GENERAL CABLES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXX, Issue II, 10 January 1903, Page 91

GENERAL CABLES.

VENEZUELA. Reuter states that some Berlin journals are irritated at President Roosevelt’s refusal to protest against the raising of the blockade until guarantees are obtained. President Castro declines to apologise to Germany. As a result of a battle President Castro re-occupied Barquisimitol A hundred and eleven revolutionists were killed and 325 wounded. Washington reports state that while accepting arbitration President Castro is creating difficulties and seeking to impose conditions on the blockade. A press correspondent found Castro lunching and dancing arm-in-arm with his mistress. Interviewed regarding the proposed Hague arbitration, Castro laughed triumphantly, saying, “1: Powers have yielded to me.” CHINA. T ungfuhsiang’s menacing attitude has induced the British Consul at Hankow to warn the missionaries in the Shianfu district to send the women and children to the coast, and themselves to be ready for flight, in casa of an attack by the Chinese. A Chinese official at Kansu reports

that Tungfuhsiang’s follower, await the signal to march on Pekin, expel the foreigners and uphold the Dowager Empress. The Mongolians are expected to co-operate. The marble arch spanning the spot where the German Minister, Baron Von Kettler, was assassinated at Pekin is inscribed with the word “Penitence” in Latin, German and Chinese. It will be ceremoniously unveiled on January 13.

Dr. Morrison, the “Times’ ” correspondent in Pekin, makes a sensational exposure of Germany’s intrigue to handicap England in the Yangtse Valley, showing that Germany deceived France in a remarkable manner, thereby securing her help in opposing concessions to Great Britain. ROYAL SCANDAL. M. Giron, the Court tutor with whom the Princess Louise of Saxony doped, avows the paternity of the Princess’ expected child. He declares that he forwarded the Princess’ jewels worth £16,000 to his brother at Brussels, but the German Government intercepted them, leaving the lovers penniless. The Archduke Leopold, the Princess’ brother, refuses to resign his Imperial rights unless he is guaranteed an allowance.

The Emperor Joseph’s edict degrading Prince Leopold, depriving him of his decorations and excluding him from the army, sanctions his adoption of the name of Wollfing.

The prompt action taken by the King of Saxony, at Dresden, to secure the early judicial separation or

divorce of his son and the Crown Prineesa Louise of Saxony is due to the King’s serious illness. MOROCCO. The English missiouary bodies iu Fez and the vicinity have gone to Tangier for safety. News has been received that the recent battle at Lisa, in Morocco, between the Sultan’s forces and the rebels, occurred at night. News has been received that the rebels in Morocco have cut the Fez aqueduct and the town must surrender within three days unless the southern Kabyles relieve it. An inspired article published iu Berlin says Germany considers that it is the mission of the Powers interested, namely, Great Britain, France, and Spain, to restore orderin Morocco, and adds that if diplomacy proves ineffective the Powers must agree respecting a course of action, but the chief tiling is to uphold commercial interests. SCRIP FORGERY. A sensation was created by the receipt of a cable from London announcing that scrip of 15,000 shares in the Great Fingal Company. Lest Australia, had been forged. A few months back they were quoted at £8 to £9. Since then the market weakened, despite the assurances that the mine looked well and that there was nothing to cause the market to drop. The explanation will doubtless be found in the unloading of the forged scrip. Stock has fallen to £6.

The “Daily Mail’’ alleges that Anthony 8. Rowe, a partner in the firm of Bewick Mortigu, civil and mining engineers, has disappeared. It was reported on the Stock Exchange that he obtained advances on forged share certificates of the Great Fingal Consolidated Company. It is supposed that ho speculated contrary to the partnership agreement, and that the dec-line in Westrulians caused his undoing. It is understood that the forgeries concern fifteen thousand shares, valued at i'90,000. The auditors are making investigations.

The firm state that their financial position is not involved.

Tt is reported that the firm received a letter from Rowe admitting a certain offence. Anthony Rowe, the defaulter, did not profit by the forgeries of Great Fingal (W.A.) scrip, which were intended to cover differences on Kaffirs. Though legally not liable, his partners are arranging with the holders of certificates. Fingals fell 13-16ths and recovered a quarter to £6 5/. A private cable received gives assurances that the London firm has undertaken responsibility in connection with. Rowe's scrip forgery. SOUTH AFRICA. Mr Chamberlain’s grasp of details and his impressive speeches have taken Natal by- storm. While attending the banquet at Durban 3000 outside clambered for a speech. Mr Chamberlain said Britain recognised her responsibility towards her oversea kinsmen's well-being, and was ready to cherish them while children, but expected that when they’ attained manhood they would help themselves. The Motherland now bore the whole burden. He hoped the. colonies would exhibit a sense of their obligations. The foundations of the grand British Empire must be based on mutual help. Mr Chamberlain had a great ovation on his arrival at Pietermaritzburg. He paid a magnificent tribute, to the sol.-iiers and sailors of the Empire and to the colonials who had shown themselves worthy to stand side by side with the noblest of both services. The Motherland had demonstrated that her arm was strong to help her children. The advantages of the recent conference of Premiers was, he said, most marked. The Boers at Utrecht and Vrybeid astonished Mr Chamberlain by asking for .£1.350,000 as compensation f< r war losses. Ho told them that it w;ts impossible to recoup everything.

lie also made it clear that he did not intend to confer equal civil and political rights on the natives, though securing them equal rights of justice ami humanity. Mr. Chamberlain. speaking at

ipieterniaritzburg, said that before (elf-government was conceded there must be evidence of active, besides passive, loyalty, and it must be placed beyond the power of anyone or any party to undo the results of the war.

Mr Chamberlain met L ird Milner at Charlestown and reached Pretoria at midnight. A large, enthusiastic crowd welcomed him, but there was no public ceremony.

The Rev Mr Vlok. in a farewell sermon at Picquetbnrg, declared that he had been hounded out of his congregation for the awful sin of loyalty.

The “Standard” states that the loyalists are leaving Burghersdorp. The Dutch are particularly aggressive and urge the boycotting of Mr. Chamberlain.

The church pr< dikants in country districts exelmle National Scouts

from communion. The Transvaal revenue for the current year is four millions. The Dutch Church has circulated an order throughout the Transvaal refusing communion to ex-Nntional Scouts, and also refusing the baptism of their children. THE DELHI DURBAR. The arrival of Lord Curzon, the Viceroy of India, at. Delhi, was notified by 31 guns, and the singing of the National Anthem. The Connaughts were similarly honoured. The ruling chiefs were presented to Lord and Lady Curzon, and the Duke and Duchess, who were monntAd on elephants, traversed the lines

of the ruling chiefs. The chiefs' elephants were made to salute by trumpeting and throw-’ ing their trunks In the air, and then falling into a procession. The pageant at Delhi is a wonderful combination of Oriental exuberance of wealth and splendour with Western precision of organisation. Enormous crowds watched the scene with reverent curiosity, salaaming humbly when the Viceroy (Lord Curzon), the Duke and Duchess of Connaught and the high Princes pass ed.

Following the herald and twelve trumpeters came the Viceroy’s escort in scarlet and gold on picked bay horses.

Next came Portab Singh, who . led the Viceroy's bodyguard, consisting of 30 Imperial cadets. Princes and scions of the ruling races, who were mounted on black chargers. The elephants' proeesion was the most remarkable feature of the day. Fifty of the chief Indian princes, mounted on elephants, followed, two abreast, the Nizam and Maharajah of Mysore leading.

Their display of pomp, splendour, and wealth eclipsed the vice-regal party’s. They wore jewelled robes and turbans. A marvellous and Immense cavalcade followed, consisting of the Grand Duke of Hesse, Viscount Kitchener, the Governors of the Dependencies and Provinces, Khan of Khelat, and many Pathan and Assam chiefs with brilliant bodyguards

They were followed finally by a hundred and fifty superb elephants bearing gorgeous retainers, ruling chiefs, and by troops of camels and the Bengal Lancers. The Maharanee of Jaipur has given a lakh of rupees to the Indian people as a famine trust. Lord Curzon, Viceroy of India, in a singularly impressive and eloquent Speech, delivered with great dignity and elocutionary effect, emphasised the grandeur and advantages of British rule. He dwelt on the significance of I he taet that one-fifth of the human race, through their representatives assembled, had testified their allegiance ami faithful attachment to their common Sovereign. The Emperor's assurance that the supreme object'of his- rftle was’ to advance the welfare of li'is Indian subjects produced a profound impression. AUSTBLATA. It is reported from Melbourne that although business during the year has declined in the aggregate it remained sound. The insolvencies did not exceed the average of recent years. The revenue for the last halfyear decreased by £128,00(1 as compared with the corresponding halfyear of 1001. ■ The New South Wales revenue for the last half-year shows an increase of .£261,0(10 as compared with the same period in 1901. Milling development for the year was seriously retarded by Hie drought, though when the figures are complete a substantial increase will ■be shown in the gold yield. Dredging promises -atisfactory returns. Costly experience has demonstrated the weakness of the earlier forms of the

New Zealand dredges for the abnormal stress and strain of New South Wale-s dredging. Silver mining has been restricted by the exigencies of the metal market. The principal copper mines have been, brought to a standstill for the lack of water.

M. Krukoff. who was deputed by’ the Russian Minister of Agriculture to visit Australia, says the farmers are not so industrious in Australia as those of England, Germany’ or America. They are inelined to be lazy, especially the women, who do not look after the poultry and the dairying. The resources of the country are good, he says, and he speaks highly of the sheep-breeding industry.

The Executive has decided that Patrick Kenniff is to be hanged on January 12, for the murder of Mr Dalke and Constable Doyle. James Kenniff's sentence has been commuted to imprisonment for life.

An old man named Newton, living at Forbes, who has been picking up a very precarious livelihood by various means, has received word that he has been left a million sterling by the death of a relative in England.

Major Taylor, the American cyclist, addressed a meeting in a Sydney church. He urged the young men to abstain from cycling and other amusements on Sunday, and to do only what was right in the sight r.f God in order to secure true happiness.

The Imperial Government has suggested that the Commonwealth should not accept any proposal to establish a wireless telegraph system without first consulting it. In accordance with this suggestion the Commonwealth Government declined a proposal by the Marconi Company to establish a system between Australia and New Zealand.

The Rev. Wools Rutledge replies to Cardinal Moran's challenge to deny whether he ever apologised in any form to the Admiralty at Home, or to any responsible officer then or now in Australian waters, for his statement with regard to the action of the British navy in Samoa. Mr. Rutledge goes on to say, if the Cardinal has made an apology he is more honourable, though less truthful, than he appears. If he has not apologised he is less honourable, though more truthful, than he is generally given credit for.

Friday last was the hottest day ill Sydney west, of the mountains this summer. The thermometer ranged from 102 degrees at. Bathurst to 116 at Bourke.

The intense heat on the Clarence River is a Heeling the maize crops severely. The whole yield is scorched, and will be destroyed unless rain soon comes. The bulk of the early maize is totally destroyed.

Three deaths from heat apoplexy have occurred in New South Wales.

A man was struck dead by lightning, and two others were slightly injured.

The hint in New South Wales is unabated, there being many records well over 100 degrees—Mount Drysdale 122, Baradine 112, Brewarrina 119, and Kempsey 118.