LATE CABLE NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 371, 21 March 1902, Page 2

LATE CABLE NEWS.

BRITISH COMMERCE. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright London, March 20. The Prince and Princess of Wales inaugurated a National physical laboratory at Bushy House. The Prince of Wales said that the Colonial tour confirmed the impression that Foreign superior scientific and technical knowledge was the reason that British commercial pre-eminence was threatened. DOMESTIC AFFAIRS. The Countess of Delaware has obtained a decree for the restitution of conjugal rights. QUEEN'S STATUE. Lord Cuvzon unveiled a statue of Queen Victoria at Calcutta. OLD AGE PENSIONS. In the House of Commons Mr W. R. Greene, member for Chesterton, moved the second reading of the Old Age Pensions Bill for the granting of pensions to deserving poor at the age of sixty-five. The Bill provides that the State contribute six pounds a year to each pensioner. Mr Long, President of the Local Government Board, said that Government sympathised with the object, but it was impossible in time of war to increase taxation for such a purposo. The State was expected to contribute £3,920,000, and local i ates £6.370,000 and the proportion would be much larger in a few years. The Bill was read a second time without division. The promoter withdraws the Bill, remodels it, and re-introduces it next session. A TRAITOR,

There are reports that Grimm is still alive. There is intensified interest in the case. Vienna journals allege that leading generals are implicated in Grimm’s troachery. Tho most important documents concerned are Warsaw reports. Grimm is being interrogated night and day, and is likely to betray his confederates. AFFAIRS IN CHINA. Yuansluhki lias refused to be bound. He clings to the pledge not to employ foreign instructors hi the navy. Negotiations in regard to the Russo-Chin-ese Bank’s claims have been dropped since the American note and the British and Japanese protests. Manchurian negotiations have been resumed on a much modified basis, and an early settlement is probable. SPECIAL COMMISSIONER. Sydney, March 20. Tho editor of tho Hokai Times has arrived as a special commissioner, representing his Government, to onquire as to Australian administrative systems, particularly laud settlement. He visits Now Zealand. FEDERAL SQUABBLES. The action of the Federal House in in striking from the Customs exemptions a list of articles imported by tho State Government, resulted in the State commencing an action for the recovery of damages against the Federal Collector of Customs. COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS. Melbourne, March 20. Delagatcs, representative of the Commercial Travellers’ Association of all the States of tho Commonwealth, sailed in the Mokoia, en route to the annual conference of the United Commercial Travellers’ Association of Australasia at Dunedin.