GENERAL CABLEGRAMS.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2338, 21 December 1914, Page 6

GENERAL CABLEGRAMS.

By Tolegrash.—Press Association—Copyright

RIFLE-SHOOTING IMPERIAL CHALLENGE SHIELDS. London, December 18. The National Rifle Association announces that' the _ Imperial Challenge Shields for seniors and juniors will be fired on any day except Sunday, between April 1 and June 30 next. —("Timos" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) SEIZURE OF WHEAT BY N.S.W. GOVERNMENT. Sydney, December 19. A proclamation has been issued seizing all the wheat in South Riverina not in actual transit. The Hon. W. G. Ashford (Minister of Agriculture) estimates that Now South Wales's next year's wheat yield will be fifty million bushels. An. additional 800,000 acres sown will produce ten million bushels. VARYING AN AWARD APPLICATION BY SHIPOWNERS. Melbourne, December 19. Before the Arbitration Court an application on behalf of the shipping companies for a variation of the Australasian Merchant Service Guild award was adjourned until April 1. MISSING TRAWLER ANXIETY FELT FOR HER SAFETY. Melbourne, December 19. The Huddart-Parker steamer Werribee has sailed in search of the missing trawler Endeavour. . [Anxiety is felt for the safety of the Federal Government's trawler Endeavour, which is ten days overdue from Macquarie Island, whore she landed relief men for the Mawson expedition. According to wireless reports from tho Macqnaries, a heavy gale raged a couple of days after the departure of the Endeavour.] LAND TAX BILL PROTEST BY PASTORALISTS. Melbourne, December 19. The House has passed the Defence Bill. Pastoralists protest _ against the amending Land Tax Bill, and have urged Mr. Fisher (Prime Minister) not to present the Act to the Governor until tho April session, so as to enable representations regarding its effects to be submitted to the Government. ESCAPE OF LIONS 'A NEW YORK SENSATION. New York, December 18. When the fivo lions escaped from the theatre in Eighty-sixth. Street the police fired, wounding three people. The lions attacked tho police _ a,nd injured two. Tho audience were in a state of panic. Several were injured. One lion was shot and tho others rounded up. SEED ADVANCES BILL VICTORIAN RELIEF MEASURES. Melbourne, December 19. The Assembly has passed tho Seed Advances Bill, authorising an appropriation of £400,000 for the purposo of advancing scod and fodder to farmers. OBITUARY A. R. COLQUHOUN. London, December 18. . The death is announced of Archibald Ross Colquhoun, M.1.C.E., F.R.G.S. [Mr. Colquhoun was born off the Capo of Good Hope in Maroli, 1848. He was secretary and second in command of tho Government mission to Siam in 1879; explored the railway route connecting Burmah and China; "Ernes" correspondent in the Franco-Chin-ese war, 1881-82; accompanied the pioneer force to South Africa, and on occupation of Mashonaland (1890) became Administrator, retiring in 1894. Ho had travelled extensively, and had been "The Times" correspondent in various parts of the world. Ho was the author of a number of books and papers, and was a gold medallist of the Royal Geographical • Society and silver medallist of the Society of Arts.] AMERICAN NAVY THIRD LARGEST IN THE WORLD. Washington, December 18. Mr. Gardner, a member of the Houso of Representatives and leader of the agitation for a larger American Navy, giving evidence before the House of Representatives Committee, said that many American ships were actually in "cold storage," and were useless without considerable repairs. The Navy was short of 18,000 men and a shortage of 40,000 was anticipated. Instead of 47 battleshins, America had only 27, while instead of 187 destroyers she had only 68. Rear-Admiral Fletcher said it was entirely wrong to say that the United States' fleet was equal to that of Germany. Tho fact was that the United States had only the third largest of tho world's navies. WORKERS REVOLT AGAINST JUDGE'S DECISION. (Reo. December 20, 5.5 p.m.) Sydney, December 20. The Boilermakers' Society is the first to break into open revolt against Judge Heydon's recent judgment precluding unions from obtaining increased wages during the war. The boilermarkers have resolved, owing to Judge Heydon's action in suspending the sitting of the Wages Board, to give the employers notice that they will not work under present conditions and rates of wages after January 14. AMERICA'S DEFENCES SCENE BEFORE A COMMITTEE. (Rec. December 20, 4.15 p.m.) Now York, Decomber 19. 'After a scene before the Naval Investigation Committee Senator Gardiner withdrew from the Committee. At the sessions Senator Gardiner proffered certain data showing., that the United States was utterly unpre-, pared for war. The Committee questioned the accuracy. Senator Gardiner resented the imputation. It- is improbable the United States will hold a further investigation into defence owing to President Wilson's pronounced hostility thereto. SINGING PRIZE AWARDED TO A NEW ZEALANDER (Rec. December 20, 5 p.m.) London, December 19. Miss Zoo Korner, of Christchurch, has been awarded Saintondolby Singing Prize at the Royal Academy.