GENERAL CABLES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXX, Issue XV, 11 April 1903, Page 996

GENERAL CABLES.

THE KING’S TOUR. ’ It is sertii-bflicially stated in Rome that King Edward will visit that city on the 27th inst. It is ollicially slated in Palis that nothing has been arranged as regards King Edward’s meeting with President Loubct. Possibly they will meet in the course of M. Loubet’s forthcoming trip in the Mediterranean. Brilliant weather greeted the arrival of King Edward at Lisbon. Firing salutes. British and Portuguese warships escorted the King up the Tagus. King Carlos, earning out aboard a Royal galley manned by eighty oarsmen, boarded the British Royal yacht, and gave King Edward a hearty welcome. Their interview lasted an hour and a-half. After the interview on board the British Royal yacht between King Edward and King Carlos, further salutes were fired and a procession of historic barges followed. The first, containing their Majesties, had a flotilla of steamers in its train. Indescribable, enthusiasm was displayed on the landing of the King. A stately procession was then formed, their Maj isties receiving one long ovation. Thousands of people came from the provinces, and decorations were of the costliest, the balconies being hung with rich embroideries. Windows along the line of route were hired at front £2O to £5O apiece, and boxes at the opera, which was attended by their Majesties, realised from £5O to £ 75. A dinner was given at the palaeo, and there were general rejoicing': and illuminations at night. King Edward took a holiday excursion to Cintra, a summer resort Fl miles from Lisbon. He had luncheon at the Pena Palace and afterwards received the Lisbon diploinatistis and deputations from the Cortes. Responding to the peers’ address, His Majesty recalled the memories associated with Torres Vcdras, where, in 1810, under the Duke of Wellington, the AngloPortuguese armies fought against the French. He added that happily both countries now enjoyed the most friendly relations with their- former foe. An alliance, dating from many centuries back, renewed and confirmed, Could only tend to the peaceful development of their respective countries and their colonies. His ' (njesty, in responding to the Chambers’ address, said: “I am much touched by the. unprecedented Mark of attention on your part to me on my visit. I regard it as a national demonstration. It is with the greatest pleasure that I have made my first visit since the accession of my dear cousin, your illustrious Sovereign. I assure you your presence and address are regarded by me as a renewed affirmation of the political alliance which has existed for centuries. 1 shall not easily forget the heartiness of the. welcome accorded me by all classes of Portuguese statemen. I re-echo the statement made by Mr Chamberlain, who, in responding to the toast of his health by the Governor of Funchal,, said that the Madeira Convention was the oldest convention, lit the British archives. It was the first treaty of offensive and:defensive alliance: made by Portugal and iecently confirmed.” ‘Mr Chamberlain is credited with purposely breaking his South African journey in order to make a speech preparatory to King Edward’s visit to Portugal. The apartments formerly used by Queen Margherita at.the Quiriiial. are being prepared to accommodate King Edward, who will arrive in Rome on the 27th. King Edward and King Emmanuel will attend a naval review on the 28? h and festivities will last until the 30th. At the Vatican’s instance it has been decided that King Edward will visit .the Pope, probably on the , occasion of his visit to the- English college.

BRITISH BUDGET. In the House of Commons Mr Balfour announced that the Budget would be delivered on April 23. Mr Ritchie, Chancellor of the Exchequer, speaking in the House of Commons, said he was aware that people in England with incomes from Australian source* paid double income tax, but ho was unable to give tUcm hope of any remtoaloD.

' THE ’FRISCO MAIL. The representative of the Oceanic Steamship Company, in a letter addressed on the sth inst. to the Federal Postmas-ter-General, referring to the San Francisco and Vancouver mail services, and the differences in the intervals in the sailing of the vessels over the two routes, stated: ‘We asked Messrs:. Spreckels if they would enter into a joint contract whereby there should be regular sailings, say, at ten days’ intervals, first to one port, and then the other, so that the mails for New York would leave either by one route or the other every ten days. Messrs. Spreckels. replied that they were perfectly willing to co-operate to bring about a regular mail service, but pointed out that unless the speed on the. Vancouver route was brought up to that on the ’Frisco route, there would still be much irregularity in the time of delivery of mails. The letter also pointed out that owing to the improvements in the ’Frisco-New York railway system, and the Atlantic steam service acceleration, the ’Frisco route would be able to compete not only for the trans-Pacific but the European mails. SOUTH AFRICA. A serious mutiny has just taken place at Pretoria. Owing to a brawl in the barracks a corporal of the Leinster Regiment was ordered to the guard-room. His comrades, 22 in number, thereupon decided upon a rescue, fetched their rifles with the idea of carrying it into effect, and fired upon the escort. The sergeant of the first party then ordered them to be arrested, and a. struggle ensued, in which eighteen were wounded. Full investigation will follow. Under the new railway scheme the rates for imported corn, grain, and flour carried from East London or Durban to Johannesburg have been reduced from 115/ to 70/, and from Delagoa Bay to Johannesburg from 100/ to 60/. The rates for meat have been reduced by 25 per cent. Several mass meetings of the miners and townsmen of Johannesburg have resolved to resist by every means in their power the introduction of Asiatics, regarding such encouragement of immigration as inimical to the best interests of the country. L.C.C. AFFAIRS. The London County Council will issue shortly 5,000,000 3 per cent, shares. The price is fixed at 051. Lord Welby, alderman and late chairman of the County Council, states that the Council will not issue further stock during the present year. [The debt of the London Comity Council already amounts to £58,500,000.1 THE ARMY. On the resuming of the defence question in the House of Commons, Mr Brodrick stated that the War Office believed that it was possible to improve upon the German quick-firing artillery. They were about to manufacture a weapon vastly superior to anything they had yet produced. Two hundred and twenty guns of the 4.7 type had. been ordered, and 160 r\ere now repdy, , There was a scene in the House when Mr Brodrick'rebuked the unseemly levity of the criticisms of the Fourth. Party, especially’’ of Lord Hugh’ Cecil. The latter had accused Mr BidcTrick of starving the artillery in order to spend money on the new Army Corps scheme. SIR HECTOR MACDONALD. The Rev Dr Campbell Stirling, lately returned from Ceylon, states /that Sir Hector Macdonald was decidedly semiunpopular in certain quarters,’as he did not give parties.’ .and (take part in the social life of the., island, ■ r: ..; •. , lie warned the General of the existence of jealousies'J J ' A’ reservist;'who served under - General MacdonaM, shot- himself owing to distress of mind as a result of his late commander's suieide. 1 • r The sympathisers of Sir Hector Macdonald resident in Paris have announced that they are prepared to spend £lO,OOO to vindicate his memory.

Thousands are visiting General Macdonald's grave daily. The Clan Macdonald Society is forming a memorial committee. Loi.-d Goschen sent a wreath as well as the South Australian Caledonian Society, and the Scottish Corps.

The contents of the will of Sir Hector Macdonald have just been disclosed. The document is a simple one, and leaves everything the General [wssessed to his wife.

The Scottish societies in London have formed a committee to erect a national memorial to the late Sir Hector Macdonald. Subscriptions to the Edinburgh Memorial fund are pouring in to the Bank of Scotland from all parts. Lady Macdonald and family have expressed their gratitude to the War Office for the sympathy shown them and for the help accorded them in the matter of the funeral. Scotchmen in Canada are promoting a memorial to the late Sir Hector Macdonald. , IRISH LAND BILL. In the House of Commons Mr Wyndham stated tnat Ireland’s equivalent to the land grant was voted to England under the Education Act. It would be according to a population basis, £185,000. Part' of this sum would be devoted to meeting the losses incurred by flotation at 2 J per cent., the stock to provide the money for land purchases, and the bulk of the remainder to be used in promoting economic developments. Mr Wyndham added that Lord Iveagh and Sir W. J. Piiie were prepared under the happier circumstances now prevailing to provide transit facilities in .certain test districts, and if the result proved satisfactory the system would be extended over Ireland. The announcement was received with cheers. THE TROUBLE IN THE BALKANS. It is unknown whether the pretext for the Albanian revolt is the proposed Macedonian reforms or whether it betokens a movement for Albanian autonomy. It is expected it will stimulate the Macedonian rising. Special precautions have been taken to watch the Sultan’s Albanian bodyguard at Constantinople because they openly praised the attack on Mitrovitza. The Sultan and Grand Vizier have apologised to M. Zinovieff, the Russian Minister in Turkey, for the attack on the Russian Consul at Mitrovitza. The ‘’Times,” commenting on the uneasiness of the Powers over the Sultan’s infatuation, ascribes it in part to Germany’s ostentatious patronage, and adds that nothing is more likely to harden his heart against the strong repression of fanaticism than the dread of disloyalty amongst Ids household troops. The Sultan is always extremely timid, the “Times” continues, in dealing with lawless Moslems, lest he should endanger his position of Caliph. The article concludes: “If the report from Vienna, to the effect that the Sultan has summoned his Kurdish cavalry to Europe, is true, it would seem to indicate that the Sultan has lost all appreciation of the opinion of Europe, or else that he has resolved to flout and defv it.” The Russian Consuls at Monastir and Ustkub report that the revolutionary bands are increasingly active. They often number 100, and commit horrible outrages. The Russian Government, in a further admonitory note to Bulgaria, in reference to supporting the revolutionary committee, warns her that such action will bring a conflict with Turkey, and

adds that it is essential to the execution of the reforms in the Balkans that they should not be hindered. The Russian Consuls at Ustkub and Monastic further assert that the Turks provoke the massacre of Christians. Despite the denials of the Consuls, the peasants are persuaded to join the revolutionists by the Macedonian Committee’s lies to the effect that Russia is supporting the revolutionary movement. The Turks attacked a band of 30 insurgents at Ustkub, including Bulgarians. A major and lieutenant of the insurgents barricaded a house after 10 hours* fighting and hurled dynamite bombs amongst the Turks and escaped during the confusion. The insurgents lost 25 men in the fight. It is stated that the Turkish artillery, as a. punishment, razed the village of Abalitche and massacred the inhabitants. A thousand Albanians have attacked Mitrovitza, hoping to expel the Russian consul there. The garrison, numbering three thousand, after several hours’ fighting, repulsed the assailants with great loss. Russia is making energetic representations to the Porte to suppress the rebellion. The Christians of Old Servia are in a state of panic, and are fleeing home. A number of Christians have been massacred at Prelog.

Tbe‘‘New Weiner Tajjblatn” states that •.ord Lansdowne promised to consider a •suggestion that the signatories to theBerlin Treaty should he invited to sign a declaration that they will not seek territorial aggrandisement in the Balkans. Germany has urged the Sultan to proceed with reforms, suppress Macedonian excesses, and punish the authors of the attack on Steherbina. Austria supported Russia's representations to the Porte as to the necessity of suppressing the Albanian revolt. Austrian newspapers declare Turkey must mercilessly punish the Albanians and Macedonians, and says that the Aus-tro-Russian understanding prevents outside intervention. The Sultan is sending a mission entrusted to the Mollah general and three Albanian officials to try and bring the Albanians to a reasonable frame of mind. Diplomatic circles are convinced that, the policy of cajolery is foredoomed to failurp. The Russian Ambassador emphasises the faet that Turkey is facing a Mussulman rebellion, and the situation is therefore more difficult to the Porte than in dealing with a Christian insurrection alone. Diplomatists are doubtful whether the Sultan’s envoys will be received. Eighteen thousand Albanians are already assembled at Diatova and Ipek, to avenge the cheek received at Mitrovitza. The Government petroleum depot at Mustapasha has been dynamited. A Bulgarian band has cut the telegraph lines and dynamited a bridge span-. ning the Augista and a neighbouring tunnel 200yds long. The Redifs, a section of the Turkish army system at Symrna, numbering 12,000, have been summoned to Salonika. VENEZUELA. The Venezuelan Congress refused to consider the British, German, and Italian protocols, because they had b?en signed by the Venezuelan representative under compulsion from the Powers. Congress, however, empowered President Castro to comply ■■itn the conditions specified in the protocols. President Roosevelt, speaking ft Chicago, said he had retrained from objecting to Anglo-German action in South America, inasmuch as no acquisition of territory was contemplated. He said the Monroe Doctrine was not an international law, although it might become so, but this course was unnecessary if the Doctrine remained a cardinal feature of American policy and there was sufficient strength to make it effective. No foreign Power would quarrel over the Monroe Doctrine if . America continued building up a navy. BRITISH RE VEX UE. Tire British revenue for the quarter ended March 31st was £59,476,000, Customs contributing £8,495,000, Excise £8,921,000, and stamps £2,130,000. The property and income tax for the y ear ended March yielded £ 38,800,000. The British revenue returns show a deficit for the year of £633,000, giving an excess of revenue over the previous year of 9J millions. AN ALLEGED JOB. The Canadian House of Commons, by •56 votes to 35, refused to order a return of the prices the Minister for Agriculture paid on behalf of the Imperial Government for horses and fodder sent io South Africa.

The Opposition members declared that friends of the Government bought tin? horses cheaply and charged exorbitant prices. ' . ?

A SIGN OF THE TIMES. The agitation as to the need for in soipc degree democriiising the “services” has not been without its fruit. It is now announced in the “London Gazette” that no less than 60 warrant officers in the Navy’ have been promoted to the rank of lieutenant.

'VARSITY BOAT RACE. The University boat race was rowed on April Ist over the usual four mile course front Putney’ to Mortlake. There was a great concourse of people on both sides of the river and on barges, boats and bridges. The race itself was a tame affair, Cambridge having a lend almost from the stf.rt, and winning easily. (The latest crews were:—Oxford: C. ...

Minis (Magdalen) (bow), I>. Milburn (Lln-

co hi) (2), A. de L. Long (XewY (8), )*. S. Kelly (BalHol) (4), >L W. AtflM (Uafcversity) (5), W. W. Field (Exeter) (8), A. K. Graham (Hnl’lol) (7), G. C. Drink water (Wttdimin) (stroke), F. T. IL Eyre (cox.) Cambridge: Sanger {bow), Warne* ford (2), Thomas (3), Fortescue (4), Carter (5), Grjriln (6), Edwardes-Mvas GL and. Nelson (stroke). Last year’s race wsfs won by Cambridge. Oxford bns 33 wins to its K.*re<ttt, nud Cambridge 25, while oae dead heal has been rowed.] PREFERENTIAL TARIFFS. The “Tinies,” in a leading article, taunts Germany with exciting herself over the Bloemfontein Customs Conference and recalls the disregard shown by Germany t.o other nations’ opinions in regard to the new German tariff. The ‘’Tiines’’ also says’ that German newspapers are already manipulating public opinion and fulminating threats of reprisals. The Bloemfontein proposals' are merely the natural, though perhaps objectionable, workiiqr of the fiscal independence of the British colonies under the influence of the prevailing sentiment of Imperial solidarity. The “Times” unhesitatingly declares that the British nation welcomes 'most cordially the spirit of the Bloemfontein preferential treatment proposals • and would be sorry to relinquish the hope that they constitute an important rgfep towards Imperial co-operation. and unity. IRISH BUTTER. In the House of Commons the Adulteraied Butter Bill was read a second time, despite ’ the objections of Mr Kearley, member for Devonport, ttf the exemption of Irish salt firkins. Mr Hanbury, president, of the Board of Agriculture, declared that he wrA determined to end the sale, of milkblended flutter and was prepared to -eo,isider stopping the sale of adultciifcie'l b I ter altogether. 1N TEREBTI NG Fl X £>. A dispatch to the “Sun” from London says: Investigation of the tomb of King Thotmes IV., near Thebes, in which a splendid chariot was found by Mr Davis, the American, revealed many interesting features. Around the large chamber, in which is a magnificent granite sarcophagus covered with texts from the “Book of the arc small chambers. The floor of one of these was strewn with mummified loins of beef, legs of mutton, and trussed ducks and geese, offerings made to the dead King nearly four thousand years ago. Clay seals bearing the King’s name were attached to the doors of the chambers; These indicate that the Egyptians of the eighteenth dynasty to some extent anticipated the invention of printing, the raised portions of the seals having been smeared with blue ink before the clay was impressed. The walls of one chamber are adorned with paintings. There is <also.’an inscription stating that the tomb was plundered by -robbers in the eighth year, of lloromJiob, but was restored as far as possible by the reigning Pharaoh. The floor of this chamber was- covered with vases, dishes and other objects, nearly all cf which were broken, apparently by robbers. - Some had . been repaired. There was also a piece of textile fabric, in which hieroglyphics of various colours are woven with such wonderful skill as to present the appearance of painting on linen. The great find, however, is the_ chariot. The body alone remains, but this is in perfect condition. The wooden frame was first covered with papier mache, and this with stucco, which is carved into scenes from battles Pharaoh fought in Syria. With the chariot was found a leather gauntlet, which protected the King’s hand and wrist when he used the bow or reins.