The Wide World.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 6, 10 August 1910, Page 7

The Wide World.

CABLE NEWS IN BRIEF.

IMPERIAL. THE Imperial Parliament lias commenced its long recess, having adjouTned from Tuesday until the 15th November. The Accession Oath was amended so as not to give offence to Catholics, and the later bills passed included that promoted for ihe taking of the census next year. Commenting on the New South Wales Premier’s claim for separate representation at the Imperial Conference, with which Tasmania and Queensland fare associated, the “ Times ” endorses Lord Elgin’s recent dispatch, but doubts whether a considerable body of Australian ©pinion supports the claims of the States. The Canadian provinces and South African colonies had expressed a desire to remit the conference business to the Dominion and Union Governments respectively, and it would be greatly desirable if a similar recognition of essential unity should animate the Australian States.

Committees of the House of Commons and of the House of Lords have been formed to support the Maritime Defence League’s movement for the raising of a loan of a hundred millions sterling for naval and land defences.

The Earl of Crewe (Secretary of State for the Colonies) stated in the House of Lords that if the troops were compelled to enter Tibet to protect British interests they would not Intervene between the Chinese and the Tibetans, and would withdraw directly the situation permitted. The ‘'Times” protests against the

announcing of this policy of inactivity, and hopes the commander of a perilously small column will not be hampered by perplexing instructions. Gyang-tse is eight days’ march into Tibet. The British trade agent has an escort of the Rajputana Infantry. Bitterness is increasing. It is reported that 1000 Chinese troops were massacred in Lliassa during the month of May. The Chinese have not succeeded in selecting a successor to the Dalai Lama, who is at Darjeeling.

Reuter’s correspondent reports that Arnst and Barry are, doing very solid work at Livingstone. On Tuesday Guy Nickalls and Phelps paced Barry, while Arnst contented himself with one hard row. Both recently rowed over the course. The rules of the race have been agreed upon, and the stake will include a side-wager of £5OO. The Canadian Government’s intervention has ended the Grand Trunk strike. The company restore's the men not guilty of violence to their positions, and standard wages come into operation in January, 1911. This is a compromise between the men’s demand for an immediate raising to the Canadian Pacific level and Itlie company’s standardised offer for 1913.

This week a crop of aeroplane accidents has been well up to the average, three being killed. Madame Franck was making a flight in a bi-plane in the presence of a crowd numbering some thousands. when the machine struck a flagpost and crashed to earth. A boy was

killed instantly by the plane falling upon him, while a number of the crowd were slightly injured in the rush to get away from the spot where the fall occurred. Hawley Crippen, the Camdentown murderer. was arrested aboard the Montrose on Saturday afternoon in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It is said that both he and Miss Le Neve attempted suicide, but were prevented. Crippen will not oppose extradition. FOREIGN. The New York Jockey Club and other organisations have decided to end racing on August 3, when the new betting laws become effective, counsel having advised the directors of the clubs not to j'isk arrest. It is doubtful whether racing will be resumed, unless the laws are modified. There is growing bitterness between Bulgaria and Turkey, many refugees alleging Turkish illtreatment of Bulgarians and Macedonians in connection with disarmament. Bulgaria threatens •mobilisation. Meanwhile six Bulgarian bands have entered Macedonia to stir up insurrection.

The Madrid Government lias recalled the Spanish Ambassador to the Vatican, alleging that the Vatican has rendered the Madrid Government's conciliatory proposal’s abortive. The withdrawal of the Ambassador has caused a sensation in Rome. The Papal Nuncio at Madrid

has not been recalled. King Alfonso and Queen Ena of -Spain are at present in London on a private visit. There are many criticisms in Madrid directed against King Alfonso for leaving the capital during the crisis. A hundred prisoners, mostly brigands, and smugglers, attempted to escape from the Fuentes Ante prison, Portugal. The escape was planned from outside, comrades of the prisoners bribing some of the gaol officials to introduce and hand to the prisoners revolvers, files, and dynamite cartridges. The explosions of these brought up the civil guard, who opened fire upon the prisoners, a stubborn fight following. Twenty prisoners were wounded, nine escaped, aid the rest wore re-captured after they ahd been deluged by the fire-hose.

IN THE COMMONWEALTH. The Federal Arbitration Bill has aroused intense opposition from Mr. Deakin’s party, and the debate on the second reading lasted three days. The bill was eventually forced to the committee stage after an all-night sitting. . The New South Wales drink bill last year amounted to £5,317,682, equal to £3 5/5 per head of the population, a decrease of 2/1 per head, compared with the previous year. A deputation, representing the timber industry, asked Mr. F. G. Tudor, Ministerfor Trade and Customs, to urgently consider the rearrangement of of duties on imported timber. The deputation submitted a schedule of the proposed duties, including 4/ per hundred super feet on New Zealand pine other than that required for butter-boxes. Mr. Tudor replied that next session it was quite possible there would be a general reopening of the tariff, and he would then do his best to see that the timber industry received consideration.