HOME & FOREIGN

Waikato Argus, Volume XXI, Issue 3360, 14 December 1906, Page 2

HOME & FOREIGN

GERMAN EXPENDITURE. Berlin, December 12 The expenditure of Germany for 1907 is estimated at eight millions sterling above that of 1906. A twelve million loan is projeected. The Army Estimates are £750,000 higher than last year, and the Navy Estimates £1,250,000 higher, including half a million for new con-, structioa. South-west Africa’s requirements are placed at £3,500,000, exclusive of two millions as Supplementary Estimates for 1906. The Budget Committee has provisionally seriously reduced the men and money required for dealing with the rebellion in this protectorate, despite the warning of M, Dernberg (Co lonial Minister) to the effect that they were risking- the loss of the colony. Pourparlers to conciliate the centre are proceeding. Despite Herr Dernberg’s promise to reduce the army in South-west Africa by 4000 before April, the Budget Committee reduced the vote by £1,500,000.

TRANSVAAL CONSTITUTION London, December 13. Under the new Transvaal Constitution the Government reserves for Imperial assent any law relating to the importation under contract of indentured or licensed labourers from outside South Africa. The Assembly is empowered to hasten the termination of Chinese labour, and no further licenses will be issued under the Labour Importation Ordinance, nor will contracts thereunder be renewed. The ordinances lapse a year after the new Legislature meets, and new ordinances required to settle the status of Chinese remaining in the country the Governor reserves for the Imperial Government’s approval, lest the conditions be servile. Similarly all exceptional legislation against non-whites is reserved. King Edward, in affixing bis signature to the letters patent, expressed his earnest wishes for the peace and prosperity of the country under the new Constitution. The Times understands that Orangia will receive an identical Constitution as soon as the Transvaal legislature has been elected. The journal declares the Government endangered the Transvaal’s prosperity and Sou'b Africa’s future by deliberately loading the electoral dice in favour of the Boer minority against the British majority. Capf.town, December 13, Mr Latham, the Labour member for Durban, in the Assembly, moved for leave to introduce a Bill to prevent the issue of a trader’s or merchant’s license to anyone not registered as a Parliamentary voter. The motion was rejected. LORD WOLSELEY ON DEFENCE. London, December 12. Field-Marshal Viscount Wolseley, in a letter to the Earl of Wemyss, laments that the nation regards as Cassandras those experts who as sert that Great Britain requires a strong army to repel invasion. He hopes that when defeat comes the nation will rend the “jawers” who prevented precautions being taken. AN EXCITING INCIDENT. Lisbon, December 13. While the King and Crown Prince of Portugal were hunting at Arronches a number of furious bears charged the party, killing the King’s horse. With the Prince’s assistance the King disengaged himself from the horse, escaping unhurt, though two of his suite and three attendants were desperately injured, WATT’S RELEASE London, December 12. , Hugh Watt has re-married Lady Violet, in order to remove possible illegalities of the first marriage, KICKED TO DEATH. London, December 12. A yearling owned by the King was exercising at Newmarket, when it kicked its jockey, employed by His Majesty, with fatal consequences. CAPE-CAIRO RAILWAY."" London, December 12. Great Britain is negotiating with the Congo for the cession of a strip of territory for the Cape-Cairo rail way.

A. VALUABLE discovery London, December 12. Reuter’s Johannesburg corres--pondent states that experiments with a new drill suggest that 14,000 whites will be able to do the work ( of 50,000 hammer*'boys l thus revo

lutionising mining. i CANADIAN EMIGRATION. New York, December 12. Hoping to stop extensive emigration to Canada, the St. Pierre ’ authorities are affording Americans facilities to defeat the Newfound' land bait laws, conditional on onethird of the crews of American fishing vessels being composed of inhabitants of St. Pierre. BUTTER BILL London, December 12 Sir Edward Stachey has drafted a Butter Bill on the lines of the Butter Committee’s recommends' tions. The Bill will be introduced to Parliament next session. A GERMAN SENSATION. London, December 13. The Daily Express’ Berlin correspondent telegraphs that a sensation has been occasioned by the Kaiser telegraphing to Count Yon Ballestrom (President of the Reichstag), expressing indignation at the Budget Committee’s refusal of the money required to prosecute rebels in South West Africa. GRATEFUL CHINESE Capetown, December 13. The Chinese employed in Jumper’s Deep mine presented a piece of gold plate to the retiring manager in acknowledgment of hia good and kind treatment. CHINESE TROUBLES Pekin, December 13. The Pingbsiang rebels are anti> dynastic, and do not molest the people or missionaries.

CABLEGRAMS.^

[united press association] (by electric telegraph — copyright)

r CHURCH AND STATE IN FRANCE „ Paris, December 13. Two thousand documents seized by the Nunciature conclusively prove that the Bishops are almost unanimous in accepting the separa* tion law, which will be obeyed, A though not without deep regret. According to the Pope's instruct tions, communicated through Mon* signor Montagnini, the secrecy of all documents of a diplomatic nature will be scrupulously respected by the Government. It is stated at Rome that up to the last moment the Vatican hoped that France would renew the negotiations. THE EDUCATION BILL. London, December 13. The House of Commons, by 416 to 107, disagreed with the House of Lords' amendment to the Education Bill, after a heated debate, FOOTBALL. London, December 11. The South Africans defeated Lancashire by 11 points to 8. [New Zealand did not play Lanca-i ‘ hlte o-