CABLE ITEMS

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIX, Issue XXV, 20 December 1902, Page 1557

CABLE ITEMS

The river Danube is frozen over. The King of Portugal has embarked for his return home. Mr John Dillon has recovered from his illness.

Professor Koch has discovered a gas to kill rats in ships’ holds.

Mr. Foster, Agent -General for immigration, Suva, died last week.

Chili has offered to sell Spain two battleships which are being built in England.

Swansea is spending two million upon a dock and lock, which will accommodate the largest vessels.

A naval engineering and training school is being established at Osborne, Isle of Wight.

Mr Thomas B. Reed, late Speaker of the American Hou.e of Representatives, is dead, aged 63. The man Kever has been acquitted of the charge of murdering Mr. John Kensit, the anti-ritualist agitator.

Many newspapers favourably review Miss Louise Mack's book, “An Australian Girl in London.”

The death of Mr. Harry .McCalmont, M.P., benefits the Treasury to the extent of £320,000.

The bakers at Marseilles have struck. The army bakers rep'ace them.

The Shah of Persia has discarded » 1640 of his wives, retaining 60. His subjects resent the reform.

Russia is re-establishing a regular shipping service befween Odessa and Bandarabbas, and Bushire, on the Persian Gulf.

Owing to the arrest of Boleitmay, an Albanian agitator, the Russian Consul has been enabled to proceed to his post at Mitrovitga.

The health of the Marquis of Linlithgow (Lord Hopetown) is very indifferent. and the doctors have forbidden him to hunt.

rhe severe weather, has thr uvn a number off people out of work in Tendon, and the Bishop of London has appealed for relief funds.

The plumbers’, cabinetmakers’, bootmakers’, butchers’, and dockers societies in Marseilles have voted in favour of a general strike.

Terrific snow storms have occurred in Southern Russia and on the Black Sea. Railway communication is interrupted over a large area.

Advices from Tangiers state that the rebels in Morocco are increasing in number, and surround the Sultan's forces between Fez and Rabat.

Ge.-ral Botha caused ’is card to be left for “Colonel” Arthur ynch at Brixton c 01, with a message of sympathy and good wishes.

The death is announced of Mr Harry L. B. MeCalmont, M.P. (Conservative) for Newmarket, aged 41 years.

The Campanile of St. Mark’s, at Venice, which recently collapsed, will shortly be rebuilt at a cost of £120,000. Half the amount has already been subscribed.

Robert Harding Milward, a leading solicitor of Birmingham and London, has been sentenced to six years penal servitude for appropriating £50,000 trust money.

The bodies of two wives of Chapman, the Southwark publican, who was recently charged with the murder of a barmaid, have been exhumed.

Lutt Bros, and Decooman, the organisers of the Cooinan Bank, Brussels and Paris, have been arrested on charges of frauds. The liabilities nre two millions sterling in France and a million in Belgium.

The Japanese Government, objects to the appointment of Mr. Barrett as American Minister in Japan on the ground that he favours, the exclusion of Japanese from America. The Montreal Chamber of Commerce is inviting the other Canadian Chambers to unite in petitioning the King to appoint Lord Strathcona as the next Governor-General.. The British Association has- accepted the South African Chantcrf-’l Company’s invitation to hold its- l'H‘s meeting at Victoria FttU-s, on the Zambesi River, South Africa.

All Krupp's workmen pt Essen and Kiel held a meeting and telegraphed to the Kaiser that they are teetermined to keep Krupp's memory bright.

Cecil Wallis, who claims that h» was a lieutenant of the Otagp. Hussars in 1891, pleaded guilty in London to bigamy and fraud, and was conuqgtted for trial.

The Premier of Quebec has refused the offer of the Anglo-Aaneriean? syndicate to purchase 25.000,4)00 acmes of virgin agricultural land for eight million sterling.

A disastrous explosion occurred in the South Wilkesbarre mine in Pennsylvania, caused by a miner carelessly dropping a stick of dynamite. Seventeen miners were killed by the explosion.

Weiknangtao, Viceroy of Yunnan, has been appointed Viceroy of Lkuigiking, in succession to Ljiiknnyi, recently dead. He is said to be a moderate Conservative of strict integrity.

The Countess of Dudley, after a refreshing sleep, was substantially better, but her progress was .not maintained.

The Countess of Dudley is improving.

The Hon. Colonel Hay, (U.S. Seerei ary of State) and the English ister at Washington, have, signed, the '.mericarr-Newfonndland recipraci y treaty.

A cold wave has been- experienced in the United States and Eastern Canada, 64 degrees of frost being; recorded in Pennsylvania. Several deaths front eold have occurred in London.

The King and Queen are visji-ing Earl Howe at Gophall Hull. The King gives a farewell audience to Admiral Fanshawe, who has 4»*e-H appointed to the command oftthe Australasian Squadron.

Mr Kiir Hardie, M.P., deelares ; lha.t there are half-'a-million -workers, uncmploymed in Britain. He urgegstne Government to devote to supplement local efforts to provide work and food for the destitute.

The Marseilles shipowners refusing io confer with the Strike Committee, the strikers have, violently appealed to the other workmen’s associations, and the situation has become more serious.

The newspaper “Novoe Vremya” declares that if Britain: persists in threatening Russia's approach to the Indian Ocean Russia wil be compelled to send troops to Persia and Afghanistan.

The Countess of Dudley has undergone a successful operation for?«ndden appendicitis. Unanimous Kgrm sympathy with her laz(yship ig* expressed in Ireland. The King, ed to be informed daily ,of her, progress.

Botha and De la Rey have sailed for South Africa. General Botha, interviewed prior to his departure,. ■ expressed himself grateful for the courtesies extended to Mm. he was going back to take things quietly. Fischer will be the Boor representative in Europe.

In commemoration of the fall of Plevna, the Czar has issued a general order to the Russian Army and Navy whemrr he declares that he hr ▼ineed that if a period of trial i* in store for the Fatherland they will do their dirty to throne and country.

The attended . an Empire League meeting, Lord Onslow presiding. - It was noted With satisfaction that the outcome of the Colonial Conference was a substantial practical contribution towards closer union, and that it gave the germ of what might hereafter become a great council of the Empire.

At the Peninsular and Oriental Company’s meeting Sir Thomas Sutherland, the chairman, said when the new steamer was ready the mailboats would start from Tilbury Docks while the cargo boats would leave the Albert Docks. The outward fares to India would be reduced 16 per cent, iu January.

A treaty - between Britain and Abyssinia, entered into in June last, defning the boundaries of the British Soudan and Abyssinia, grants Britain the right to construct the Soudan-Uganda railway through Abyssinia, and also to lease territory near the Itang Bara River as; a commercial station.

Three weeks ago. when south of Fiji, the ship Ainsdale (which has arrived from Valparaiso) sighted a raft. A careful examination showed no signs of life. It is supposed to have been washed overboard from some vessel.

Advices from German New Guinea state that the natives are troublesome. Recently they ambushed a party of 32 officers and men. and killed one soldier and wounded several. T :ve natives were killed and numbers wounded in the affray. Two German gunljoats and a strong force were sent to punish them.

Lord Lansdowne, Foreign Secretary, in the House of Lords said Sir Horace Rumbold’s recent article in the “National Review” in reference to the Austrian Emperor's friendship for England was indiscreet and reprehensible. The Government intended to issue fresh regulations forbidding diplomatists to publish their experiences, without official permission.

The Archbishop of Canterbury’s weakness is so pronounced that his condftibn is causing grave anxiety. The* Archbishop of Canterbury’s two doctors have summoned Sir Thomas Barlow, physician to the King’s household, for consultation. The Archbishop shows no improvement. Prayers were offered for him in all the churches.

Trouble has arisen with the Yaqui Indians, whose reservation is between the United States and Mexico. Objecting to the proceedings of the Mexican boundary' scouts, they' captured Ryan, the chief scout, inflicted wounds on his body, sawed his legs off, and tortured him to death. A strong force of Mexican police has been sent to the scene.

Two out of eight London merchants and produce brokers, after fourteen •lays’ trial on charges of fraud in obtaining credit by discounting bills to the extent 0f£107,000 when insolvent, have been sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment. The rest were discharged.

In connection with the refusal of the Federal authorities to admit a number of felt-hatters who recently arrived in Sydney under contract, the “St. James’ Gazette,” commenting on the incident, questions the ultimate wisdom of Australia’s exclusive conduct respecting contract Immigrants. As Australia is no longer an outlet for British industry, the paper adds, Britishers must turn in some other direction. Fortunately, there was no lack of territory or welcome elsewhere. •

Dr. Sven Hedin, the famous explorer, has arrived in England after travelling six thousand miles of unexplored Asia. He suffered terrible hardships in the highest altitudes and lost many members of his expedition in the Gobi Desert. Two attempts to

reach Lhasaa, the capital of Thibet, which many travellers have in vain sought to visit, failed. Dr. Sven Hedin was arrested when within one day's ride of the city. ..

Dr. Mnreelle abducted and eloped in a motor car with the daughter of ex-Seualor Lapley while the lady was going to a music lesson in Paris. Marcelle's friends prevented the arrival of "assistance. The affair has caused a sensation.

M. Leplay has become reconciled tn Dr. Marcelles’ marriage with his daughter. The pair, who eloped in a motor-car, have telegraphed that they are safe and happy at Turin.

The political crisis in Spain has ended. Senor Silvela, who was Premier prior to the formation of the Sagasta Ministry, has formed a progressive Cabinet. Senor Abarazaz becomes Minister for Foreign Affairs, General Lenares Minister for War. Senor Sagasta complained of the treachery of some of his supporters and declared that his resignation was irrevocable.

The Kaiser’s Breslau speech has been placarded in the factories in the leading centres throughout Germany. A monster socialistic workmen’s meeting has been summoned at Breslau to reply to the Kaiser’s nmarks on the labour question and socialism.

Baron Eekerstein is forming a Kaiser party in the Reichstag with the object of eambating socialism. Professor Mommsen urges the peasants to unite with the workmen in resisting the horrible policy of self-interest which the Government is fostering.

The Duke and Duchess of Connaught, the Khedive and Lord Cromer visited Assouan in connection with the inauguration last week of the Nile dam. Sir Benjamin Baikei, consulting engineer to the Egyptian Government, has been made a Commander of the Bath, and the Grand Cross of St. Michael and St. George has been conferred on Sir W. E. Garstin, Undersecretary for Public Works in Egypt. Both have been prominently connected with the construction of the Assouan dam, which is intended to conserve the Nile waters for irrigation purposes.

In the House of Commons Mr. Brodrick’s Bill to create a militia reserve of 50,000 and a Yeomanry reserve of 35,000 was read a second time. The scheme to f&rm a special section of 5000 Yeomanry for service abroad was dropped until next session. Mr Balfour statedl that the whole subject of the duties appertaining to the Council of Defence was engaging the very- earnest attention of the Government, and he would make a statement on the subject early' next session.

The Princesses Christian and Beatrice were present at an influential meeting held with the object of impressing an employers the crying needs of 70,000 reservists and timeexpired soldiers now idle. The Duke of Fife, who presided, said that now the glamour of war had disappeared it was imperative to show that tlie national enthusiasm was not a mere passing excitement. Lord Cheylesmore appealed to employers to find places and the public to provide money and clothes. General Trotter seconded the appeal, dwelling on the excellent character of most of the men.

Sir J. Ward has cabled to Mr Drake congratulating him on the opening of the Pacific cable after much opposition and vexatious delays, and predicts a large and eventually remunerative business. The Cable Hoard has fixed the rates for the West Indies anil Central and South America to range from 4/3 to 8/24. Messages to Europe from New Caledonia and Java will be charged sixpence excess.

Ottawa has advised the PostmasterGeneral that Sir Sandford Fleming, in order to test electric transmission round the world, despatched a cable to the Mayor of Ottawa. The circle was completed in six hours three miijutes.