AMERICA.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLI, Issue 5, 29 July 1908, Page 8

AMERICA.

The widow of Robert Louis Stevenson was seriously injured in a motor accident in San Francisco. Reuter’s Washington correspondent states that America and Britain have agreed to extendo the Newfoundland modus vivendi, pending the settlement by The Hague Conference of the fisheries dispute. In reply to the “Daily Express” statement that the British Government was to purchase the three Brazilian battleships of the Dreadnought type now under construction in England, the authorities at Rio deny that Brazil is willing to sell her battleships to anyone. President Castro has expelled the Dutch Charge d’Affaires from Venezuela. It is supposed that bis action was due to Holland’s unsatisfactory reply to the President’s demand for more effectual vigilance over Dutcn vessels which assisted the revolutionaries to escape from La Guaira, the port of Caracas. The Canadian Celebrations. After deluging rains, the weather in Quebec was suddenly brilliantly fine for tlie celebrations, which were inaugurated most successfully amid immense enthusiasm. All the ships in the St. Lawrence were dressed with flags and bunting, and the city was gaily decorated, presenting a scene of entrancing beauty. H.M.S. Indomitable, conveying the Prince of Wales and his entourage, rounded Point Levis shortly before three o’clock p.m. on July 23, amid a deafening salute from the international fleet, and the tumultuous demonstrations of the populace, and anchored between a long double line of battleships, all dressed and manned. The Admiral and captains of the Atlantic fleet, Earl Grey (GovernorGeneral of Canada), Lord Roberts, Sir Wilfrid Laurier (Prime Minister of Can-

ada), Mr. Fairbanks (Vice-President of the United States), and other international representatives were present

aboard one of the battleships. On landing, Sir Wilfrid Laurier presented the Prince with an address from the Canadian Parliament and people, warmly welcoming him, and briefly tracing the history of Quebec and of Canada since Champlain’s landing in 1608 until the present. His Royal Highness, replying first in English and then in French, said that the King w-as mindful of the unswerving loyalty of Canadians, and followed with affectionate interest everything concerning the welfare and development of the Dominion. He dwelt on the proved fidelity of the French Canadians, as one of the greatest tributes to the political genius of England’s rule.

L; was a source of deep satisfaction to the King, and all who were proud of British institutions, continued the Prince, to know that British and French Canadians were working hand in hand in the upbuilding of the Dominion. He anticipated with the keenest interest the coming impressive ceremonies, when the past and present history would be presented upon a stage of unsurpassed natural beauty. He cordially approved of the setting apart of the battle-ground of the Plains of Abraham, which was hallowed by associations of the past. The Earl of Dudley (representing Australia), the Duke of Norfolk, Lord Roberts, and the Earl of Ranfurly (representing New Zealand) were allotted prominent places on the Royal dais. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, waving his hat, called for cheers for the Prince. There was a most enthusiastic response, and His Royal Higaness then drove through the tortuous, precipitous streets to the Citadel. E rl Grey (Governor-General of Canada ), in proroguing the Dominion Parliament, expressed gratification at the Empire s enthusiasm in connection with the Quebec tercentenary, and at the presence at the forthcoming celebrations of the Prince of Wales and representatives of France and the United States. The eliiei rcaiure >f Thursday’s festivities was the glorification of Champlain, the founder of Quebec. Replying to an address presented to him by the Mayor of Quebec, the Prince of Wales paid a graceful tribute to Champlain, whose fame had spread throughout the Empire. His Royal Highness said he was glad to welcome the representatives from the furthest limits of the Empire, warmly thanking the United States and France for sending representatives, whose presence was an outward and visible sign of their friendship for Great Britain. Earl Grey (Governor-General of Canada) read congratulatory telegrams from the Governor-General of Australia and the Governor of New Zealand. Mr. Fairbanks (Vice-President of the United States) in an eloquent oration expressed the fervent hope and belief that the relations between the United States and Canada and Great Britain would never again be disturbed. A great historical procession, vividly representing the periods of Canada’s history from Champlain downward, took place during the day, and was highly successful. ' The Earl of Dudley (representing Australia) and Lord Ranfurly (representing New Zealand) attended a State banquet at the Citadel last evening. Mr. Deakin has cabled Australia’s congratulations to the Dominion of Canada on the Quebec tercentenary celebrations. The prince of Wales reviewed 13,000 troops, 2000 French, American, and British sailors leading in this order in the march past. The Prince of Wales handed Earl Grey (Governor-General of Canada) the title deeds of the battlefields around Quebec, that have been acquired by subscriptions from every part of the Empire. Wreck of a Steamer. The German liner Anubis, with 77 passengers and crew, is ashore on San Miguel Island, in Hie Pacific, and is pounding to pieces. Ono boat reached Point Conception, on the Californian coast. Robbery Under Arma. Three armed strangers, reported to be Italians, entered a drinking saloon at Jamaica Plain, near Boston, shot a man dead, wounded two others, and rifled the cash register.

The arrest of one was effected, but tit other two decampedNext evening the two bandits re-en-tered the town, intending to rescue their comrade. A crowd tried to capture the bandits, who ehot indiscriminately, killing another man, and wounding several, including three police officers and a woman with a baby in her arms. They then hid in a cemetery, which was afterwards surrounded by a foree of 500 police, who were instructed to shoot them at sight. The bandits fought desperately to the last, one being killed and the other dangerously wounded and captured. A Great Relay Race. Boy runners belonging to the Young Men’s Christian Association carried a tube containing a message from New York to the Mayor of Chicago, 1130 miles, in 115 hours 47 seconds. The distance was subdivided into 2000 sections, with a boy for each. There was intense popular enthusiasm over the feat. Standard Oil Company, The Circuit Court, on appeal, has quashed the fine of 29,000,000 dollars (nearly x 6,000,000) against the Standard Oil Company for breaches of the AntiRebate Law, and ordered a retrial of the case. The Court held that Judge Landis committed irregularities, and was wrong in basing the fine imposed on the wealth of the parent company, instead of on the capital of the Standard Oil Company, Indiana. President Roosevelt has ordered the immediate re-trial of the ease against the Standard Oil Trust.