THE OLD COUNTRY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLII, Issue 6, 10 February 1909, Page 7

THE OLD COUNTRY.

An anonymous lady has presented the Royal Institution of Great Britain with an unconditional gift of £IO,OOO. Lord Northcote, G.C.M.G., G.C.T.E., C. 8., Governor-General of Australia, has been appointed a Privy Councillor. The death is announced of Lord Robertson, who had been a Lord of Appeal since 1899, in his 64th year. In ah international Rugby match Wales beat Scotland by a goal (5 points) to a penalty goal (3 points). Raleigh’s co-operative farming scheme carried out in Essex'yielded the labourers a return of 4 per cent, on their investments. Mr. T. A. Coghlan. 1.5.0., AgentGeneral for New South Wales in London, has had his term of office extended for another twelve months. Two hundred and fifty members of the Victorian Ironworkers and Boilermakers Assistants’ Society have struck against the old rates of pay. The late Mr James Duncan, of Aly th, Scotland, bequeathed the sum of £60,000 for the purpose of founding a College of Industrial Art at Dundee. The authorities of Girton College, Cambridge, are appealing for £50,000 in order to pay oil’ the debt on the buildings and endow scholarships. British imports during January decreased by £2,852,000, ami the exports by £5,605,000. The value of the exports, however, increased by £BB,OOO compared with the previous January. Major-General J. C.’ Hood, C.M.G., In-spector-General of the Military Forces of the Commonwealth, was granted a private audience with King Edward, for the purpose of discussing matters relating to Australian military defence. At the instance of Mr. T. A. Coghlan (Agent-General for New South Wales), the International Cold Storage Association has agreed to Australia. New Zealand, Canada, and South Africa each having one representative on the Perina nen t Com 11i ittoe. Blown to Pieces. While a Trinity House wrecking party was blowing up a submerged barge near Yarmouth last week. * their boat was blown to pieces, and six of them killed. It is believed that the barge was laden with an unknown explosive. The concussion was felt for several miles around. Under the Flag. The London Chamber of Commerce has drafted resolutions for the forthcoming congress, advocating the extension of trade reciprocity between Great Britain and. the and co-operqtion ip keeping British emigrants under the flag. They also suggest that the heads of the

I’ostal Departments in Hie Empire should confer with a view to devising a scheme for cheaper cablegrams. Defence of Great Britain. On behalf of the National Service League, Lord Roberts, the Duke of Wellington, the Earl of Meath, Lord Milner, Lord Curzon, and Lord Raglan have proposed that all youths between IS and 21 years of age, spend from four to six months’ training in camp, followed by a musketry course and a fortnight’s camp for three years. They estimate that the territorial force can be increased within four years to 400,000, with 150.000 recruits, and eventually a reserve of 600.000 at a cost of £4,000,000. Referring to the present territorial force, they state that it does not provide sufficient men even for peace, that the training is hopelessly inadequate, and. the burden unfair in its incidence. Haldane’s “ Terriers." Lord Esher has estimated the deficiency in the territorial forces at 106,000 men. The War Office lias removed the King’s Colonials from the jurisdiction of the London Territorial Association, and it becomes a special Imperial unit, managed by a colonial committee. In consequence of the attitude of the newspapers towards the question of defence and the sensation created by Major du Manner's play, “An Englishman’s Home,” Lord Esher, through the “Daily Mail,” is appealing for 11,000 Territorials in order to complete the London establishment. An anonymous donar has forwarded £IO,OOO to the funds of the London Territorials’ Association. The Mayors of the London boroughs have been calling meetings with the result that over 200 large firms have decided to grant the territorials in their employ three weeks’ holiday in order to encourage enlisting. Command of the Home Fleet. Vice-Admiral Sir W. 11. May is to succeed Vice-Admiral Sir Francis Charles Bridgeman as Commander-in-Chicf of the Home fleet. Vice-Admiral Sir William Henry May, who entered the navy in 1863. served in the Arctic expedition of 1875-6, was naval attache for Europe from 1891 to 1893, in command of the Naval Contigent in London on the occasion of the Jubilee procession in 1897, and was in attendance on the German Emperor during his visit to England in 1899. Afterwards he was Director of Naval Ordnance and Torpedoes, and Commander-in-Chief of the Atlantic fleet from 1905 to 1906. Vice-Ad-miral Bridgeman, who is 61 years of age, has been in command of the Home fleet since 1907. Divided. The “Daily Chronicle" admits that sharp differences of opinion in the Cabinet have developed at recent meetings with respect to the Naval Estimates. The Admiralty propose an immediate addition of £2.500,000, increasing to £5,000.000 and £6,000,000 in succeeding Air. Lloyd-George (Chancellor of the Exchequer), Lord Morley (Secretary for India), and Mr. Winston Churchill (President of the Board of Trade) arc opposing the scheme, while Mr. R. McKenna (First Lord of the Admiralty) and Mr. T. J. MacNamara ( Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty). though previously rigid economists, are strongly supporting it. There are rumours of possible resignations. The “Daily Express” states that the Lords of the Admiralty informed the Cabinet that unless their programme was accepted they would resign in a body. Viscount Morley (Secretary of State for India) and Mr. John Burns (President of the Local Government Board) withdrew their opposition, but Mr. Lloyd-George (Chancellor of the Exchequer) and Mr. Winston ChurbhiU (President of the Board of Trade) continue to oppose the proposals. Judicial Changes. The Right Hon. Sir John Gorell Barnes, P. 0., has been raised to the baronage upon his resignation as President of the Probate and Divorce Court, owing to illhealth. He will be succeeded by ir John

C . Bigham, Judge of the Bankruptcy Court. Sir John Gorell Barnes held the position of Judge of the Probate, Divorce and Admiralty Division of the High Court from 1892 to 1905. He was then appointed President. Sir John Charles Bigham contested the Exchange Division of Liverpool in 1892, and was elected in 1895. He held the seat until he received a judgeship in 1897. He was a member of the South African Committee of the House of Commons from 1896-97, enjoyed a large |.inotice at the Common Law Bar and was leader of the Northern Circuit. In ]|h?2 he was a member of the Royal Com nr ssion on Martial Law in South Africa, and since 1964 he has been judge of tl:f Bankruptcy Court. A Big Estimate. Mr. Charles E. IL Ilobhousp, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for India, states that nine millions must be found in order to carry out the English old age pensions scheme. The Government's scheme of providing old Age pensions was unfolded by Mr. Asquith in his 1908 Budget, and was later embodied in a bill. The age limit was fixed at 70, and the amount of pen sion at £l3 per annum, though the principle of a sliding scale was subsequently accepted by the Government and inserted in the measure. Mr. Asquith estimated that 500.000 persons would satisfy the conditions and be entitled to pensions, and the cost at first was estimated at £6,000,000. The bill received the Royal assent on August 1, and the pensions came into operation on January 1,1909. Government of India. There is continued discussion on Viscount Morley’s reply to a deputation of Indian Mohammedans last month. The petitioners deny Viscount Morley’s dictum that the population statistics arc the main factor in determining representation under the new scheme of reform. They urge that the Mohammedans have many powerful claims for exceptional treatment. The India Office denies that Ashutoth Makar ji, a Brahmin and a judge of the High Court of Calcutta, has been ap pointed as first native member of Hie Indian Executive Council. A deputation of Indian 'Mohammedans waited on the Secretary of State for India last month and suggested that of the six members of the Viceroy’s Execu five Council, one should bo a native Mohammedaiv and another a Hindu. Viscount Morley, in reply, emphasised that the appointment of an Indian member was intended as a signal proof that race was no disability to the attainment of this tremendous t rust ; but no man would be selected cither as a Hindu or as a Mohammedan. While ready to make one of the six a native, hi* saw no chance of appointing two natives. Viscount Morley added, with reference to other sugges lions made, that separate electoral col leges for Mohammedans would possibly be arranged. He declared that (he Government’s reform scheme had been generally welcomed in India, ami emphasised the goodwill of the Indian Civil Service, and said he also had derived encouragement from President Roosevelt’s recent utterance concerning British rule in 1 ndia. Costly Strikes. The General Federation of Trade Unions reports that during 1998 the expenditure reached the record sum of £137,152, including £34.000 for the Northeast Coast Engineering dispute and £65,500 for the Lancashire cotton workers’ dispute. The Open Door. Air .1. F. Deacon, presiding at the annual meeting of the Society for Befriending Foreigners in Distress, complained bitterly that the Aliens Act was inoperative. Pauper immigrants wcie being admitted into the country without restriction, with the result that they soon had to appeal to this Society for repatriation. Defence of Army Proteges. Howell, the head of the Salvation Army's Immigration Department.

made a vigorous reply to the accusations made by Mr Trotter, a Canadian delegate at the Labour Conference. Me appeals to a large section of the Labour interests in Canada regarding the suitability of the Army’s immigrants. He contends that they are placed on the hind and not among the unemployed of the cities. Mr Trotter, in a speech at the Labour Conference, violently attacked the Salvation Army’s immigration programme, which he Hecla red would win a prize for the best way of prevaricating without tying. The Army, he said, had become the procurator-general of cheap labour for international capital. A Successful Brewer. The death occurred last Wednesday, after an internal operation, of Lord Burton, in his 72nd* year. Lord Burton was the head of the great brewing firm of Bass and Co. He entered Parliament before he was 30 as Liberal member for Stafford. Thereafter he sat successively for East Staffordshire and the Burton. Division until he was raised to the peerage in 1880. He had become a baronet in 1882. Lord Burton was created a peer over again in 1897, with special remainder to his daughter, Nellie Lisa, who married Colonel Baillie of 1 lochtour, formerly M.P. for Invernessshire. 'the heir to the baronetcy is his nephew, Mr. William Arthur Hamar Bass. The Price of Wool. The woof sales closed strongly, prices for most sorts reaching the highest level of the series. Choice 70’s merino were equu< to the London prices of January iasc year, ►Sixty-fours, suitable for America, were a penny below the November rates. There was strong ami steady competition, for average combings for the Home trade and the Continent at lull December rates. T’opmakers and crossbreds were firm at ’December rates, ami parcels suitable for America showed a 10 per cent, advance on December rates. During the series 93.000 bales were sold for the Home market. 88,000 for the Continent, and 12,000 tor America, 8000 bales being held over. Railway Trouble Ended. Sir Edward Ery, as Board of Trade arbitrator between the North-Western railway and 39.000 servants of various grades, and whose appointment was made after the Conciliation Board had failed to agree, has presented his report. .Many concessions on the part of the company are required, but the arbitrator also reduces some of the wages, and disallows various claims or the men as set forth in their national programme. Air Richard Bell, M.P., secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, expresses satisfaction with the award. To Study the Colonies. i he Earl of Crewe (Secretary of State for the Colonies) has instructed Sir Charles Lucas, head of the Dominions’ Department, to make a prolonged visit to Australia and New Zealand. Mr A. Pearson (formerly principal clerk in the Colonial Ollier) will accompany him. They will sail on February 26. Ihc “Times” says the visit is doubtless in response to Air Deakin’s suggestion on the last day of the Imperial Conference. T he quiet judgment and kindly tact of Sir Charles Lucas, it adds, will assure him a ready welcome. 'The paper recalls Lord Northcote's advice recently given at the Whitehall banqud. Europe. The Penalty of Disloyalty. Lieutenant von St lick rad recently eloped with the wife of his .comrade, Captain von \'<rtzen. T he captain followed the runaways to Frankfurt. where a du»*l was fought, in ■which Lieutenant Stmkrad was fatally shot. Playing Up. Reuter's Salonka correspondent asserts that Macedonia is threatening a relap-0 into the old pre constitutional condition. The villagers have been training and arc in arms, read} to take the field. Out-

rages are frequent, and illegal taxes have been extorted.

Eighteen death sentences were announced at St. Petersburg on Saturday, including 15 at Irkutsk, arising out of the recent escape of prisoners from the Alexandrovsky prison. A man has been rescued alive at Messina after having been buried for 37 days in the ruins of a confectioner's shop. He sustained life with sweetmeats and liqueurs. In Memoriam. On the anniversary of the assassination of King Carlos and the Crown Prince, King Manuel’ and' the DowagerQueen Amelia drove to a requiem mass in the Cathedral. The populace maintained an attitude of indifference, but there was no disturbance, despite the absence of police precautions. Lemoine s Pretensions. Lemoine, the "diamond manufacturer,” has been sentenced, on default, to ten years’ imprisonment for fraud on Sir Julius Wernher, wno was awarded £4OO damages. The case of Sir Julius Wernher, of De Beers, and the diamond-maker, M. Lemoine, created great interest dining the hearing. Lemoine was charged with having obtained £64,000 from Sir Julius by the offer of a method of making diamonds-, which Sir Julius alleged was not genuine. A Crisis Ended. The St. Petersburg correspondent of the “Times” states that the crisis that had arisen in the relations between Bulgaria and Turkey has been ended by Russia proposing to make good the difference between the indemnity offered and demanded. Russia has agreed to cancel sufficient of the remaining 70 instalments of the Turkish war indemnity, anw>anting to £22,000,000, to enable Turkey to borrow £5,000.000: Bulgaria undertaking to pay Russia £3.280,000 for interest and sinking fund, and instead of receiving 8.000,000 francs annually from Turkey, Russia is to draw 5,000,000 francs from Bu Igaria. By this scheme, which xvas due to M. Isvolsky (the Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs), the borrowing by Bulgaria at extortionate terms is avoided, and it does not cost Russia a kopeck (cent), but only extends the time for the collection of the debt. The Porte has resolved to accept Russia's proposal but has submitted counterproposals at the Balkans Conference, which are very unfavourably viewed by Russia. Spanish Enterprise. Spanish engineering and banking firms have formed a company with a capital of £8,000,000. of which 60 per cent, will be reserved for Spanish investors to build warships at Ferrol and Cartagena. The Government contracts connected with the work will go to the British firms of Viekers, Son and Maxim, John Brown, Armstrong’s and Thornycroft’s. The Great White Fleet. The United States Atlantic battleship squadron, which visited Auckland and Australian ports, is on its homeward voyage, and arrived ot Gibraltar last week. The scene in the harbour is described as a brilliant one, 43 mcn-o'-war of various nationalities having assembled. Hard Up. Owing io quarrels with the Ottoman anc Deutsche Bank, the Turkish Government is in urgent need of money, and has already commenced discounting part of the compensation money promised from Austria. Remarkable Floods. Extraordinary floods have occurred in Saxony, Thuringia, Bavaria, and Tyrol, owing to the sudden melting of tho snows. Whole towns arc under water, and railway traffic in many parts of Saxony is interrupted. Many bridges have been wrecked. The Lahn Valley, Prussia, is a vast lake.

The Rhine is expected to reach danger point daily.

At Nauremberg, the River Regnitz rose 12 feet during the night, and ran through the streets like a mill stream. The population of Frankfurt and Bamberg fled to high ground, owing to. the Oder and Regnitz overflowing their banks. The old towni of Kissingen, the Bavarian watering place, is under water, and the three famous saline springs have been flooded, and the Casino is inundated. The Danube, at the historic town of Regensburg; rose 10 feet in the night. The stream, i i full of household utensils, bathing boxes, and agricultural machinery. The rivers Rhine, Elbe, Main, Danube, and Oder are rising steadily, and' already many lives have been lost. The situation in Dresden is most precarious. The ice in the Elbe has broken into huge floes, 30 centimetres thick. Enormous crowds from the countryside have assembled, in the city to watch the ice crashing into the bridges which span the river. Already the floes have destroyed the scaffolding of the nearly completed Augustus bridge. Boy al Visit to Germany. The people of Beilin are showing absorbing interest in King Edward’s approaching visit. The police are overwhelmed with applications for tickets in order to enable them to witness His Majesty's entry into the city.