THE OLD COUNTRY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLI, Issue 9, 26 August 1908, Page 6

THE OLD COUNTRY.

The Lusitania’s latest passage from England to America occupied 00 hours 18 min., establishing a record. The Imperia) Colonial Club has been opened in new premises in Piccadilly, with a membership of three thousand. The estate of the late Mr. George Coper, the well-known English bookmaker and landowner, is reported to be worth nearly half-a-million. The Hon. Reginald Lister, Councillor to H.M.’s Embassy at Paris, succeeds Sir Gerald A. Lowther as Ambassador at Tangier. The promoters of the Brewers* Exhibition on October 17 offer- diplomas rn six classes for wine and one for brandy, open to the products of colonial-grown grapes bottled in the country of origin. Entries close on October 3. Negotiations are afoot for making the colonial exhibits at the Franco-British Exhibition the basis of a British Empire Exhibition. All the commissioners favour the idea, because the present show is considered to have been highly beneficial. So Near Yet So Far. After swimming many hours Burgess, in his second attempt to swim the Channel this season, was within a mile of Cape Grisnez when an adverse tide carried him back seawand and compelled him to abandon the attempt. Dr. Clifford, president of the Baptist World Alliance, presides over a European

Congress of Baptists, which opens in BeClin on August 31. Britain sends 50* delegates. An American has purchased Mr. Baldwin’s dirigible balloon. Mr. Haldane’s Scheme Unpopular. The “Spectator” Bays that it is most humiliating for the State to have to wheedle, cajole, and beg employers to allow their men to join the territorial army. The “Spectator” again urges the establishment of a system of universal military training. Success of an Anckland Cadet. Colour-Sergeant Friar, the New Zealand cadet who came to England to compete at the Empire Cadets’ rifle meeting, was introduced to Lord Roberts, who presented him with a match rifle in commemoration of his visit and his good shooting a t the meeting. In both the Cheylesmore and Guinness Cup competitions Friar secured second place, a performance indicating both brilliancy and consistency. Copeland, an. Australian cadet, was ninth in the competition for the Guinness Cup. Anglo-German Relations. On the ground that the foreign editor of the “ Vossisehe Zeitung ” is an old friend of Prince von Buelow (the German Chancellor), and that the newspaper is often utilised to announce events less formally than semi-ofticially, the London “Daily Telegraph’s” Berlin correspondent credits tho statement that Sir Chas. Hardinge (Permanent Under-Sccretary for Foreign Affairs) intimated at Cronsberg, where His Majesty King Edward, met the Kaiser, that it was the intention of the Government to introduce a bill to arrange a four years’ shipbuilding programme. The Kaiser replied that the step was not regarded with animosity in Germany, and would not provoke counter measures. Tho correspondent adds that the niytli of Britain’s so-called isolated policy is exploded, and the whole account of the interview pointe to a fundamental change in Germany’s attitude towards Britain. A Disclaimer. Mi-. Lloyd-George (Chancellor of the Exchequer), in a message to th e “Daily Chronicle,” indignantly repels the “Standard’s” accusation against Mr. Winston Churchill and himself, that they are endeavouring to oust Sir Edward Grey from the control of foreign affairs. He expresses admiration for Sir Edward Grey, and unbounded confidence in his great capacity for dealing with the complex and difficult problems confront, ing Great Britain. Good Advice. Archbishop Carr, of Melbourne, speaking at Mount Bellew, Galway, said- that when the Irish were appealing to the civilised world on behalf of Home Rule there should be no crime or outrage. They ought to show, he said, by the wise exercise of their present powers that they were worthy of larger powers. Then they would win sympathy, and the white bond of union would be preserved, and the supreme rights of the Crown willingly admitted. Tho material interests of the country would, he added, increase, and a new Ireland would arise, a new spirit come into the country, aud its resources would be developed. Troubled Ireland. Owing to lawlessness at Macroont, County Cork, civilian officers refuse to aet as writ servers, even under a police escort. The Master of the Rolls at Dublin, ini dealing with an application for the substitution of service at Macroom, declined to transfer tlic danger of persona] violence from the process server to the postman, and ordered the placarding of write at the police barracks nearest to the residences of the tenants concerned.

Sad Colliery Disaster. A terrible disaster is reported as the result of an explosion in No. 1 Maypole colliery, at Abram, near Wigan, In Lancashire. The explosion, destroyed the ventilating drift and cape, blowing the timber headgear in all directions, some portions being carried a distance of over 200 feet. Seventy-six of the miners were entombed. A rescue party descended the Wigan 'Junction colliery, half-a-mile distant, which communicates with No. 2 Maypole, and penetrated several hundred yards towards the wrecked workings. Approaching these the air was almost unbreathable. Heavy falls of the roof impeded their progress. Several dead ponies and then three dead miners were found, one terribly mutilated, with the features' unrecognisable. Many pathetic scenes were witnessed at the pit's mouth after the explosion. AU round the shaft was thronged with frenzied relatives and friends of the entombed miners. Three men escaped alive, walking through the Wigan Junction colliery. They encountered many obstacles, caused by heavy falls from the roofs of the drives. The disaster occurred while the shifts were changing. Of the 600 below 524 had stopped work and had ascended to the surface. The position of the corpses found indicated tha. the entombed men wort making their way to the pit shaft when overtaken by the fire following the explosion. Some had their arms across their faces, and one had succumbed in n (attitude of prayer. Twenty-eight bodies have now been recovered from the Maypole colliery. The revised death roll gives the number as 76. The pit has been fleoded to extinguish the fire. Temperance Reform. What is designated as the True Temperance Association has been started. It aims at reform on a large scale of public-houses. Mr. Balfour and Mr. Austen Chamberlain support the new movement. Hobson's Choice. Manchester cotton spinners have reduced the wages of alt employees by five per cent.. They threaten a general lock-out if the reduction be declined by the workers. Progressive Company. The New Zealand Shipping Company bas ordered, at Dumbarton, another steamer, longer and finer than tire Otaki, which was launched last Saturday.