burns gives a circumstantial account of the burning of Bibles, supplied by an eye-witness, according to whom two or more cases of books, mostly, if not all, the Fijian tongue, were burned in a limekiln specially erected for the occasion in the grouuds of the Catholic mission station. The work of tearing up tho books before inserting them in the kiln was done by native girls at the station, supervised by two European sisters. Mr Burns declares that ho knows of more than twenty adult spectators, besides a large number of school children old and intelligent enough to be competent witnesses. In answer to Mr Burns' letter Father Rongier wrote to tho Fiji Times that the first intimation he had of the burning was tho Herald's announcement. Upon making inquiry ho found that according to the practice of tho Catholic Church and tho strict injunction laid dowti in the rubrics, which ordain that all material of a sacred character appertaining to Church worship, including Bibles and prayer books, when worn out shall bo destroyed by fire, the Catholic sisters at Naililili, assisted by a few pupils, had, as tbey had periodically burned in a biscuit "tin useless Catholic books and Church material, burned in a kerosene tin soiled, useless Wesleyan Testaments and hymn books. He asserts that the sisters wero not actuated by any hostile feelings or a spirit of wanton destruction. In a letter to the Fiji Times Mr Burns shows that the chairman of tho Wesleyan Mission wrote to Father Rongier prior to the publication of Mr Burns' first lotter, asking if the Herald's statement of tho burning was correct, aud that Father Rongier failed to reply. Passengers by the Miowera state that when the steamer left Suva excitement was still high. ABOLITION OF GOVERNORS. Melbourne, March G. In the Assembly a discussiou was initated on the question of abolishing the office of State Governor, Mr Louteher moving that an address be presented to the King praying that at the end of tho present Governor's term the proposal bo taken into consideration. THE PLAGUE. Perth, March G. Though there is a lull in the plaguo outbreak, the authorities have issued a pamphlet stating that the disease is more virulent than at any previous, time, and earnestly requesting to ob> serve their recommendations as to cleanliness. QUEENSLAND GOLD YIELDS. Brisbane, March 0. Queensland's gold yields last year, oxcluding smelting works returns, was G40.-IG3 ounces, valued at £2,720,000, an increaso of £179,000 compared with the previous year. REFORM BILL. Melbourne, March G. The Legislative Council has decided to insist on all its amendments to tho Reform Bill excepting one fixing tho qualification of electors at a rental of £2O. This will bo reduced to i'lG. BURGLAR AND PREMIER. Sydney, March G. A constable guarding the Premier's house surprised a burglar attempting an entry. Shots wero exchanged without either being harmed, uud the man escaped. GOOD RAINS. Sydney, March G. A spell of intense heat lias been succeeded by good falls of rain over the southern half of tho State, which premise to extend. NO LOAN. Melbourne, Mach 5. The Federal Government does not intend to submit any Loan Bill during the forthcoming session. OBITUARY. Brisbane, March d. Jlr O'Connell. the Minister for Lands, has died suddenly of lung complications. TYPHOID. Sydney, March 6. The typhoid epidemic at Coouumble is abating.