EUROPE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLII, Issue 5, 3 February 1909, Page 8

EUROPE.

Advices from Rome state that the various subscriptions for the relief of the sufferers in the recent earthquake, have reached a total of £3,200,000. The International Conference on Cold Storage in Paris agreed to the formation of an international association. Germany and Austria alone reserving their decisions. Liberia has apologised to Germany for the Woermann liner incident, when a Liberian guardship fired upon a German liner, and has promised to further punish the offenders. The Earthquake. The disturbances in Sicily have not yet ceased, and further severe earthquake shocks were exeperienced last week. The official reports of the recent earthquakes show that they affected 184 Calabrian towns and villages, with a population of one million. Hastened. Dr. Alix Wekerle, President of the Hungarian Ministry, in a speech in the Lower House at Buda-Pesth, declared that the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina was accomplished sooner than was intended owing to the serious spread of a great Servian conspiracy, the leaders of which, if they persisted in their plotting. could now be prosecuted for high treason. Hurt in a Duel. A duel with pistols was fought on Jan. 25 between the Roumanian Prince Gregory Strudoza and M. ( atargi, son of M. Alex, ( atargi, Roumanian Minister at London. The duel followed an altercation in a theatre, and ended in the Prince escaping unhurt, while M. Catargi received a serious bullet wound in the side. Greed of Gold. Marie Gilbert, a farmer’s wife, has been sentenced to penal servitude for life at the (her Assizes, France, for poisoning her mother-in-law and her cousin, and for attempting to poison four others. Iler motive was to inherit their savings and property.

Newspaper. Under Difficulty. The linotype operators on most of the Paris newspapers struck last week for increased wages. The papers were produced under great difficulties. The French Naval Programme, M. Picard, the French Minister for Marine, has submitted to M. Caillaux, the Minister for Finance, a proposal to spend £32,000,000 on the navy, spread over a term of five years. M. Picard, who only recently assumed office, says he finds great administrative waste and extravagance. He emphasises the need for new first-class battleships, and the replenishment of naval stores. The ••Journal'’ states that four battleships out of 15 are in bad condition, and only six are in good condition, while only 34 out of 162 torpedo boats are fit for service. Subsidising the N.DX. After Herr von Bethinann-Hollw“g (Minister for the Interior) and Herr Dernburg) Minister for the Colonies) had spoken on the Government Bill for subsidising the North German Lloyd’s South Sea services, the measure was referred to committee. Most of the parties supported the subsidy. owing to British and Japanese competition. Herr Hahn, a Conservative, remarked that without wishing to say a word against Great Britain, it was natural that Australians should not view German development with satisfaction, and if the German line were discontinued the cause would certainly emanate from Australia. Herr Honnann, of the Radical People’s party, declared that Germany was in a comparatively favourable position with regard to Australia, which, in German opinion, was following a quite erroneous and narrow-minded immigration policy in aiming to exclude the competition of foreign labourers, without whom the development of Australia was impossible. That was one reason for Germans seizing any opportunity for extracting what advantage they could from the situation. Herr Semler (National Liberal) supported the Bill, on the ground of the influence exercised by British freight charges on the German copra trade. Death of Corjuclin. The death is announced of Benoit-Con-stant Coquelin, the elder, the great Bjeneh actor. Constant Coquelin, France's most distinguished comedian, was a great actor, and was very popular in London, where he appeared on several occasions. His most famous part was Cyrano de Bergerac, which he created in 1897, and in which he scored a great artistic success. He was born in Boulogne-sur-mer, and was educated at the Paris Conservatoire, where he secured first prize for comedy in 1860, making his debut the same year. His career was one of uninterrupted triumph, and after 26 years at the Comedic Frareaise, he toured Europe and America, returning in 1890. After creating Cyrano, he toured America with Bernhardt in 1900, and reappeared with her in “L’Aiglon” at her own theatre next year. He was made an officer of the Legion of Honour and of Public Instruction. Tte Imperturbable Turk. The Porte is absolutely unruffled by Bulgaria's military preparations, and denies claiming or wishing to occupy tha territory which Bulgaria is now guarding. Turkey has signified her willingness to accept five millions as compensation from Bulgaria for all material losses arising from Bulgaria proclaiming her independence, namely. Tour millions immediately. if Bulgaria is unable to raise the total, and a million at a future date. The sum named includes compensation for the seizure by Bulgaria of the Orient railway. New Ocean Service. The “Hamburger Naehrichten” states that the Royal Holland Steamship Company intends starting in July a direct line to West Australia with culls at Fremantle and Adelaide. The return voyage will be extended to China and Japa n.