LATE CABLES

Waikato Independent, Volume VII, Issue 465, 25 January 1908, Page 5

LATE CABLES

[by electric telegraph—copyright! THE LONDON TIMES. (PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.) London, Jan. 23. The Pall Mall Gazette states that the new directors of The Times will be composed of three members of the Walter family (the original proprietors), and Sir Edward Tennant, and Mr C. Arthur Pearson. PICTURES FOR AUSTRALIA. London, Jan. 23. < A deputation from the Royal British and Colonial Society of Artists interviewed Mr Taverner, the Victorian Agent-General, and complained of the breach of faith implied in the report that the Victorian Government intended to prohibit the sale of the pictures loaned to Mr Joshua Lake. The Society, it was stated, had approached its members on the understanding that the pictures exhibited in Australia would be for sale in the usual way. THE THAW TRIAL. SENSATIONAL EVIDENCE. New York, Jan., 24. Antony Comstock, President of the Society for the Suppression of Vice, testified that Thaw called upon him in 1904 and complained of a gang of six or seven rich criminals, who conducted orgies, and drugged and illtreated young girls at two houses in New Yoik. Thaw said that one room was furnished like a forest, with secret stairs leading to another room, which was hung with mirrors. The drugged girls were unable to escape as the doors were difficult to find. He described a third room approached by a door concealed behind a picture, and declared the room contained valuable French paintings of peculiarly infamous suggestiveness. He also gave the names of five girl victims and offered to supply secret service funds, and suggested teat Miss Helen Gould might be asked to subscribe. Mr Comstock added that be never gained admission to the house. Counsel for the prosecution insisted that Thaw’s communication with Mr Comstock indicated that he was sane. STEAMERS COLLIDE IN A FOG. PASSENGERS RESCUED. London, Jan. 23. During a thick fog the Great Eastern Railway Co.’s steamer Amsterdam collided with the British steamer Axrainster off the Hook of Holland. The Amsterdam’s passengers took to the boats and all have landed safely, except those in one boat that is still missing. The missing boat contains 24 passengers and some members of the crew. January 24. A Norwegian steamer rescued the Amsterdam’s missing boatload after an hour’s drift. A DRUCE VICTIM. Received Jan. 25, 8.24 a.m. London, Jan. 24. The assets of James Herbert, a farmer, who filed recently, included £IOO,OOO worth of Druce’s bonds, which however only realised £ll. TRAIN WRECKED. London, Jan. 24. The express at Wimbledon, dashed into a local train during a fog and twelve passengers were injured. ANNEXING THE CONGO. London, Jan. 24. At an influental meeting of Churchmen and Non-conformists, Bishop Ingram presiding, a Christian Joint Committee was formed to agitate to secure real reforms in the Congo. The Daily Express states that Vandervelde, a Socialist, declares that Germany suggested that Britain, France, and Germany divide the Congo and this led to the Belgian Annexation Bill, but King Leopold’s exhorbitant demands threatened to wreck it. France declined German overtures in view of right of pre-emp-tion and its friendly relation with Belguim.