CABLE ITEMS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIX, Issue II, 12 July 1902, Page 85

CABLE ITEMS.

King Victor Emmanuel visits London and Constantinople in 1903.

The number of efficient volunteers in Great Britain last year was 381,000.

Mr Reitz, the Boer ex - Minister, settles in Sumatra.

The plague has broken out at Constantinople.

The new Licensing Bill has been read a third time.in the House of Commons.

In the University cricket match Cambridge beat Oxford by fire wickets.

The directors of the Agency Land and Finance Company, of Australia, propose to liquidate.

The Customs revenue of Canada for the fiscal year amounted to 32,500.000 dollars. *

The Papal envoy has presented Sir E. Barton with a gold medal on behalf of the Pope.

There were two thousand guests at the Crystal Palace ball given in aid of the King's Hospital Fund.

Fifteen thousand people at Capetown have signed, a petition in favour of the suspension of the Constitution.

The deficit in Germany’s Budget of 1901 amount to two millions sterling.

News received from St. Helena states that, the Boer leader Cronje has signed the oath of allegiance.

It is reported that Kruger has received information that Mr Steyn is hopelessly paralysed.

Lord Hopetoun was accorded an enthusiastic send-off on his departure for England from Melbourne.

The Kaiser and the Czar have promised to return King Victor of Italy’s visits.

A .Spanish Foreign Minister is authorised to sign a commercial treaty with America.

The quarterly earnings of the American Steel Trust are seven and ahalf millions sterling. The half-year’s net profit is nine and a-half millions. The “Morning Post” asserts that official statistics show that 18,000,000 Russian children are without the means of education.

The “Daily Mail” states that the Cabinet has decided that it is not necessary to suspend the Cape Constitution.

After six years’ boring, at a cost of £30,000, a large rich coal field has been discovered on Lord Dudley’s Sirnley estate, Staffordshire.

Lord Tullibardine, who served in the war, is forming a corps of Scottish volunteers at Johannesburg. The War Office is providing the horses and equipment.

The Canadian Government is allowing the Canadian contingents to take their discharges in South Africa if the men are desirous of settling there.

Cholera is prevalent at Pekin (China) and Tokio (Japan), where the majority of the cases have proved fatal.

The “Telegraph's” Brussells correspondent states that Austria is alarmed at the Russo-Bulgarian Convention.

It is reported that General Smith has been found guilty of violating the rules of war in the Philippines, and has been ordered to be reprimanded. •

The House of Lords Committee reports that betting cannot be suppressed, but ought to be restricted to the actual scene of racing and athletics. Bookmakers Inducing youths to bet should be imprisoned.

A torpedo-boat destroyer has been subjected to novel sagging and hogging strains at Portsmouth dockyard

with a view to discovering the causes and progress of buckling. Read, the New South Wales swimmer, starting from scratch, won the Cygnus Club’s half-mile swimming handicap. Lane, of Sydney, with five seconds start, came fourth.

St. Thomas’ Hospital funds benefit to the extent of half a million from the estate of the late Mr S. Gassion. the well-known London wine merchant.

The British Government’s stores of hay, oats aiul compressed forage at Delagoa Bay have been burned. The damage, which amounts to half-a-million, is uninsured.

An electric car, descending a hill in Huddersfield, left the rails and dashed into a shop. A passenger and two pedestrians were killed, and six people were injured.

The South Australian revenue for the year was £2,421,000, being £400,000 less than last year. The sum of £602.000 was returned by the Commonwealth.

The Governor of the Philippines cables that the establishment of civil government, the acceptance of American authority, and the pacification of the country are complete.

The mail steamer Sierra’s passage, just completed from 'Frisco via Auckland, is a record one—nineteen days, six and a quarter hours. She averaged close on seventeen knots an hour from Auckland to Sydney. The Aeting-Premier is advised that Captain J. Mirehell, of Manaia. has been thrown from his horse in South Africa, and had his leg fractured, consequently he is unable to return with the Tenth Contingent. The East India Railway Company has ordered 32 locomotives from a German firm, whose price was 20 per cent, lower, and time of delivery 25 per cent, sooner, than the nearest English competitor. A scientific mission ascribes the destruction of St. Pierre to a rush of gas at a high temperature north and south. Seprechetn and other localities were destroyed by torrents of mud. The United States cruiser Brooklyn has sailed for England with the remains of the late Lord Pauneefote (British Ambassador to America). The War Office is acquiring seveu hundred acres of land in order to establish heavy gun batteries to defend Liverpool. H.M.s. Amphitrite (of 11,000 tons), the biggest warship that has ever entered the Persian Gulf, has cruised round the ports in the Gulf, creating a great sensation. Henry Bells was found guilty of the manslaughter of Mr Murray Spicer, who was lately beaten to death in an encounter with a gang of "Hooligans” in London, and was sentenced to seven years’ penal servitude. A shocking tragedy has occurred at Leederville, Western Australia. A man named Samuel Peters literally hacked his wife to death with a tomahawk. Her head was almost severed from the body. The couple had been living unhappily. The United Kingdom’s revenue for the quarter amounted to £35,095,081. Customs contributed £8,004,698, excise £8,196,767, and stamps £ 2,120,000. De la Key declares that General Clements was the best general he encountered in the course of the war. His finest piece of work was the saving of the Novitgedacht camps. The Right Hon. W. J. Pirrie, chairman of Harland and Wolff's, stated before the Shipping Sudsidies Committee that Mr Pierpont Morgan had offered the Admiralty the services of every liner in the combination built by Great Britain during the half cen-

tury on the same terms aa the White Star Company. When asked whether the offer was accepted witness indicated the negative by shrugging his shoulders.

Reuter states that it is not generally known that during De Wet's wanderings the British had an agent accompanying him, whose reports were most valuable. f In the House of Commons Mr Redmond asked if it was intended to supplement from an Imperial source the salary of the Governor-General of the Commonwealth. Mr Chamberlain, in reply, said the Government could see no reason to alter the existing arrangements. ; In view of the very loyal attitude taken up by General Louis Boths.andof his ability as a tactician and military leader, the Bloemfontein correspondent of the “Times" makes a suggestion that Botha should be attached to the British military staff afa Aidershot. The martial law restrictions in the Transvaal are cancelled. Civilians are now permitted to remain out of doors till midnight. The Melanesian Mission Society’s ‘‘New Ship Fund,” for procuring a new vessel in succession to he present steam-yacht Southern Cross, now stands at £ 16,790 16/5. It is reported that Lord Tennyson, Governor of South Australia, has been offered the Governorship of the Commonwealth. The report that l.oril Brassey had accepted the position is now denied. The Mount Lyell returns for the period from May 29 to June 25 show that 24,160 tons of ore were treated in addition to 2387 tons of purchased ore. The converters produced 508 tons blister copper, containing: Copper, 502 tons; silver, 32,8960 z; and gold, 18440 z. Sir E. Barton and Laily Barton, Mr Seddon and Mrs and Miss Seddon, Sir J. Forrest, and many colonials and Indian Princes and notables attended Sir Henry Irving’s reception on the stage of the Lyceum Theatre. . There was a brilliant gathering. Eight hundred people were present. Three thousand people attended Miss Ada Crossley’s concert in the People’s Palace. Mesdames Schmidt, Amy Sherwin, Bertha Rossow, Devain. During, Messrs Pringle, Robert Cunningham, Beattie Granger. Ernest Toy, and Hedley assisted. Many Australians were in the audience. Viscount Cranborne, Under-Secre-tary for Foreign Affairs, states that the China indemnity must be paid in gold, though in view of the depreciation of the tael he might introduce some amelioration. It was hopeless to expect the total abolition of the likin revenue stations. The Kaiser has issued au order regulating officers' marriages. Au officer who wishes to marry must have a private income of at least £l5O. must give a full description of his intended wife, and if she lias been divorced he must supply details of the case. The eight hours’ day came into operation in the Sydney tramway and railway working staffs on the Ist July. The cost will be £60,000 per annum. The Commissioners strongly opposed the principle, and the cost will be borne by the general taxpayer instead of coming out of railway revenue. An electric ear, carrying seventy excursionists, while descending a mountain at Gloversville, in New York State, on a gradient of a thousand feet to the mile, became uncontrollable, and overtook another car. Both were overturned. Twelve persons were kidded and thirty-six injured. , M. de Blowitz, the Paris correspondent of the “Times,” states that France has for years been endeavouring to cultivate the friendship both of Italy and Austria. The Nationalists, claiming the monopoly of patriotism, prevented the extinction, and even caused, the revival of the idea of the ultimate recovery of Alsace and Lorraine. France has gradually shaped her policy with the view of reducing any future conflict with Germany to a duel, not involving other Continental Powers.

Sir A. Leyland (of the Leyland Steamship Line), in giving evidence before the Shipping Subsidies Committee, recommended the granting of bounties to sailing ships, to train sailors, who would ultimately be available for the navy. He pointed ont that French sailing vessels, owing to the bounties system, made a profit- on freight In cases in which British owners made a loss.

M. Delcasse, in the Chamber of Deputies. referring to the renewal of the Triple Alliance, said Italy’s assurances had convinced France that the Italian policy under the Alliance was in no case a threat against France. Italy could not become the instrument or auxiliary of aggression against France. Hence nothing impeded the development of the friendship already fertile in consequences. The speech was warmly applauded.

The Duke of Connaught has issued an army order stating that he is gratified to think that his first appearance on parade as a field marshal was is command of troops belonging to Britain beyond the seas and India for Inspection by the Prince of Wales. The “Daily . Express’ ” Singapore correspondent states that cholera has attacked 10,000 native soldiers sent in pursuit of the head-hunters of Sarawak (Borneo), at Batang, Supar River. Two thousand died in three days. President Koosevelt has issued a proclamation relating to the Filipinos. It provides for a full pardon and amnesty to all the insurgents, except those convicted of crimes since the Ist of May. or those guilty of murder, arson, rape, or robbery. All seekers for pardon must swear allegiance. The “Standard" states that it is reported in Tientsin that Prince Tuan is in frequent communication with the Government at Pekin, and that his son has secretly been appointed deputy lieutenant-general of the forces at Pekin. The Hon. Schomberg K. McDonnell, C. 8., has s cceeded Viscount Esher as Secretary to the Commissioners of Works and Public Buildings. The “Times" states that as Mr McDonnell has for 14 years been Lord Salisbury's confidential secretary, bis promotion cannot fail to revive the rumours of the Premier’s resignation after the Coronation. The President, in a speech at Pittsburg. urged foresight and common sense in legislation in order to prevent evils from the accumulation of great individual, and especially corporate. fortunes. Both, if rightly used, would be. he said, of immense benefit to the nation, and rash or invidious legislation would shake the country to its foundation. Niven and Sons. Americans, have obtained a contract for the construction of an electric railway between Manchester and Liverpool. and branches, covering in all 147 miles. The cost will be four million sterling. All the material will be Am rican, but the labour will be British. The Hon. J. W. Hackett. M.L.C.. of West Australia, who was the first prominent Australian public man to arrive in England for the Coronation, has been offered by his old University —Trinity College. Dublin—the honorary degree of LL.D. He is an enthusiastic Mason, and holds the highest position in the Order in Westralia. By profession Mr Hackett is a Journalist, being editor and nart proprietor of the leading daily paper in the capital of the State. The “Naval and Military News” agency understands, on high -.fitbority, that Lord Kitchener will be appointed Adjutant-General at the War Office, and will not proceed to India to take up the position o' Comm rm - der-in-Chief there as was generally understood. The present AdjutantGeneral, Lieutenant-General T. KellyKenny, is, it is understood, likely to be appointed to the command of the ■ army in India in succession to Sir Power Palmer. Lord Kitchener has assented to this change of plans. It is officially stated that at the moment when peaee was deviated there

were 202,000 men, excluding the local forces, under arms in South Africa. Seventy thousand will embark before the regulars. Thirty-nine Government transports, with a carrying capacity of 49.000 men, are engaged, aud in addition 2500 are embarking weekly in the All the Yeomanry of 1901 and 18,000 of the reserves will embark before August. The Australasians are going in six ships. The oversea colonials ' were among the first to embark. The Yeomanry, oversea colonials, and the Volunteer Service companies receive a month’s leave on landing.

The “Courrier Australien,” the organ of French opinion in the Commonwealth, with the dual object of finding homes for the sufferers by the Martinique disaster, and counterbalancing Australian immigration to the group, advocates their settlement in the New Hebrides. It suggests the reconstruction of French New Hebrides Company, and the development of its land by hundreds of ruined Martinique? families, who are specially suited for the familiar conditions of colonisation in the New Hebrides.

The very large shipments of oats to South Africa recently show the enormous field there is for enterprise, and it is believed in well-informed circles that a trade might be developed which would permanently employ three steamers a month, instead of four, as is proposed in the contract with the Blue Star Company. It is said that the Union Steamship Company made counter offers, which, however, were counter-balanced by the Blue Star Company’s guarantee to maintain an average speed of thirteen and a-half knots an hour. . I understand that the draft of the agreement between the Company and the Government is under consideration by the latter, and the result will shortly be laid before the public. King Edward telegraphed his deep regret at the Elbe collision (between a German torpedo-boat and a British steamer), and expressed his warm appreciation of Lieutenant Rosenstock Von Rhonenek’s last command before he was drowned. ■ The Kaiser replied, stating that he was deepy touched, and every- officer and man was profoundly sensible of the fact that the first act of the new admiral was to send a message so kindly worded. The-Kaiser added: “We join your fleet in their prayers for the complete restoration of your health.” At a Melbourne meeting of Home Killers a resolution was passed strongly condemning the policy of coercion, and urging the compulsory sale of land by landlords. A member of the State Parliament made a violent attack on the British Government, referring to Mr Chamberlain as an apostate, and appealed to the people to rise up and “smite the cur hip and thigh.” Great Britain has informed the Government of the Netherlands that the Boers swearing allegiance will be released first, the other Boers next. The foreigners who are prisoners will be transported to their various destinations at Great Britain’s expense. Those pay-ing their own passages may leave immediately. Foreigners will not be allowed to return to South Africa. The natives in the Vryheid and Marico districts, in the Transvaal, are troublesome. The Boers ask permission to accompany the British against them. The blockhouses are now all evacuated. A movement is on foot in Johannesburg to form political associations, also a volunteer force of irregular regiments. At the annual meeting of the New South Wales pastoralists, the president said the pastoral industry accounted for about two-thirds of the exports of New South Wales, and a still larger proportion of Queensland's. These were facts the meaning of which would be forced on the attention of the average citizen within the next year or two in a way that would make a lasting if not agreerfble impression. So far, he said, the ruinous expenditure forced on the pastoralists in the effort to keep the remnant of their stock alive had veiled the disaa-

ter, but it cduld not last much longer. The disaster, commencing with the pastoral industry, would affect every industry in Australia. The annual wealth produetion of New Sputh Wales would probably' be reduced 30 per cent, for the next few years. The Mayor of Glen Innes has furnished the Sydney Health authorities with a report in regard to the slaughter and subsequent use of starving stock. He alleges that some large meat-canning works in Sydney have been purchasing thousands of starved sheep, cattle. stags, old bulls and old rams for canning purposes. He states that many sheep so purchased dropped dead in the vards. Most of those purchased were emaciated, and in a great number of instances are in a dropsical condition. Many of the animals did not weigh ten to twenty pounds. The N.S. Wales revenue this year totalled £11,178,000, being an increase on last year of £383,000. The return from the Commonwealth to the State for the year is £2,385,000. It is anticipated that the expenditure will be pretty heavy. It is not yet available. But for the drought the Treasurer would probably have been able to show a surplus. As it is, a deficit is anticipated. The Treasurer estimates the deficit of the financial year just closed at £236,000, including a deficit of £152,000 brought forward from last year, on account of the war and the plague. The Senate reduced the duty on agricultural implements to 10 per cent.. The Federal revenue for the year was £11,304,000, and expenditure £ 3,587.000. After deducting the new expenditure there is left for distribution £ 7.373.000. Queensland receives £905,000; Tasmania, £315,000; and ■Western Australia, £1,220,000. The Treasurer is enabled to give back half a million more than was estimated. Customs yielded £8,908,000 and post and telegraphs £2,378,000. English and Moscow capitalists have contracted to build a railway from Tomsk (in Western Siberia) to Tashkend (the capital of Russian Turkestan). Russians guarantee 65 per cent, of the capital. Half the board of contractors are English. [This railway will be about 1400 miles in length, and will traverse Western Siberia in a south-westerly direction from Tomsk, which is on the line of the great trans-Siberian railway, running eastwards from Moscow.] Incendiary fires have occurred at Sandhurst, where the military school for army officers is situated. The cadets are suspected, and the War Office has announced its intention of rusticating the whole of one company unless the names of the culprits are divulged within 48 hours. Twenty-nine cadets at Sandhurst have been rusticated, as the names of the incendiaries were not divulged. The culprits remain undiscovered. Captain A. T. Mahan, the American writer on naval strategy, and the author of “The Influence of Sea Power Upon History,” has an article in the “National Review” relating to the British colonies and the fleet. He says the prime consideration fo-r the self-governing colonies is that tile Channel squadron should adequately- protect Great Britain’s commerce and her shores, and that the Mediterranean squadron should ensure uninterrupted transit of commerce. What Australia needs is not a petty fraction of the Imperial navy, but a naval organisation of sufficient force to repel danger. Captain Mahan recommends the development of local dockyard facilities and other resources. In this respect it is essential that the other colonies of Australasia should co-operate with New Zealand. An essential principle is that local security in the colonies of Australasia usually depends upon the general disposition of the fleets which attend to the control of the Pacific, and on China’s future, particularly. The distribution of the nation's navies indicates thia principle.