GENERAL CABLES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIX, Issue XI, 13 September 1902, Page 663

GENERAL CABLES.

THE KING’S CRUISE. His Majesty the King, cruising in the Royal steam yacht, has gone to the Isle of Skye (the second largest of the Hebrides). He will visit Stornaway, on the island of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, should the weather permit. The King did not stop at the Isle of Skye, lie landed at Stornoway, on the island of Lewis, and drove to Lews Castle. The Royal yacht has anchored in Dunnet Bay, Caithness (in the north of Scotland). Owing to a gale she did not proceed direct to Dunrobin, the seat of the Duke of Sutherland, as was intended. The Royal party visited Dunrobin Caistle, the Duke of Sutherland’s seat, in the North of Scotland. On Saturday the King visited Mr. Andrew Carnegie at his Scottish seat, Skibo Castle, Sutherland. The King has cabled to President Roosevelt expressing his deep concern at his accident. THE AUSTRALIAN DROUGHT. The weather is clearing. Rain has been general over New South Wales. There were soaking falls in the Northern and Central districts; elsewhere the rain was mostly light. Twelve inches of rain fell at Wagga, doing considerable damage. Good rains have fallen in the southern half of Queensland. The late rains have considerably augmented the Sydney water supply, but the dam is still so far below its usual level that the Water Board has notified the city and suburban councils that no water will be available this summer for street watering or flushing. SOUTH AFRICA. There are crowds of immigrants at Capetown unable to get work. Their friends on the Rand are urging them to remain on the coast, owing to the unsatisfactory social and industrial conditions. The labour market at the Cape is glutted, aad the parks are filled with penniless •‘dossers.” t ,

Many crimes and acts of violence are. being committed. A total of 13,000 out of 27,000 refugees in the Natal concentration camps have already been sent back to their homes.

Brigadier-General Sir G. Brabant, of Cape Colony, declares that the political situation in South Africa is unsatisfactory. The best posts at Johannesburg, he says, are going to men whose last thought was loyalty. Cronje, on being interviewed at the Cape, on his return from St. Helena, declared that he intended to settle on his farm at Klerksdorp and henceforth to be a loyal British subject. Allan’s Canadian - South African steamship line commences running in the middle of October. A capitation tax of £2 a head is to be imposed on adult male Transvaal natives and a similar sum on every wife excepting one. Sir Arthur Laiwley (late Governor of Western Australia; has arrived in Pretoria, and assumed his duties as Assistant-Governor of the Transvaal. During the consideration of the bill providing for the appointment of a colonial commission to enquire into martial law, in the Cape Parliament, Major Sampson, memlber for Albany, proposed an amendment providing for the extension of the powers of the commission if the Imperial Government sanctioned it. The amendment was carried despite the opposition of Mr- Merriman and his Afrikander Bond following. In the Cape Assembly Dr. Smartt’s resolution thanking and eulogising the colonial troops was carried unanimously, Mr Dewaal moved for the appointment of a committee to inquire into the Afrikander Bond’s conduct during the war. He declared that the Bond had done everything possible to prevent rebellion, and was ready to cooperate towards federation under the British flag. Sir Gordon Sprigg snubbed the Faarl loyalists for parading their loyalty. He did not consider there was the slightest necessity for further legislation in regard to sedition or traffic in arms and ammunition. The loyalists retired indignant. In the Cape Parliament the General Indemnity Bill has been read a third time. The new registration of voters is fixed for February next, despite the objection of the progressive party to the delay.

The conference between Mr. Chamberlain and Lord Kitchener and the Boer geiierals excites great interest, though the newspapers ridicule the idea that the latter are negotiators. Enthusiastic crowds cheered and pursued the generals’ carriage, waving their hats. The generals bowed repeatedly. Mr. Chamberlain and Lord Kitchener were also accorded an ovation.

The interview lasted (over two hours, owing to the necessity for interpreting the proceedings. Mr. Chamberlain has promised the publication at an early date of a Blue Book containing a report of the interview. The “Times” states that the generals advanced a great number of impossible claims, but when informed that Lord Kitchener’s terms precluded their discussion they adopted a sensible view, merely advancing a few minor points. I'h.e Boer Party at Brussels are pessimistic and accuse the irreconcilables of wrecking the generals’ mission. Botha had an hour’s private interview with Mr. CAPETOWN. A committee representing the Paarl loyalists asked the Governor for protection against boycotting and other oppressions. The Governor replied that responsibility rested with the Ministry. Sir J. G. Sprigg, the Premier, said he was trying to reconcile the people and obliterate race lines. WEST INDIES. The volcano of Mount Pelee, in the island of Martinique, which has been in an intermittent state of activity ever since the great catastrophe in May last, burst forth into terrible eruption last Saturday night. The roaring and detonations of the

volcano could be heard for a considerable distance away, and were the loudest and most terrifying that have yet occurred. Matter ejected from the crater overwhelmed the village of Marnerouge, which was entirely destroyed, while a tidal wave swept over the village of Le Carbet, drowning 200 of the inhabitants.

The volcano .is now' quiet, buf- great alarm prevails in the island, the latest eruption having revived the panic which prevailed on the former occasion.

The eruption of Mount Pelee killed many people in the North of Martinique. The iuhabitants of Le Carbet and Fort de France are terror-stricken, and have fled into the interior.

Martinique telegrams report that a thousand persons were killed and hundreds injured in the township of Marnerouge, through the Mount Pelee eruption. The cruisers Ajoupa and Bouillon are removing the settlers in Northern Martinique. ___ The persons injured by the eruption of Mount Pelee number 1500. The volcano La Soufriere, in St. Vincent, which caused so much devastation and loss of life recently, is again in activity. Many loud explosions were heard during the night of August 30 (the night of the eruption of Mount Pelee). A violent earthquake shock occurred at Carapoo Sierra, in Venezuela, on Saturday evening, accompanied by a noise which was heard along the shore of the whole Carribean Sea. A deluge of scalding mud instantly overwhelmed the village of Mornerouge, after Mount Pelee’s explosion last Saturday night. The land for miles along the shores of the eastern part of Martinique has sunk into the sea. Brana Riviere and several other villages were destroyed. The temperature is almost unendurable. The Government has removed over a thousand refugees from the northern part of the island. The Governor in August compelled refugees who hud fled after the original outbreak to return to Mornerouge. Most of these have since perished. Doctor Pishevin, the highest seismic authority in Paris, thinks the whole zone of the Antil’es is threatened. He considers that Martinique ought to be evacuated. Violent eruptions of Mount Pelee and La Soufriere occurred on Wednesday last. Reports state that 200# persons perished in Martinique during the last series of eruptions. Many of tlhe inhabitants are leaving the island. A terrific eruption of Mt. Soufriere occurred on the evening of the 3rd instant. Internal rumblings and clouds of steam followed throughout the night. Georgetown and Chateau Belair have been evacuated. The destruction of the Cm ib country is complete. The volcano was still in eruption on the sth. The Vincent-St. Lucia cable is broken. The cruiser Tribune has been ordered to St. Vincent. ACCIDENT 'l'o PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT. President Roosevelt, accompanied by the Governor of Massachusetts and other gentlemen, started in a four-horse landau to drive from Pittfield to Lennox. After two miles had been covered the driven of the landau tried to cross an electric trolley line so as to get on the shady side, not noticing that a trolley car was approaching at the rate of 40 miles an hour, the lady passengers in the car urging the driver to go at full speed in order to overtake the President’s party. Craig, one of President Roosevelt’s bodyguard, stood up and signalled to the trolleyman, who frantically pealed his bell and vainly applied the brakes.

The two front horses had cleared the line when the car crashed into the right-hand wheeler, throwing it against the landau and tilting tha

vehicle at an angle of 45 degrees. Craig was thrown under the wheels of the car and frightfully mangled, being killed instantly. The driver of the landau had his skull fractured, and has since died. The Governor of Massachusetts and Mr. Corteleyon, President Roosevelt's private secretary, caught, hold of the President, who was not thrown out, but struck his face on the door, raising a lump as big as a fist. The' other passengers were hurt, but not very seriously. President Roosevelt showed admirable coolness. He was much affected at the death of Craig, whom he greatly esteemed, and instantly ordered reassuring telegrams to be sent to White House and New York so as to avert a Wall-street panic. President Roosevelt admitted privately: “I just missed death.” He angrily asked the motorman why he drove so fast, and received the reply: “I had the right-of-way. You ought to have looked o it.” The motpr driver and conductor have been arrested on a charge of manslaughter. President Roosevelt's driver was ordered to go fast. The press complain of p lamentable absence of precaution to ensure the President’s safety while tonring. The President continued his journey. and within an hour addressed the people at Lennox and Stockbridge, though evidently suffering from the shock. The Acting-Premier, through the Governor, has forwarded the follow- . ing cable to President Roosevelt: “Tender you the sympathy of the colony of new Zealand on your accident. Heartiest con.-ratulations to yourself and the American nation at your escape from serious consequences.” The Kaiser, President Loubet, and - the Shah congratulated President Roosevelt on his escape. Numerous messages of congratulation at President Roosevelt’s escape have been sent to the American consulates in the various States. Messages on behalf of the Western Australian and South Australian Governments have been forwarded to America. FEDERATION. Sir E. Barton, speaking at the Toronto Board of Trade banquet, said they should aim at preferential trade for the Empire so long as the colonies were allowed their own fiscal system. He scouted the idea of preferences as dangerous. ’ ■

IMPERIALISM. Sir E. Barton, the Australian Premier, in the course of his speech at the banquet given by the Toronto Board of Trade, said twenty years hence, when the population of the autonomous colonies equalled the population of Great Britain, they would not submit to have their destinies controlled by the Motherland without having a voice in the matter. He complimented British,, statesmen on their, grasp of the principle of the colonies’ autonomy. Referring to Imperial trade he dwelt on the great need for elasticity in any proposals that were expected to run the gauntlet of so many Parliaments. It would have been useless for the Imperial Conference to have prepared a scheme likely to be upset by defeat tn one out of many Parliaments. It was only possible to come'to a general understanding for each Premier to propose measures of preference of trade either by lowering duties against British goods or leaving them untouched, but raising duties against foreign goods. i ' ' g'ALES IN SOUTH AFRICA. The .great gale which raged at Port Elizabeth, and in whi h eleven sailing vessels were driven ashore and tlvo tugs foundered,-caused lamentable loss of life. Fifty-two bodies have been washed ashore, and it is estimated that in all at least seventy men belonging lo the wrecked vessels were drowned. The urnH-steainer Briton had a narrow escape from going ashore. The gnle which caused such devastation at Port Elizabeth raged all along the southern coast of South Africa on Sunday night und Monday,

wrecking most of the vessels in its ]hith.

The Oakworth, when nearly empty, stranded in Algoa Bay, and will probably become a total loss. The crew was saved.

There were many exciting rescues in connection with the ship Arnuda, from Cardiff, the barque Inchcape Rock, from Portland, and the Hermanns, from Madagascar. The captain and crew of the Hermanos clung to the bowsprit for hours and were finally rescued by rocket apparatus. The captain’s wife and two children were washed away and sixteen of the crew are reported lost or still in peril The Underwriters’ Association have received advices of the following vessels with Australian cargoes which are amongst those totally wrecked in the great gale at Algoa Bay: — Barques Nautilus and Oak worth, ship Coriolanus, all of which had almost completed discharging; barques Hans Wagner and Limari, partly discharged; barques Waimea (formerly belonging to the New Zealand Shipping Company), Hermanos, and ship Cavaliere Michele Russo. The Union Castle liner Scott has arrived at Capetown, badly strained, after a terrible passage from Port Elizabeth. She had on .board 250 native deck passengers, who became panic-stric-ken, and had to be placed below uxt.. der a strong guard. The barque Emmanuel is amongst the Australian-laden vessels reported to have been lost in the gale. The wrecked vessels took large cargoes of wheat and other produce, ami of coal, from Australia. WORTH INGTON AGAIN. The Rev. A. B. Worthington, minister of the Unitarian Church, has been remanded to Melbourne on a charge of obtaining from Miranda de la Juvency, of Melbourne, £1096 by means Of false pretences. Worthington admitted obtaining the money., but not under the conditions alleged. Amongst the documents which came into the possession of the police when , they searched the office of . the Rev. A. B. Worthington (the Unitarian minister, arrested on a charge of false pretences), was one purporting to be the will of his aunt, ’Christina Russell, who when dying in America ‘ bequeathed to him 3,1'56,685 dollars. A large quantity of correspondence was also. found written on paper headed ’T'rosby...' Worthiugtdri and Dunn, attorneys and counsellors at law, 92 Broadway, New York,” chiefly , dealing with the difficulties in obtaining probate of the will. These facts figure largely in the letters Worth- ■ ing’ton wrote to Madame La Gouveny . when negotiating the loan in connection with which he was arrested. The money was to go towards building a. “Temple of .Mental Healing.” TRADES UNIONISM. Ten thousand trade unionists de-, monstrated in-pouring rain in Hyde. Park on. Sunday as a protest against the House of Lords’ decision in .the famous - Taff Vale (Wales) colliery case. They adopted resolutions .demanding that the Government should legislate to rescue the rights' threatened by the Lords’ decision and which Parliament had meant to confer on trade unions. A conference of tinde unionists in Toynbee Hall favoured legislation fertile enforcement of a’uniform system of cheap workmen’s trains near every' populous centre pending the nationalisation of the land, gnd means: of■ transport. The conference also favour-’ cd the scheme of Mr MeNamfirai -thc' member of the House of ('Omiii.ons' for Camberwell North, ’for. housingthe working classes, and the Rating Bill. The Trades Union Congress represents a million and a-half workers. Mr W. (’. Stedman, secretary of the Barge Builders’ I’nion, is president. The Bishops of London, Rochester and St. Albans wrote welcoming the congress. Mr John Burns declared that they had met at a critical time when the law was inflicting heavy strokes without strict impartiality. -Unionists

were determined at all costs to resist the attempts of an unscrupulous plutocracy to deprive them of their rights of combination. The Trades Union Congress has, resolved to convene a conference to organise means to secure the -direct representation of labour in Parliament. It was also resolved to favour the extension of workmen’s compensation and the Factory Act; and it was unanimously decided to urge the Government to provide five shillings a week universally at the age of sixty years from the public exchequer. The Trades Union Congress, by a vote representing 961,000 members against 303,000, rejected a resolution in favour - of compulsory Arbitration Courts. The congress passed resolutions demanding legislation legalising peaceful picketing and restoring the rights of unions imperilled by recent decisions of the courts; also a clear definition of the law of con-

spiracy. At the Trades Congress Mr Steadman (the. president) condemned the Education Bill as reactionary and advocated old age pensions, and pointed out the necessity for a great. Parliamentary labour party. The report of the Parliamenary Committee was amended in order to characterise the late war as unjust. Resolutions were carried in favour of a bill dealing with the employees in shops annd eight hours a day in all industries. The Trades Union Congress rejected a resolution in favour of woman’s franchise by 110 votes to 103. They carried, by a small majority, a .resolution in the direction of forbidding factories to employ children under 15 years of age. Resolutions were -also passed condemning capitalists’ trusts and advocating an enquiry into the question of the payment of members of Parliament. NEW ZEALAND AND SOUTH AFRICA. English shipowners consider that it is impossible to commence the New Zealand-Cape service within a month from the signing of the contract. The New Zealand Shipping . Company, the Sliaw, Savill .and, ■ Albion Company and the Union Steamship Company have written to Mr. Seddon t>o the effect that the terms of the contract for the South -African service are toor onerous to admit of their tendering - . Several other firms have, sent in tenders'. Six tenders' have been received for the New-Zealand-Soutli African'steam service. The decision has been' deferred pending the receipt of the tenders from NewZealand. Mr. Seddon expects to settle the matter when at the Cape.