GENERAL CABLES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXX, Issue XI, 14 March 1903, Page 717

GENERAL CABLES.

PURSUIT OF THE MULLAH. In the House of Commons Mr St John Brodrick stated that the operations of the Somaliland expedition would bo restricted to checking the Mullah’s encroachments and to safe-guarding the tribes under our protection. REPRESENTATION IN FIJI. A deputation waited on the Governor of Fiji on March 3 and urged that, the Legislative Council be elective, instead of being nominated as at present. The Governor promised to support the request. RATHER SUDDEN. A speech extremely friendly towards England, delivered by M. Cambon, the French Ambassador, at the Associated Chambers of Commerce dinner, has been reproduced in the Paris papers, evoking a striking display of cordiality towards Britain, with, in some cases, even a suggestion of an early entente eordiale between the two countries. AMERICA AND ENGLAND. Mr Choate, the American Ambassador, entertained by the Pilgrims’ Club, London, in the course of a speech attributed the improved relation between Britain and America to the popular will of each country. Moreover, Lord Salisbury’s and Lord Lansdowne’s uniform candour, fairness and friendliness had on every question helped to maintain these cordial relations. And he could not ignore King Edward’s influence as heartily cementing the union. THE POPE. The 25th anniversary of the Pope’s enthronement was celebrated on March 4. Ecclesiastics were present from all parts of the world. Seventy thousand people took part in a service at the Basilica. The Pope was in good health, but looked pale, and his voice had a marked hoarseness. He intoned the To Deum. Peals of bells were rung in 493 churches in Rome. Cardinal Gibbons, on behalf of the American hierarchy, clergy and laity, sent a Marconi message from Cape Cod to Poldhn, in Cornwall, for transmission to Rome, conveying congratulations to the Pope.

THE SAMOAN RISING. Referring to the petition to the Gover-nor-General asking for an inquiry into the charges made by him against British officers, Cardinal Moran denies that he ever accused British officers of murdering Samoans, for the good reason that the Samoans got out of the way. He was willing to have a German Imperial Commission appointed to enquire into the doings of the missionaries at Samoa during sixty years past. CHINESE UNEASY. The “Standard” says that special inquiries made at Shensi confirm the report that Tung-Fuh-Siang, the leader of the anti-foreign movement, is assembling n very large force, designed to extirpate the foreigners. Four thousand disbanded Imperial troops have joined him. Many secret meetings are being held in Pekin,and some officials are attending in order to discuss whether they will support the movement. UNCLE SAM’S NAVY. Congress has finally adopted the naval appropriation of sixteen millions sterling. Provision is made for three battleships ranging from 16,000 to 13,000 tons. Congress has added 3000 men to the navy, and voted a million and a-half dollars for target practice, 120.000 being devoted to prizes for marksmanship. America’s huge naval programme is interpreted as a reply to the German and Austrian attempts to revive the Central European Customs’ boycott against the United States. The movement is regarded as impracticable. and as being merely an adroit weapon to advance Germany’s economic policies with regard to her colonies. J. BULL AND CO. The House of Commons is discussing the supplementary vote of the Colonial Department. Mr Austen Chamberlain, replying to allegations of the negative results of ihe Premiers’ Conference in London, said that any increase contribution to Imperial defence must be free and spontaneous. The resolution adopted by the Conference with regard to preferential trade within the Empire was receiving the Imperial Government’s most, careful attention. The “Standard” declares that the self-governing colonies cannot be expected to merge their own preparations in a general scheme of defence until they are convinced that the Imperial army and navy are administered on a thoroughly scientific and comprehensive plan. NORTH SEA SQUADRON. In the House of Commons Mi' Balfour announced that a new naval port and base would be established at St. Mary’s Hope, on the north side of the Firth of Forth, in accordance with the committee’s recommendation in January last. The announcement was received with cheers. Though the Berlin newspapers declared that the creation of a British North Sea squadron would be a menace to Germany, they profess to regard the new naval base as only a step towards the completion of English coast defences in no way affecting Germany’s naval position.

A BRAVE BAND. The fighting in Nigeria has been productive of an event in which singular heroism was displayed by Lieut Croby and a mere handful of men. The young officer was one of a total of 14, who had to defend a Southern Nigerian village against 1000 of the Indebe Afikpoors. This small band repeatedly checked the desperate rushes made by th'e natives, and ultimately withdrew with the inhabitants of the village. Subsequently Lieut. Croby was reinforced, and the Afikpoors were dispersed at the point of the bayonet. Major Hennike, with 250 men, traversed the Indebe country and subdued the Afikpoors after some stiff fighting. MAIL CONTRACTS. The British Postmaster - General stated that notice had been given to the Peninsula and Oriental and Orient Companies to terminate the mail contracts to India, the East and Australia at the end of January* 1005. The Government departments were studying future requirements, and would give their decision at the earliest possible moment. Sir Edmund Barton states that he expected the notification of the termination of the Peninsular and Orient mail contracts. The British Postmaster had acted on behalf of the parties interested. He hoped to get a quicker service under the new contract. Provision would also have to be made in accordance with the Australian Postal Act for the employment of only white labour on the steamers. He believed this change would be effected without any great trouble. BALKAN PROVINCES. French advices from St. Petersburg state that Austria and Russia have secretly agreed to provisionally occupy and hold Servia and Macedonia if, as is expected, the Sultan fails to execute the reforms demanded by the Powers. Official reports published by the Porte state that Bulgarian insurgent bands have reappeared at several points in Macedonia, causing apprehension that a general movement has begun. It is also stated that the inhabitants shelter the bands and inform them of the movements of the Ottoman troops, thus impeding pursuit. A Blue Book which has been published shows that the Austro-Russian scheme dealing with Macedonia was communicated to Lord Lansdowne on February 17. The British Government, in order to avoid delay, accepted immediately the principle, recommending the Sultan to accept the scheme, but reserved the right to make further proposals if on trial the scheme proved inadequate. VOLCANIC ACTIVITY. News hns been received that the volcano of Kilauea, in Hawaii, is showing signs of activity. The Poet’s volcano, in Costa Rica, is active. Frequent earthquake shocks have been felt in Costa Rica, and shocks have also been experienced at the town of Recenati, in Italy. The Mexican volcano Colima, which had been dormant since June, 1869, is now in violent eruption. Black mud, stones and earth are being ejected with great foree, while the earth tremors are appalling. Dense clouds and showers of ashes have fallen for a hundred miles round. The residents at Taxpan are in terror, and are flying to the hills. MARCONIGRAMS. At a meeting of the Associated Chambers of Commerce a resolution was passed recommending that communication by telephones or ethegrams should be established between lightships and lighthouses and the shore. Mr Marconi, who was amongst the speakers, declared that ethegramic communication with lightships and lighthouses was working successfully in Germany and America. He emphasised the fact that Belgian steamer, by means of the Marconlgrnph, announced the breakdown of the steamer Pas de Calais in the recent gale.

Mr Gerald Balfour, addressing the Lifeboat Institution, said the difficulties associated with wireless communication between lighthouses and the coast was a question relating to national defence, and this rendered a comprehensive plan imperative. He hoped Fastnet (lighthouse on the Irish coast) and the shore would soon be connected by ethegrams.

VENEZUELA. In the House of Lords Lord Tweedmouth asked for additional papers dealing with Venezuela. Lord Lansdowne, Secretary for Foreign Affairs, denied that there was any risk of alienating American sympathies. Germany had assured the American Government early last year that she did not intend the smallest acquisition of territory in South America or adjoining lands. Britain’s official intimation to Washington concerning the blockade was made in November, but there were excellent reasons for knowing how Washington was likely to regard our action.

The Earl of Rosebery said that the co-operation of Britain and Germany was unnecessary, looking to the fact that coercion was resolved upon before approaching the American Minister in London. It was not in accordance with the comity of nations. Venezuelan stokers affirm that the Germans left a dynamite bomb amongst the Restaurador’s coal. The statement has caused great excitement in Caracas. GALE IN GREAT BRITAIN. The storm damaged the telegraphs in every district in England and Wales, with the exception of a portion of the south-eastern counties. One wire connected England and Glasgow. A barque, showing distress signals, was seen at ten on Sunday night to strike the Prisons Rocks, off Cornwall, and apparently sank or broke up. It is believed to be a German vessel, from a portion of the word Hamburg being on a lifebelt washed ashore with pieces of cases and casks addressed to New Zealand. There is no doubt that the crew perished. A lifeboat and the coastguard searched the coast for hours, but without success. The steamer Pas de Calais, with 180 passengers aboard, had to drift in front of the storm, her paddle being disabled. She narrowly escaped running on the Goodwin Sands. Her damaged paddle was repaired, and the steamer reached Dover in safety. The Cambrian Prince, bound from Coqumbo to Middlesborough, foundered in the North Sea. There is only one survivor, nineteen having gone down with the ship. ST. PATRICK’S 'DAY. A heated correspondence is going on in Sydney over the action of the Government in first deciding that St. Patrick’s Day should not be a holiday, and then, after a correspondence between Cardinal Moran and Mr. O’Sullivan, Minister for Works, making a concession that civil servants could all leave work at noon, and be paid for the whole day. The concession did not satisfy the Cardinal, who, at a meeting of the St. Patrick’s Day Celebration Committee, suggested that the toasts of the Government and Parliament be omitted at the luncheon. He had previously referred to the insult which, through weakness on the part of the Government in refusing to grant St. Patrick’s Day as a holiday, had been offered to the Roman Catholic body, and predicted the Government’s overthrow, significantly adding that it would be idle of the Premier to expect men and women of Irish parentage to cast a vote for himself or his friends if he persisted in refusing this concession to St. Patrick’s feast. Protestantism is up in arms, and through the medium of numerous letters in the press and meetings is protesting against the Government’s supineness in making a concession as the apparent result of the Cardinal’s political threats.. “COL.” LYNCH’S SEAT. In the House of Commons Sir Robert Finlay, the Attorney-General, moved the issue of a writ for the election of a member for Galway in the place of Colonel Lynch. Sir G. C. T. Bartley moved an amendment against the issue of a writ during the present session. Mr Balfour objected to any disfranchise of electors without investigation by a Committee of the House, and declared, moreover, that controversies between the House and the constituencies had never been to the advantage of the House. He supported the motion on the grounds of both reason and precedent. Lord Hugh Cecil and Colonel W. Kenyon Slaney supported the amendment, which was negatived by 248 to 45. The motion was then agreed to.

Mr Balfour declared that if Lynch was admittedly a brav* man, his constituency was less

blameable than others who elected both traitors and cowards. The minority Included 53 Unionists and two Liberals.

Mr. James Wanklyn, member for Bradford, addressing his constituents, declared that the British Cabinet had neither the moral nor political courage to prosecute Professor James Bryce, member for South Aberdeen, for sedition contained in an article published in a foreign journal in December, 1899, containing an indictment of Britain, an appeal for foreign intervention, and an incitement to the Dutch at the Cape to rebel. He had demanded of the Cabinet either to prosecute Mr. Bryce or release “Colonel” Lynch. IMPERIAL DEFENCE. The War Office es the total cost at 34i millions 1 viding for an army of 235,761 men. A Royal Commission will be appointed to inquire into the service and pay of militia and volunteers. In the House of Commons Mr Balfour moved a resolution to the effect that the growing needs of the Empire require that the Committee of Defence be placed on a permanent footing. He warned the House not to expect too much from this scheme, inasmuch as it was experimental and tentative. With the best preparations war was always full of surprises. Sir Henry - Campbell Bannerman agreed that it was necessary to take a large and comprehensive view of the naval and military needs of the Empire, but asked how it was possible to maintain Ministerial responsibility with officials sitting beside Minister, and who might override the decision of the committee. He moved the adjournment of the debate with a view to a fuller discussion. The amendment was negatived without a division, and the resolution was carried, the speeches showing that the proposal *was most favourably received. Mr. Balfour, replying to a deputation in favour of the appointment of a Royal Commission on the question of the supply of food in war time, said he recognised the importance of parrying, if possible, the obvious danger of the country’s dependence on foreign States. What he feared was not the exclusion of food and raw material, for it was not likely that a great exporter like the United States would tolerate the capture of merchandise on her own ships, but the cost of food and war material under certain conditions. The question of price, he said, would ultimately be a question of insurance. After discussing the capacity of neutral shipping and the difficulties of the creation of a comer in foodstuffs and other points, Mr. Balfour said he would be glad to consult with the deputation regarding the precise scope of the inquiry. NEW HEBRIDES. With regard to the presentation of a petition to the French Chamber in favour of a New Hebrides protectorate, Sir Edmund Barton says that the Federal Government is keeping a sharp eye on New Hebrides interests. There is no likelihood of any advantage being gained with respect to the action by the Imperial Government except by representation through the Federal Government. The Joint Commissioner of the British and French Governments proposed to be appointed to deal with the land question had not yet been constituted.

SOUTH AFRICA. Sir Gordon Sprigg in reply to a deputation of moderates, said that it was difficult to justify the detention of political prisoners for less offences than those of the men who had fought to the end of the war, and for which the latter were merely disfranchised. He announced that the Parliament elected under the new register would meet in Januaiy. The Johannesburg conference recommended the extension of the railway from Springs to Ermelo at a cost of one million, and a through line from Harrismith to Viljoen’s Drift. The programme already includes a Vereeniging-Johan-nesburg line at a cost of £740,900.

Sir Gordon Sprigg, replying to a deputation of Moderates, said he hoped by union and reconciliation that Cape Colony would become the premier colony in South Africa, which was her right. Parliament would meet in June, and in order to avoid controversy would mainly restrict itself to discussing public works.

Advices have been received that a new land line has been erected between Capetown and Durban, completing the Cape cable route. The Rhodesia Cold Storage Trading Company has been formed, with a capital of half a million, and is issuing shares to the value of £ 193,616, to acquire storage plants in Rhodesia, and also the Napier-Broome Estate of a million acres of pastoral country, from the Northwest Australian Land and Cold Storage Company, as a base of supply of meat and eat tie.

Two men, using Cayenne pepper, blinded a couple of Customs officers in Johannesburg who were conveying a bag containing £ 5000 to the bank. They wrested the bag from the officer who was carrying it and hit him with it, then handed it to a horseman. The latter started, and in his headlong flight knocked down Mr Brandon, manager of a local firm. The horse then bolted and threw its rider, who rushed with the bag into a house, where he was arrested. He gave the name of Frank Goddard. He was charged with the robbery and remanded to the 17th. Brandon has succumbed to his injuries.