CABLE ITEMS

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXX, Issue VII, 14 February 1903, Page 433

CABLE ITEMS

Three plague-infected rata have been discovered in Brisbane.

The Maharajah of Holkar has resigned owing to occasional attacks of insanity.

The Prince Christian Victor memorial at Windsor has been dedicated.

Sir. G. G. Stokes, master of Pembroke College, Cambridge, has died, aged 84.

Eighteen thousand cases of influenza are reported at Basle.

The Boer contingent is doing yeomen service in Somaliland.

Imports of Mexican cattle into Great Britain have been forbidden.

Lynch’s counsel will not apply for a writ of error, preferring later on to petition the Crown for a free pardon.

The ports of the United Kingdom have been reopened to stock from the Argentine and Uruguay.

Great Britain has declined Liberia’s offer of a coaling station. The offer has been transferred to the United States.

The Union Steamship Company has purchased the steamer Scarisbraek, and renamed it the Katipo.

America is pressing Cuba for four coaling stations. Cuba is willing to allow two—Bahia Honda and Guantanamo.

Sach and Walters were executed at Holloway Gaol this morning. Both displayed remarkable fortitude.

King Edward has telegraphed his sympathy to the relatives of those lost in the Orwell.

The Earl of Selborne, First Lord of the Admiralty, is suffering from rheumatism, and has cancelled his engagements.

A movement has been initiated to secure Greek administration of Southern Macedonia on Cretan lines.

Mr Austin Chamberlain’s speech at Birmingham foreshadowed an electoral redistribution.

Kaiser compares his navy with ours, and England is talking about a North Sea squadron.

The Australian war correspondents have been awarded medals without clasps.

Mr Alexander Grimond, head of a Dundee jute firm, has bequeathed ti 120,000 to charities and religious institutions.

Mr Heddy, member for the Birr division of King’s County, has been released a month before the expiration of his Sentence for unlawful assembly. Dr Dowie will hold a, mission in New York in October, assisted by two hundred converts. If it proves successful, he will build another Zion City.

An earthquake, accompanied by a loud subterranean rumbling, was experienced in Western Jamaica on Thursday evening.

The Board of Trade returns for January show that the imports decreased by '£3,915,833 and that the exports increased by £634,462.

Sir Salter Pyne, chief engineer to the Government of Afghanistan, attributes the detention of gun forgings at Peshawar to snows on the Cabul roads.

Bulgaria challenges an international inquiry into the Porte’s statement with reference to the Bulgarian bands which intended to operate in Macedonia.

Mr Tom Mann is to take up his duties as organiser of labour in Victoria at once. He gets £6OO for his year’s services in that capacity.

A telegraph messenger in Ballarat, finding nobody at a house at which he was to deliver a telegram, forced an entrance and stole a diamond ring.

The election in South Antrim resulted in the return of Mr. Crnig, a Conservative, with 4564 votes. Mr. Keightley, a follower of Mr. T. W. Russell, received 3615.

Dr. Aronson, of Berlin, has discovered a serum for protection against scarlatina.

The French torpedo-destroyer Espingole struck on a roc’: in the Bay of Cavalaire, and sunk. The crew were saved.

A Melbourne barber was fined recently for shaving a man on Sunday. He stated that he was peeling potatoes, and had a knife in his hand, not a razor.

The “Daily Post” suggests the building of a British North Sea squadron, comprising eighteen battleships, and a new naval harbour on the east eoast.

The health of the Earl of Selborne, First Lord of the Admiralty, who has been suffering from rheumatism, has improved.

News has been received that the Italian authorities have arrested the Sheik Yusef at Obbia and are conveying him to Aden.

The difficulties of transport from Obbia experienced by the Somaliland expedition are now overcome. The Boer contingent is proving a useful help.

The woman Kate Porter, whose cool delaings as a burglar have been already cabled, has now been committed for trial in Melbourne.

As the result of a fire at the Union Company’s wharf, a stack containing five or six hundred bales of straw was severely damaged by fire and water.

Turkish pirates captured an Italian vessel on the Yemen Coast. Italy demands restitution, and the punishment of the pirates within a fortnight, otherwise she will enforce it herself.

A miniature of King Edward, set in diamonds, was handed to the Mikado, with an autograph letter couched in terms of cordial friendship. The Mikado’s reply was warmly appreciative.

The gun carriage shops of the American navy have adopted three shifts and are able to work night and day so as to complete orders at the earliest possible date.

Lord Balfour of Burleigh, speaking at Edinburgh, said the colonies recognised that the disposition of the national forces must be directed from London, after consultation with them.

The Porte has communicated to the foreign Embassies a report regarding seven Bulgarian bands of 6000 strong, which will operate in Macedonia in the spring.

A committee of the U.S. Senate has reported favourably on the Panama Canal Bill, and has also adopted Senator Elkin’s bill providing for the application of the Anti-Trust Bill to railways.

The Sydney police are taking active steps to suppress the palmists of the city. Information against a number of fortune-tellers have been issued within the last few days.

Experiments of pounding the old battleship Belle Isle off the Isle of Wight yesterday showed that if a single high explosive projectile from a 9 4.5 inch gun burst inside the ship it would sweep the whole deck.

The Eastern and African Cold Storage Company, which will operate in South Australia, the East Indies, South Africa and Great Britain, is issuing a quarter of a million 7 per cent, cumulative preference shares.

President Roosevelt’s message to Congress supports Mexico’s and China’s suggestion fcr an international conference to consider the question of restoring and maintaining a fixed relationship between gold and silver money.

Senators representing the Northwestern States of America maintain that there is nothing in the Alaskan boundary requiring arbitration. President Roosevelt and Mr. John Hay (Secretary for State) consider that the ratification of the Alaskan treaty is practically hopeless.

Dr. Collinoridgc, the medical officer of health for the City of Ixmdou, has made a startling report on the sewage contamination of the fish in the whole estuary of the River Thames. A special committee has been appointed.

The Porte has inquired as to the number of the Mahsusseh Company’s steamers available for transport. Considerable reinforcements are being sent to Anatolia and Macedonia.

Russia is also enquiring about transports.

The “Times’’ estimates that the immediate relief of Briiish taxation will not exceed ten millions, and expresses the hope that Mr. Ritchie (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) will restrict it wholly to the income tax.

The Australian war correspondents who were awarded medals were: Mr. Donald Macdonald, Melbourne “Argus”; Mr. Lainbie, Melbourne “Age”; Mr. Wilkinson, Sydney “Daily Telegraph”; and Mr. Collins, of Reuter’s Agency.

A French flotilla has traversed the rapids at Boussa, a town of Gando in the Western Soudan, on an island in the Niger. These rapids were believed to be impassable, and this latest feat has demonstrated the navigability of the river.

A Royal Commission, with Sir David Barbour as chairman, has been appointed to make an inquiry into street locomotion in London, and the desirability of establishing some authority to control railway and tram schemes.

In the event of the colonial sugar imports of Britain largely increasing, Austria and Germany notify that they reserve the right of submitting for settlement to the International Commission at Brussels Britain’s interpretation regarding countervailing duties.

Mr Copeland, speaking at the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce dinner, described Lord Onslow’s announcement of his threat as the most cheering news he had received since he came to Britain.

The presentation made to the Reichstag of a statistical table made by the Kaiser’s own hand comparing the strength of the British and German navies is interpreted in England as significant of the Kaiser’a ultimate ambition.

The Victorian Agent-General has disposed of the balance of the Agricultural Department’s shipment of 62 hogsheads of tobacco at 5d per pound. The whole realised £2385. The manufacturers regret the cessation of shipments.

Cardinal Gibbons delivered a remarkable sermon in New York, in which he stated that the divorce mills were slowly but surely grinding the domestic altars of the nation. Divorce was a social scourge more blighting and destructive than Mormonism.

Seven thousand Wesleyans met at the Royal Aquarium at Westminster to celebrate the acquisition of their new headquarters. Mr R. W. Perks. M.P., presided, and expressed the hope that all sections of Methodists would be federated early in the present century. Mr Copeland, the New South Wales Agent-General, in addressing the Scottish branches of the British Empire League, at Edinburgh, said that Australian nationhood was autonomous and must be allowed to a great extent to judge the desirability of an Australian navy. The Admiralty would do a good service if they provided Australian sailors with several months’ training annually.

A campaign in France for the full rehabilitation of Captain Dreyfus is expected. A detective has purchased in Madrid a document throwing fresh light on the ease, and M. Jaures, head of the Socialist party, will shortly produce it in the Chamber of Deputies.

General Fournier, commanding the French Army Corps at Claremont-Fer-rand, indirectly manifested sentiments against the Government. He was censured and reduced to the command of an infantry division and placed on half pay of the latter rank.

The delay in the application of Aih tro-Russian reforms in Macedonia is increasing the danger of a wide insurrection in the spring, involving Bulgarin and Servin. Already sanguinary conflicts between Turkish troops and Bulgarian bands are frequent.

M. Micaresco, formerly Vice Director and Roumanian Minister of Finance, and latterly Vice-Director of the Bank of Agriculture, who was about to be arrested in connection with the Parisianos’ frauds of four per cent, stock, committed suicide by jumping under a train.

The “Novoje Vremja” says that the despatch of a strongly-escorted British Commission to the Seis tan region on the Afghan borders of Persia will prove fatal to Russian prestige, unless the Czar sends a similar commission.

The "Neu Frei Presse” states that a telegraphist at Pora, near Constantinople, purloined and sold British Government cypher despatches to Russia, who has the key to the cypher. It is supposed that Russia only purchased the British cypher despatches after they had been stolen.

Mr Copeland, speaking at the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce dinner, said that colonial representation in the Imperial Parliament was at present absolutely impossible. Australians would not allow half a dozen representatives to commit them to a particular policy until the whole people had been consulted.

The “Times’” Kieff correspondent reports that secret police in Ihe factories in Southern Russia have discovered a seditious movement against the Government and capitalism. Numerous arrests have been made. It. is rumoured that military governors-general will shortly be appointed, and that martial law will be proclaimed throughout the South.

In the Reichstag Count von Bulow, replying to a member’s contention that the navy was not needed, asserted that a majority of the Germans were convinced that they were entitled to build a fleet, not for the purposes of aggression, but for the defence of the coasts and the protection of their countrymen and their interests oversea.

Colonel Rimington, of Rimiugton’s Scouts, testifying befo.c the War Commission, expressed a high opinion of nearly all the colonial officers, and stated that Australia, New Zealand and Canada were able to supply an enormous number of good cavalry if properly trained.

Lords Strathcona and Oldenham, and Messrs 11. Chaplin, Vicary Gibbs, Alfred Enunott, and Seton-Karr, members of the House of Commons Mr 11. Spencer Wilkinson, the well - known writer on military and naval subjects, and Admirals Hopkins and Culmc-Seymour, will be amongst the members of the Sutherland Association to enquire into food supplies in time of war.

Refugees from 36 Macedonian villages relate horrible stories of tortures, robberies, and violations.

Plague-infected rats continue to be found.

Grand *nd Yeoman, who are charged with Constable Long’s murder, have been committed for trial for burglaring £l5O worth of goods from the Auburn brass foundry.

Colonial Sir John Adye testified before Lord Elgin’s War Inquiry Commission as to the lack of sufficient special staff to deal with the colonial forces, and especially with the South African Colonial Eorces, at the outset of the war, and a, similar absence of a carefully matured organisation and system in South African colonials.

The “Daily Mail” states that the Indian Government has forwarded to the Ameer of Afghanistan the 12 detained German quick-firers, two Howitzers, 18 field pieces, and 850 cases of ammunition. They refused to forward the 200 English guns, valued at £25,000. They are technically forgings, intended to be finished at Cabul.

The United States House of Representatives has passed a bill authorising the resumption of negotiations by Great Britain for the preservation of Alaskan fur seals, giving authority, if a modus vivendi is not concluded prior to the opening of Pelagic sealing, to exterminate the seal herd on the Peribyloff islands, excepting ten thousand females, and one thousand males.

Lord Onslow, speaking at Glasgow, declared that the idea of an Australian navy was noticeable in certain quarters of Australia. He hoped that wiser counsels would prevail. If the Australians wished representation and asked to be admitted to Britain’s counsels he could answer for the sort of reception they would receive at the hands of the Government. (Cheers.)

Lord Onslow, speaking at the Chamber of Commerce dinner at Edinburgh, said that he blamed the shipping lines’ conference with the L 7 nion Castle Company for the high freights, thus impeding trade. Now that the Transvaal and Orange River Governments were placing large orders of every’ kind of goods for the development of the colonies, the Colonial Oilice would endeavour to secure, even if it chartered its own steamers, fair but remunerative freights for goods, both Government and public.

Summary’ jurisdiction under the Coercion Act has been revoked in the boroughs of Dublin, Limerick, Waterford and ten rural districts. In the coure of a speech at the vice-regal levee Lord Dudley announce. I that Mr. Wyndham’s Irish Land Bill had been drafted. It exceeded all former bills in generosity towards genuine tenants. It was notable that the landlord had been consulted in the drafting of the measure.

Count Von Bulow, speaking in the Reichstag, said the Government did not approve of the proposal to allow Jesuit settlements, but it was no longer necessary to subject individuals to exceptional laws because they were members of that order.

[The Jesuits have been‘virtually expelled from Germany for 30 years. The efforts —now at last successful—to repeal the law

expelling them has been token to be an effort by Count vou I’.ulovf to conciliate the clerical party in the Ueichstag.]

Lord Methuen has deelined the offer of the Governorship of Malta.

[Sir 11. 11. Johnson, in an article on “Problems of the Empire,” lately pointed out the unpopularity of military rule In Malta, and smtgested the appointment of a civil, and possibly of a Maltese, governor, lie emphasised the importance of gutting a man who would sympathise with and understand the dvsi 1 ’•»**« of the poop e on the little island, and would show neither the official sternness nor the social snobbery that lias characterised so many governors of Malta iji the past. It is remotely possible Uvat tliv military aspect, of this view hns influenced Lord Methuen in his decision. I

In an action for damage for boycotting in Sligo, one of the defendants, Father Spellman, president of the League Branch, did not appear, alleging that the plaintiff’s solicitor, in opening the case, sneered at the priesthood. Judge Morris declared this shu filing was reprehensible. A priest was amenable to the law, and was not entitled to plead his •acred office, particularly when the heads of the Church everywhere con-

demned boycotting. He gave judgment for the full claim, ; n.l regretted his inability to quintuple the amount.

One of the Princess Louise’s children having been attacked by typhoid and the Princess being anxious to hasten to its bedside, M. Giron, with whom she eloped, broke off his relations with her and went to Brussels, in order not to impede the reunion of Princess Louise and her children. The Princess was told that she would never see her children unless she relinquished M Giron. She did so, having received promises of the utmost consideration and concessions at Vienna and Dresden. The Crown Prince has refused Princess Louise permission to visit her sick child.

Mr Wise, Attorney-General of New South Wales, speaking at the Eighty Club recently, regretted that Lord Lansdowne, contrary to the spirit of the resolution of the Premiers’ Conference, failed to ascertain the views of Australia and Canada before making an engagement with Germany regarding Venezuela. Australia, he said, was much affected by German development in the Pacific.

In reply to representations on the subject, Sir Edmund Barton has received a communication from the Colonial Office, stating that the Imperial Government has every intention of carrying out the spirit and letter of the promises made- at the Imperial Conference. As regards South African military contracts it was added that in the New South African meat contracts already made there was a condition that supplies should, if possible be obtained from Imperial sources.

Mr Seddon has received from the Secretary of State a similar cable to that received by Sir Edmund Barton with reference to the South African meat contracts. It states that it was impossible to call for tenders earlier, owing to the military arrangements not having been entirely settled. Regret is expressed that the military authorities in South Africa state that it is impossible to extend the period for tendering, but the shortness of time affects all equally. The condition of the contract is that supplies are to be obtained from British Imperial sources if possible. The Agent-General is to again urge the War Office to give an extension of time.