HOME & FOREIGN.

Waikato Argus, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4302, 18 January 1910, Page 3

HOME & FOREIGN.

ENGLISH COAL CRISIS. London, January 17. The North Eastern steel works at Middlesbrough have been closed owing to lack of coal, in consequence of the stoppage of the collieries, 2000 men being thrown out of work. The miners’ dispute is crippling the Tecside iron trade. Several factories in Northumberland have also closed, refusing to pay the higher prices now asked for coal. The strike is resulting in increased activity of the German collieries, the Westphalian mines benefiting by the large orders for factory coal ordinarily placed in England. Received 8.45 a.m., ISth. Berlin, January 17. The Tageblatt states that in consequence of the miners’ eight hours’ trouble in England the British steel and iron manufacturers have [been obliged to raise their prices, thereby enabling their German competitors to raise the price, which had sunk to a very low level there, and now there is a genuine revival in the Home markets. JEWS IN PALESTINE. Received 8.45 a.m., 18th. London, January 17. There has been a great incursion of Jews into Palestine since the new constitution became operative in Turkey. The Jewish population in Jerusalem has largely increased, many thousands flocking from Persia and Russia. Jewish capitalsits are buying land in the Jordan Valley recently the property of the ex-Sultan, Abdul Hamid. MILLIONAIRE’S BEQUESTS. London, January 17.

The value of the estate of Mr Ludvig Mond, the distinguished chemist, of Brunner, Mond, and Company, Limited, has been sworn at £1,000,000. New York, January IT. Mr Pullman, of Chicago, left £3,000,000, bequeathing each of his sons only £6ou yearly, because he considered they were lacking in a sense of the responsibiltiy entailed by the possession of considerable wealth. ATLANTIC FREIGHTS. Ottawa, January 17. A deputation to Sir Wilfrid Laurier protested against the increase in west-bound Atlantic freights of 66 per cent since 1907. Sir Wilfrid Laurier promised an investigation as to whether the arrangement meant an illegal combine in restraint ot trade. If so it would come under the forthcoming Bill to control trusts and combines. If the increase were the result of economic requirements the Government would be unable to interfere. MANCHURIAN RAILWAYS. “ London, January 17.J There is an outcry in Russia against the proposed neutralisation of the Manchurian railways. Britain has not assented to the scheme. Sir Edward Grey, Foreign Secretary, merely declared that Russia and Japan, as the Powers chiefly interested, ought to be consulted first. Japan also resents the scheme, arguing that Japan should not be molested in Manchuria any more than Germany in Shantung.

GREECE AND CRETE. Berlin, January 17i The Berliner Tageblatt states that owing to the Porte’s threat to occupy Thessaly in the event of the despatch of Cretan deputies to Athens, the Powers have decided to act energetically to obtain the postponement of the Cretan elections.

KRUPP’S ACTIVITIES. London, January 17. The Daily Chronicle, replying to reports that increased workmen are being employed by Krupps, states that Krupps chiefly turn out implements for peaceful industry, the greatest total of hands employed on armaments being 5000. RUSSIAN METHODS. St. Petersburg, January 17. Owing to the police decree forbidding speeches against the Government’ vodka—a drink distilled from rye —monopoly, the pan-Russian AntiAlcohol Congress has collapsed. EX-SULTAN’S JEWELS, Morocco, January 17. Abdul Aziz’s jewels have been redeemed from pawn for the sum of £60,000 by the present Sultan of Morocco with part of the latest loan. Canadian loan. Ottawa, January 17. Canada is issuing a loan of £4,000,000 at 32 per cent, with a minimum of 99, to be mostly used for conversion purposes.