News of the Week.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIX, Issue IV, 26 July 1902, Page 213

News of the Week.

CABLE ITEMS. A violent earthquake has occurred in Venezuela. The colonial Premiers were present at Lord Onslow’s garden fete at Clarendon. Mr Chamberlain was well enough to attend Mr Balfour's first Cabinet meeting. Code and cypher telegrams will in future be admitted to all parts of South Africa. The Sultan of Zanzibar (Hamud bin Mahomed bin Said) is dead. He had been Sultan since 1896. The ladies of Capetown have presented Mrs Steyn with a purse of a thousand sovereigns. The Imperial Coronation bazaar, in aid of a hospital for children, realised £29.000. The warship Sparrow has left Sydney to search for the missing steamer Quiraing. The newspapers on the Continent are cordial to Viscount Kitchener, and comment on his magnificent reception. A Victorian loan of a million at 3 per cent, is announced. The underwriters are issuing it at 961. The appointment of Lord Hopetoun’s successor will not be considered while Mr. Chamberiain is incapacitated. The estate of the late Mr Charles Marcus Wakefield, of Wellington, New Zealand, has been proved at £ 46,325. M. Dumont and Sir Hiram Maxim will compete in an air-ship speed contest at St. Louis, Missouri, for £20,000. The Transvaal Government will be considerably increased. The nonofficial element will be introduced during the first session. An overcrowded steamer sank in the River Bege, and thirty people were drowned. Pierpont Morgan's trust has offered the Austrian Council of Industry to build and run ships for the Austrian trade. A powder magazine exploded in the Daly West mine, in Utah. Twentyseven bodies were recovered and many men were terribly injured. The Admiralty is placing contracts on the Clyde for ten high-speed scoutboats, smaller than the torpedo-boat destroyers. Sir E. Barton says that Lord Hopetoun’s valedictory letter to Mr Deakin marked his usual mood of feeling and sensibility. The "Daily Mail" states that George Bowley, an Australian, aged 15, swam out to and rescued two ladies whose boat had capsized in the Avon. Freight, from New York to Natal is ten shillings a ton, two and fourpence below the lowest intermediate freights from England.

Great Britain has offered to take over next year a number of warships which are in course of construction for the Chilian Government.

The Countess of De la Warr has obtained a decree nisi for dissolution of her marriage with Earl De la Warr.

The Drayton Grange has sailed from South Africa with the Commonwealth battalions and the Australian States troops.

Gates, who formed a maize corner in Chicago, under-estimated the supplies, and has agreed to a settlement. The profits of the eomer are now estimated at a million dollars.

Sir E. Barton has been informed that no Australians or members of over-sea contingents were implicated in the recent disturbances caused by ex-troopers at Durban.

It is reported that Sir Arthur Lawley, Governor of West Australia, has been appointed Deputy-Governor of the Transvaal.

M. Waldeck-Rousseau, ex-Premier of France, and his wife, who are tanring. accepted as invitation and dined with the Kaiser aboard the Hobenzollera at Odde, Norway.

Mr Seddon has conferred with the Austrian Ambassador, who complained that Austrians were treated differently in New Zealand to other aliens. Mr Seddon satisfied him that no distinction was made.

Mr Chamberlain sent a cheque for 50 guineas to the Charing Cross Hospital in token of his appreciation of the attention he received there on the occasion of his recent accident.

Sir E. Barton has made a reassuring statement concerning the drought in Australia, and corrected the alarmist impression that the whole continent was involved.

Th e “Standard” ints at the possibility of Lord Milner resigning, owing to differences with the Cabinet on the question of the suspension of the Cape Constitution.

It is denied that Turkey demands the recall of the British Consul at Basra, a town of Asiatic Turkey on the Euphrates, near the Persian Gulf. It is declared that accusations emanated from the rival Powers.

The strengthening of the British fleet in the Mediterranean is now complete. The number of ships has been increased 25 per cent., and the fighting strength has been increased 40 per cent.

The manager of the Zanzibar Company has informed the Shipping Subsidies Committee that Great Britain is losing five millions sterling annually owing to the want of direct steamers to East Africa.

George Smith, of Auckland, ran second in both the 120 yards and quarter-mile hurdles handicaps at Birmingham. He owed 16 yards in the former and started from scratch in the latter.

The British camp at Chalmette, New Orleans (where horses and mules were purchased during the war), is being re-opened for the shipment of horses, mules, and cattle to re-stock the Boer farms.

The Premier of New Zealand has conferred with Sir Spencer Walpole relative to a British-Australian cable from Honolulu to Fanning Island (to connect with the Pacific cable), and is hopeful that something will result.

Sir A. Law-ley's appointment as De-puty-Governor of the Transvaal is intended to relieve the daily increasing strain which the Governorship of the Transvaal and Orange River Colony imposes on Lord Milner, independently of his duties as High Commissioner.

In reply to a telegram sent to South Africa the Premier has been informed that the men who served in the war should be allowed to return to that country if they were skilled artisans or experienced farmers.

Ex-President Stern and his wife have sailed from Capetown. Mr Steyn (who is suffering from paralysis) is seeking medical advice in England. t

Ex-President Steyn has developed enteric fever.

Cholera is raging in the river towns of Kwangsi. Thirteen hundred deaths have occurred.

Cholera is spreading among the Chinese garrisons st Pekin snd Paotingfu; also in the interior. Several deaths from cholera have occurred in the Forbidden City. The Dowager Empress is alarmed.

There ere twenty-eight thousand dhildreu atteudiug the Government schools in the Orange River and Transvaal i»loniea, including 17,200 who still reside in the concentration eamps.

The directors of the Prussian Mortgage Bank have been sentenced to terms of imprisonment ranging from nine months to six years, and to pay fines ranging from a thousand to fifteen thousand marks for issuing false balance-sheets.

Dr. Wessells and General Grobler, ex-President Kruger’s counsellors, recently arrived in London and tried to get passports for Africa. They were told to address all petitions to Lord Milner.

The King and Queen have signed their names on the handkerchief used as a flag of truce when Captain VV. R. Watson, of Sydney, demanded the surrender of Pretoria. The Prince of Wales, Lord Roberts, Viscount Kitchener and other generals have also signed it.

Jarvis, the English swimmer, won the long-distance championship race from Rew to Putney in the time of TBmin 27sec. Tne Sydney swimmers, Bead and Cavill, finished second and third, in the respective times of Timin lOsec and 76min 59sec. The R.M.s. Oriefft has sailed from the Cape with the North and South Island Ninth Contingent regiments, and a portion of the Eighth and Tenth New Zealanders; also a number of Australian troops.

Seven Lutheran clergymen in Finland have been deprived of their livings for refusing to read the Russian ukase in reference to the army conscription system, to which so much opposition has been shown in Finland lately.

The Shaw. Savill and Albion Company's steamer Rangatira came into collision at midnight with a barque off Dover. She lost her mainmast and port life-boat, and sustained damage to her bulwarks and hull. She was towed into Gravesend.

Wireless messages from Cornwall reached Marconi at Skagen. in Denmark, and signals from Cornwall reached him clearly at Kronstadt, in Russia, the intervention of land being no obstacle to the receiver. The magnetic detector used beats all others in sensitiveness, and prevents the interception of messages.

Twenty thousand men are idle in Chicago through the railway freight handlers’ strike.

The Chicago strike of railwayfreight handlers has collapsed. The wages scale and other disputes will be settled hereafter between the employers and employed.

In the 500 yards swimming championship, held at Walsall Baths, Billington won in 6 min. 25 2-ssec., which is a record. Cavill (of Sydney) was second, his time being three seconds longer. Read, of Sydney, was third; time 6min. 3." sec.

In the Senate, on the timber duties Item, Mr Glassey endeavoured to have the exemption on New Zealand pine, undressed, removed, but his motion was negatived by 16 to 5. He then •ought to have white pine inserted after New Zealand, but this was lost on the voices.

Russian official circles interpret Italy's rapproaehment with France, Russia, and Austria as a renewal of the understanding with Russia in 1597 as regards the Balkans, and consider that it is evident that the alliance of these Powers will be a great factor in the preservation of peace.

Two old men. McGregor and Stan*>ury, cordial makers, have been arrested at Whitecliffs. N.S.W., in connection with the robbery of £3OOO worth of opals in January last. Burgess, a well-known mail coachdriver. has been arrested at Broken Hill In connection with the robbery •f opals.

Mr Byine, manager of the Melbourne Steamship Company, who has returned from England, thinks that there la no necessity for a snare over the Morgen shipping combine. If they attempted to raise the rates

against the general community there would be no difficulty in checking their influence.

The Alaska Commercial Company’s steamer Portland has arrived safely at Alaska.—[A cable on June 23 stated that the Portland, en route from Alaskan ports with 109 passengers, had been caught in the ice pack, and was drifting towards the Arctic regions. The revenue cutter Thetis was sent to the rescue, but returned some days ago without having discovered any trace of the Portland.]

The Tsar welcomed Victor Emanuel, King of Italy, at Peterhoff station. Cordial toasts were given at the banquet at the palace. Signor Prinetti, the Italian Premier, was decorated.

The Czar has appointed King Victor Emanuel of Italy colonel of the 14th Dragoons. Reuter’s messages state that Italy's advances to Russia are intended to reassure France as regards the renewal of the Triple Alliance.

Lord Charles Beresford, speaking at North Shields, opposed shipping subsidies, inasmuch as the Americans were able to give double ours, but it was expedient to help the Canadian route, which favoured a British combine in the Atlantic trade.

Notwithstanding America’s offer to accept friars of other nationalities than Spanish in the Philippines, the Vatican declines to withdraw the Spanish. The Hon. Colonel John Hay (U.S. Secretary of State) has suspended the negotiations.

In pursuance to the finding of the court-martial, in regard to the charges of atrocities on Filipinos, President Roosevelt has reprimanded General Smith, who retires. Mr Root, Secretary of State, supplements the reprimand with a statement that notwithstanding General Smith’s sanguinary order, very few natives were killed in Samar.

Prince Christian, on behalf of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Fund, held a reception and entertainment for the Indian Princes and colonial Premiers at the Grafton Galleries. Viscount Kitchener, Lort Knntsford, Sir E. Barton, Sir J. Forrest. Mr Seddon, and a number of colonial officers were present. An excellent musical and dramatic programme was followed bysupper.

The Public Accounts Committee reports that £730,000 was paid during a single year’s operations in South Africa for the loss and capture of oxen and waggons. The Committee is of opinion that the system of taking vouchers for supplies in the field is very imperfect.

The s.s. Montrose sailed from South Africa on the 2nd with the Tenth New Zealand Regiment and details of various Australian contingents. Major H. Jackson, of the Ninth New Zealand Contingent, who is invalided, is also a passenger.

The “Daily Express” Pretoria correspondent asserts that Dan Kelly and Steve Hart, who belonged to Ned Kelly’s gang of Australian bushrangers, served under assumed names as irregulars during the w-ar, and have now returned to Australia.

News from Italy states that an Anarchist barber from Paterson, U.S.A., has been arrested at Piedmont. haiing in his possession documents threatening the life of King Emanuel of Italy. A photo, of Bresci, the assassin of the late King, was found in the prisoner’s pocket.

Furness. Withy and Co., steamship owners, who are fighting the Morgan combine, are increasing their capital by half a million ordinary shares at a premium of ten shillings per share, and have offered their employees an advance of three and a-half per cent, if thev become shareholders.

Ministers have agreed as regards Tientsin, which will be evacuated shortly. Chinese troops will be excluded from within a radius of twenty kilometres, while the limitation of the Chinese police within that radius ia eliminated.

The prospects of ths restoration of the Tientsin railway la unpromising. Suyu Fan. the Chinese Minister nt Railways, threatens to resign, owing

to the rather divergent views held by Great Britain, Russia, and France on the subject of the railway.

The radius of exclusion of Chinese troops outside Tientsin is fixed at six miles. Yuanshikai accepts the conditions of the agreement.

Russia proposes a conference of the signatories of the Sugar Convention to consider the protection of commerce against the artificial depression of prices by export companies and trusts. The Imperial Government has placed £lO,OOO at the disposal of Jamaica to make 6 per. cent loans to sugar estates, in order to ensure the continuation of cultivation until the Brussels Convention becomes operative.

The “Daily Chronicle” states that the Pope is intensely displeased at the Cardinals’ conduct in the negotiations regarding the Philippines, and has overruled their decision. He declares that America’s demands (including a stipulation that no Spanish friars should be allowed in the Philippines) is a reasonable one, and has expressed his readiness to treat with Governor Taft personally in the matter.

A lunatic, says a Melbourne cable, threw himself from the window of an express train on the south-eastern line. The constable and another prisoner seized the man's legs and a desperate struggle ensued. Mile after mile was covered, the lunatic’s body swaying to and fro against the side of the car, the occupants being unable to stop the train. When nearing a station it was apprehended that the lunatic would be dashed to pieces against a post, but the line repairers witnessed the scene, and signalled the driver, who stopped a few yards from a post.

Sir E. Barton is gratified that his attitude at the Conference meets with the approval of Australia. He states that during the proceedings momentous questions are being discussed, and the results achieved will not be opposed to public opinion. There was no reason to fear that the Commonwealth would be bound to adopt courses out of harmony with public opinion without Parliament being consulted. Such action would be utterly at variance with his views.

Slatin Pasha has arrived in London. When interviewed he said it was useless to extend the Cairo-Cape railway southward of Khartoum. He favoured an improvement, in the steamer service to the Uganda posts and beyond. The rains would interrupt the railway from Khartoum to Uganda.

Mr. H. C. Sloley, Resident Commissioner in Basutoland, declares that the native chief Joel’s case is not complicated. His trial has concluded at Molapo, Joel being sentenced to a yearsjs imprisonment and to a fine of five hundred cattle. The paramount chief Lietherodi accompanied him to prison. A British expedition was recently sent to Basutoland to arrest Joel on a charge of treason.

The Sultan has decorated Tbn Rashad, King of the Arabian Highlands, known as Nejd, as a reward for struggling against the Wahabis, a sect of Mohammedans occupying the interior of Arabia. The significance of the honour lies in the fact that Rashad has been engaged for years in a struggle with Maburouks, the Sheik of Kbweyt fa district which borders in the Persian Gulf), who supports the Wahabis and is well disposed to the British.

Lord Onslow announces that the shareholders of the Netherlands South African Railway Company are not entitled to compensation for damages during the war, the company having, through its directors, organised plans for the damage of the British. The. nosition occupied by the debenture holders la, however, different.

[The Netherlands South African Railway Co. owns the extension of the Delagoa Bay raHway line from Komatl, on the Portuguese frontier.to Pretoria,which is about MO miles in length.)

The new Vagabond Club gars a banquet to Mr Seddon, Sir Conan Doyle presiding. Mr Seddon, In responding to the tons* of the commer-

cial unity of the Empire, said if, as had been said, Canada was the granary and Australia the butcher of the Empire, New Zealand could supply the butter and cheese. The colonies wefle content to point the way. He approved of lines of subsidised ships. He did not dare to interfere with Britain’s fiscal arrangements, but as between kindred he would give the Motherland’s manufactures preference, leaving her to grant anything in return in her own way if she was able to without an agreement, and without causing dissension.

Lord Kitchener, in a despatch dated June 1, dealing with the final operations of the war, is eulogistic regarding the patience, tenacity and heroism of the Imperial and colonial forces, and the manliness and farsightedness of the Boer leaders in bowing to the inevitable and accepting generous terms. He mentions, among other colonials, the good work in February of LanceCorporal Gregory, of the Seventh New Zealanders, whose coolness and grasp of the situation at Harrismith on February 24 enabled the attack to be repulsed, and who has since been promoted corporal-sergeant. Major Keeble, of the Fifth Victorian Mo unteds, is mentioned for the gallant capture of Boers single-handed at Rhenosterkop in May, 1901.

Constable Guilfoyle, a member of the Sydney police force, was informed on the 19th that two men were trying to pass counterfeit coins at a shop ia Darlington. Accompanied by Constable Maher he proceeded to the shop and intercepted the men. Guilfoyle asked one man what his name was. The answer was two shots from a revolver, fired in quick succession. One bullet entered the policeman’e left breast and the other the stomach. The second man fired at Maher, who received two bullets io the arm, while one grazed his chin. The desperadoes escaped. Guilfoyle died on ranching the hospital. One of the constable’s assailants has been identified as a notorious desperado, who was recently released alter serving 14 years for coining.

H.M.s. sparrow sailed on Saturday from Sydney for Wellington in of the overdue steamer Quiraing. The Karrakatta left on Monday, and will search for 500 miles off this coast. If Admiral Beaumont considers it necessary H.M.s. Kingarooma makes a similar search off the New Zealand coast.

[The s.s. Quiraing Is now 28 days out from Newcastle for Dunedin, and there are fears that, being deep-laden with coal, she may have foundered with all hands. On the other hand, she may have only broken down, and may be drifting about the Tasman Sea somewhere. Captain Forrester, master of the vessel, is a wellknown trader out of Sydney, and was formerly in Huddart, Parker, and Company’s service. The mate, R. E-. Duck, was for some time master of the steamer Coomonderry, on the N.S.W. coast. The Quiraing was imported by the old A.S.N. Company for the Queensland trade, and after that company amalgamated with the Queensland Shipping Company she was sold and employed in Island and ether trades. She is an iron screw steamer, with a net register of 653 tons, and gross measurement of 1166 tons. She was built In 1882, and is owned by a Brisbane syndicate, being this voyage under charter to Mr Sneddon, of Sydney. H.M.s. Sparrow. which is searching for the Quiraing, is a first-class gunboatof 806 tons displacement. She will (says a Sydney paper) make a rig-xag course across the Tasman Sea. a sharp look-out being kept night and day for the missing vessel. Rockets and other signals will be used freely at night. The Quiraing had about two months’ supplies on board when she left Newcastle, so that the crew would be well provided for in the event of a breakdown. Speaking of the probable drift of the Quiraing in the event of a breakdown, a shipmaster engaged In the New Zealand trade expressed the opinion at Sydney last week, assuming that the vessel had become disabled about half-way across Tasmsn Sea. she would make northward, following somewhere on the track taken by the Perthshire, and he thinks she may be heard of at either Lord Howe or Norfolk Islands. Should, on the other hand, the Quiraing have met with a mishap off the New Zeeland eoast. he says she would be carried by the prevailing winds and currents towards the land there, and the oaptaln. If he got an opportunity, would ■end a boat off from the ship for aeslstance before the vessel got too close to the eoastl