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Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 238, 16 October 1901, Page 4

A lieu tor's despatch front Linca, near Madrid, says that while the British Fleet was engaged in luameuvrcs in Spanish waters a torpedo which was fired struck the shore and was stranded there. A number of bluejackets were sent to recover it. but were prevented from doing so by Spanish carabiniers. The landingparty was then strongly reinforced from the ileet, and the torpedo was picked up in spite of the protests of the carabiniers. The Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs did not receive any confirmation of the above report.

With the exception of the Queensland planters, practically the whole Commonwealth is strongly in favor of “a White Australia,” and will not see that principle imperilled, ff the Queensland sugar in-

dustry cannot be ciUTied oil without the Kanaka, it must go by the board. As a matter of fact, even with the aid of coloured labour, the sugar industry has been declining in (Queensland of recent years. For the year ended June, 1899, Queensland manufactured 368,784 tons of sugar ; in 1900, 128,289 tons ; in 1901, 92,554 tons. The export of sugar decreased from 129,288 tons in 1899 to 54,705 tons in 1901—a very marked drop. These figures are significant. They show that the industry may decay in spite of the Kanaka. Meanwhile the Federal Parliament is. we fancy, hardly likely to postpone the abolition of the Kanaka beyond the limit provided in the Bill, in spite of the protests of the colored labor advocates of (Queensland. —Press. A side light was thrown at Birmingham recently, on the methods adopted by “ strong men" in performing their feats of strength, when Eugene Sandow and Arthur Saxon appeared at the Assizes in an action for libel. Sandow’s name is well known even here, as a celebrated strong man, and Saxon, the defendant, was a rival. Both were performing at Sheffield, and Sandow went to Saxon’s hall in disguise. In response to a general invitation to a heavy-weight lifting competition, Sandow entered the ring, but failed to lift the barbell till the fifth attempt. ; whereas Saxon succeeded at the sec and. In \ evidence it appeared that the bell at one end \ was filled with sand, and when Sandow ; raised it, the sand—of which he was un- i aware—ran to the other end. shifted the : centre of gravity, and wrenched the bell from \ his grasp. This gave his opponent an undue I advantage. Eventually after evidence the I jury found for Sandow with £2-3 damages | against Saxon. Lilydale (Victoria), which claims a close j

connection with the great singer, Madame Melba, and with a rising artist in Mi-s R°gina Xagel. gives promise of another ••star" in Miss Edith Moroi.ey, who has a voice of exceptional promise. Funds are to be raised to enable her to prosecute her musical studies. Ten years ago the death of the Ameer of Afghanistan would have thrown the English world into a state of feverish excitement. All kinds of startling rumors would have filled the air, and the wildest fears would have been expressed. We should have devoted ourselves to the speculations of the probable conduct of Russia, and the old

scare of a Muscovite invasion of India would have been trotted out again, and given rise to endless discus-ions. To-day the Ameer dies and very little notice is attached to the fact. His death is not even known to the j world at large tor four or five days after the j event, and by that time his successor had j taken the reins of power into his hands and j seated himself firmly on the throne. Russia, j in spite of the fact that her railway system , is complete to within a day's journey of j Herat, ‘has apparently made nr. move, and I the change which has been a matter of j anxious consideration to diplomatists and j politicians has taken place in the quietest \ and most matter of fact manner imaginable. —Hawke's Bay Herald.

A great many of the dairy cattle in the Oamaru district are being dehorned, owing to their disposition to gore one another. There is a frequent change of cattle in every herd, and the new arrivals are generally roughly treated by the others, and it is held that the pain imposed on the cattle in the process of dehorning is compensated for by the absence of injury to c-aeti other afterwards. An English judge has given a decision against the practice of dehorning in England, but there are two sides to the ciuestibn, as we have pointed out. —Otago Times.