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Waikato Independent, Volume VII, Issue 462, 18 January 1908, Page 5

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[ry electric telegraph—copyright]

CANADA AND JAPAN. (per press association.) (Received Jan. 17. 11.55 p.m.) Ottawa, Jan. 17. The statement that a satisfactory understanding between Canada and Japan, regarding restriction of the number of Japanese laborers entering Canada, has been arrived at, is confirmed in official circles. LORD STANLEY AT PRESTON. London, Jan. 17. Lord Stanley, speaking at Preston, claimed that those advocating Mr Balfour’s policy ought not to be daunted by the epithet “ Protectionist.” He said, “Nothing will ever induce me to pledge myself to any single tax of any sort for the purpose of preference, until I know what I will get in return. On the other hand, nothing will induce me to pledge myself to oppose any tax if I thought upon the imposition we would receive as much if not more than wo had surrendered.” THE RETRIAL OF THAW. New York, Jan. 16. Mr M. W. Lyttelton, who is defending Harry Thaw, in his opening speech to the jury yesterday, declared that insanity existed in the families of Thaw’s father and mother, and that Thaw had suffered from fits of insanity from early childhood, also that he was stark, staring mad at the time of the tragedy. INDIANS IN THE TRANSVAAL. Pretoria, Jan. 16. Unregistered Indians in Pretoria, failing to quit the Transvaal before Sunday last, the 12fcb inst-, have been sentenced to three months. A crowded meeting of citizens at Pretoria heartily supported the strict adherence to the Asiatics’ Registration Act. MOROCCO. Morocco, Jan. 16. Mulai Hafid, the Sultan’s brother, is preaching a jehad, or holy war, at Marakcsh. Abdul Aziz, the Sultan, advises the Europeans at Rabat to keep together. He has also placed guards around their residences. January 17. General Damade, with four battalions of infantry, three squadrons of cavalry and a battery of artillery, for 16 hours fought an obstinate battle at Settat Pass against Mulai Hafid’s army, which had been reinforced by the Shawis tribes, who participated in the last massacre. Heavy losses were inflicted. Bachid’s camp beyond the pass was destroyed and his followers were scattered and will be unable henceforth to keep the passage clear for Mulai Hafid’s advance on Fez. The French casualties were slight. A MINE COLLAPSES. Madrid, January 16. A thousand men have been rendered idle at the Rio Pinto Copper Mines. The substitution of stone pillars and props caused cracks a yard wide, and the subsidence led to the collapse of many houses in the course of construction. TUB BALTIC. Berlin, Jan. 16. Germany, Russia, and Sweden are arranging for the virtual neutralisation of the Gulfs of Bothnia and Finland. It is hinted that Germany thereby not only closes the Baltic against belligerent warships, but begins to establish a new triple alliance. Denmark protests against not being consulted on the matter. NEW ZEALAND TARIFF. London, Jan. 17. The Tariff Commission, analysing the New Zealand tariff, shows that preference affects £1,000,000 worth of goods in groups wherein British trade is chiefly concerned, compared with £2.750,000 under the old tariff. Of imports now subject to preference about one-flfth were imported from foreign countries. Generally speaking, the Commission considers the level of the tariff has been slightly reduced. DIAMOND MARKET COLLAPSE. London, Jan. 17. Owing to the collapse of the diamond market as a result of the financial stringency in America, the Premier Diamond Co. has postponed payment of a dividend on preference shares, with the expressed belief that the depression in the market is only transitory.

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IHV ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH —COPYRIGHT.

OLD AGE PENSIONS SCHEME. (PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Received Jan. 17, 11.55 p.m. London, Jan. 17. In the course of a speech at Lancaster, Mr H. H. Asquith (Chancellor of the Exchequer) said the old age pension system must be built up gradually with due regard to the country’s financial exigencies, and as far as possible it would be derived from taxation. It must be a scheme to which all classes, including the workers, would make a just and adequate contribution, and upon those lines the Government intended to proceed. Later. Mr Snowden, Labor Commoner, interview, severely criticising Mr Asquith’s old age pension scheme. He feared that it was the intention to cast a portion of the burden on local rates and the retention of the Stigma attaching to the poor laws relief. The Liberals explain that part of the cost will be derived from rates in return for relief to rates, which the pensions afford. The Conservatives foraee a further tax on necessaries of life, and the infringment of Cobdenism. FOUNDERING OF A STEAMER. OTTAWA, Jan. 17. A quantity of wreckage found at Vancouver, indicates the foundering of the British vessel Hartfield, from Liverpool. The crew numbered 30, including Captain Anderson, his wife and family. THE PRUSSIAN DIET. Berlin, Jan. 17. The Prussian Diet, by 198 votes to 119, adopted a modified Bill, limiting expropriations in West Prussia and Posen to 173,000 acres. WEARY OF TEST MATCHES. (Received Jan. 18, 8.58 a.m.) London, Jan. 17. The Tribune says the public here are growing weary of the procedure of the cricket test matches, which are reduced to tiials of endurance. It considers they ought to be limited to four days and there would then be an incentive to play real cricket, getting rid of much ignoble stonewalling. LOVELY WOMAN. London, Jan. 17. A number of suffragettes tried to force an entrance into Sir H. Camp-bell-Bannerman’s residence in Downing Street, while Cabinet was sitting, and shouting out for votes for women. Four were arrested. Two chained themselves to a front rail, compelling the police to break the chains. RAILWAYS IN MANCHURIA. Tokio, Jan. 17. Japan has informed China that the projected railway running parallel to the South Manchurian railway cannot be built because it would violate the spirit of the letter of the Pekin Treaty., NOTORIOUS BIGAMIST. London, Jan. 17. A man named Lyne, a German Jew bigamist, has been arrested at Aberdeen on a charge of defrauding at Bistol, one of a hundred women, who he is reported to have married, of £2OOO sterling. KAID McLEAN ILL. Morocco, Jan. 17. Kaid McLean is seriously'ill, and the British legation has been despatched for medical assistance, THE AMERICAN AND JAPANESE FLEETS. New York, Jan. 17. Washington despatches report that uneasiness is felt owing to the sensational reports of the distribution of the Japanese fleet. Admiral Saish, at Tokio, states he is willing to make an announcement as to the disposition of the fleet if it is needed to allay any excitement, but he says the rumour is hardly worth attention, President Roosevelt, in thanking Dr. Penna, the Brazilian President, for his hospitality to the United States fleet, says that the fleet exists only to protect peace against possible aggressions and justice against possible oppressions.