The Wide World.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 7, 17 August 1910, Page 7

The Wide World.

CABL.E NEWS IN BRIEF.

IMPERIAL

VIV HE Scottish Naturalists consider the present crisis affords a 1 favourable opportunity for the advancement of their claims for Home Rule for Scotland, and a manifesto by Scottish members of the House of Commons on the recent speech by Air. Birrell (Chief Secretary for Ireland) at the Eighty Club, advocating devolution, states that this argues the belief that the Veto Conference now sitting is discussing Home Rule all round, including Imperial federation, as a means for securing a reform of the House of Lords acceptable to Liberals. The “Daily Chronicle” says that the Osborne judgment, declaring that trade (unions’ funds are not legally usable for political purposes, is .threatening the whole fabric of labour representation. There are two remedies —an Act legalising compulsory levies, or the payment of members—and the Liberals are far from unanimous in regard to asking for the legalising of levies. The “Chronicle urges Labourites to adopt payment of members. The authorities are reticent regarding the conspiracy in Bengal, but it is known that arrests have been effected in every quarter of the province, and tha»t they include Pulin and Behardies, who were deported, but released in February. Documents discovered suggest a conspiracy for the subversion of British rule affecting every province. The Legislative Council at Simla has renewed the Seditions Meetings Act till March, 1911, despite the fact that eight non-official members opposed this course. The Viceroy (Lord Minto) intimated that his successor (Viscount llardinge) would reconsider the whole problem. The newspaper “Englishman" states that a group of native bankers in Bombay and Calcutta arc attempting to corner the silver market. An unconfirmed report states that they hold half the world’s supply, and Americans are now holding their stock back. While she was lying at Portsmouth dock a spark exploded some petrol on the unfortunate submarine Al, which on a previous occasion sank. Two officers and five men were much burnt and overcome by 'the fumes. They were unconscious for a long time. The coxswain was blown out through the hatchway and shot 16ft in the air. Tie escaped with a broken leg. FOREIGN. Cholera has been causing havoc in Russia. where there are reported to be about 60,(MX) cases at present, with over 2,000 deaths last week. It is estimated that 57,000 deaths from cholera have occurred in Russia since the beginning of the year. [Eighteen miners at Ekaterinosla v, at a funeral feast, drank a decoction of manure as an anti-cholera charm. Fifteen of them succumbed. Owing to lack of coal and harvesters a famine is feared. Mayor Gaynor, of New York, when about to sail for Europe, aboard the Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse, was shot in the head. He. was on the upper deck with a group of friends, and was about to be photographed, when three shots were fired. The third penetrated his neck. A policeman clubbed and seized the assailant, who gave the name of Jules James Gallagher, an ex watchman of the docks. He said he shot the Mayor “because Gaynor deprived me of my bread and butter.” Mr Gaynor is recovering. A body of armed police raided a gambling club in the famous Narragansett Pier, and arrested 30 well known mein.hers of the “Four Hundred.’’ Every effort is to be made to keep the names of the women found in the club, who wore leading hostesses in New York, Philadelphia, a’Ul Boston, from becoming puhl'c property. The raid was due to six informers, headed by Cross, a newlycreated constable, without a warrant, and without the knowledge of the Chief of Police. The raiders, armed with axes, overpowered the guard a< the entrance, and rushed the roulette hall. When Mr Caswell, the Chief of Police, arrived on

the scene he ordered the raiders to desist, but Cross refused, and a fight ensued. Cross and the other raiders have, been arrested and charged with assault. Afterwards three motor ears mysteriously arrived at the (dub and removed every trace of gambling from it. Cross was a young Harvard graduate, who joined the police solely to pul down gambling in Narragansett. THE COMMONWEALTH. The Pacific Cable Board propose to lay a cable between Australia and New Zealand direct, with the funds now in the Board’s possession. New Zealand, Canada, and Australia have sanctioned the proposal. Britain, while agreeable to the scheme, considers that an Act. of Parliament, authorising the work, <h mid be obtained. The proposal, therefore, remains in abeyance for the present. A middle-aged woman named Cecilia McClusky, generally known as Mrs M Jntosh, killed her three children, a girl aged 12, and a boy and girl, twins, aged <lO, in a villa at Ironbark. Bendigo. All were terribly mutilated with a hatehet. The woman has confessed to the (lime. The furniture in the front room, in eluding a piano, was smashed, and piled up in a heap. The woman attempted suicide by cutting her throat and drinking camphor water. She is not badly injurThe s.s. Whakatane, tin* second of the steamers of the newly-established service between Canada. Australia, and New Zealand, arrived in Melbourne on Thursday from Montreal in light trim. During the voyage* a fire broke out among some rolls of paper in the hold, but was quickly overcome. Bough weathei was met with on the voyage, and the cargo shifted, but with no serious results.