GENERAL CABLES.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 371, 21 March 1902, Page 3

GENERAL CABLES.

By Telegraph—l’rega Association—Copyrigh London, March 19. The strike in the Durban railway workshops has been settled. The Government are investigating the strikers' grievances. Further Chineso rebel successes are reported in fho provinces of Kwangtung, Kwnngsi, and Kuchau. Generals Su and JIo have asked for reinforcements. The Earl of Kimberley, who has boen il( for some weeks, has had a serious relapse, and is now semi-conscious. A conference on confession and absolution, convened by the Bishop of London, sitting at Fulham Palace, agreed to the Church allowing private confession and absolution under certain circumstances. The deaths from small-pox in London last week numbered 81. Since the outbreak they have totalled 8-15. The Fulham Conference were unanimous that the charge for the remission of j sins was not addressed to the apostles alone, but to tho whole Church, hence tho clergy woro not endowed with the prerogative of remission. Tho discipline of private confession and absolution did not exist in tho first few centuries. Madrid, March 19. Signor Sagasta has re-formed the Ministry. Tho principal portfolios have been allotted as follows : Premier, Signor Sagasta ; Minister for War, General Woylor ; Minister of the Interior, M. Maret ; Minister for Foreign Affairs, M. Dudalmodovar. Paris, March 19. Tho Chamber of Deputies has decided that its term of duration in future shall be six instead of four years. Sydney, March 20. . Noumea nows states that a quantity of wrockage, consisting of wooden fittings, appparently belonging to a steamer, a switchboard and electric light burners attached to a piece of wood, evidently off a boat, bearing tho namo Agar, have been washed ashore at Tuoho. Bough weather was recently experienced off the coast. The Wharf Laborers’ Union has formulated a demand for increased rates generally and alterations in the working hours. Tho matter will probably be referred to arbitration. The now shearers’ organisation's terms •aro practically tho same as tho 1891 ogroomout. Tho Workers’ Union claim that this is a device of tho squatters to defeat the union’s demand for higher rates. Showery weather prevailed in the coastal districts during tho last few days. So far the rain is insufficient to augment tho water supply. Arrived, German cruiser Cormoran, from an island cruise. Under the alien immigration law, the captain of a Gorman st-eamor has been fined TlO for each case for allowing two prohibited alicus to escapo ashore. Adelaide, March 20. Major Wardill states that tho Australian team may roturn through America or South Africa if the war is over, and will likely go round New Zealand before returning. Melbourne, March 20. Sir Geot'go Turner said the present figures showed that the State would receive for the present year the following amounts from Customs over the amounts received in previous years:- New South Wales JE926,000, Victoria 1181,000, South Australia .£44,000, Westrdlia T 162.000, whilo Tasmania would- show a docrease of TIIO.OOO, and Queensland a decrease of ,£380,000. In Westralia tho revenue, instead of being the TBOO,OOO estimated, was £1, 107,000, due to an increase in over-sea trade alone. Tho Senate gave the Government a nasty set-back by striking out from tho Electoral Bill the proportional representation clause by a tw.o-to-one majority. The Pacific Cable Board has informed Mr Barton that it intonds to pay off tho Joan money required to start the cable by indeterminable annuities spread over fifty years. It is hoped the receipts will be sufficient to meet tho working expenses and interest. Each year a balance-sheet will be submitted to the Imporial Purlia meat, and the various States will bo notified how tho finance stands. It is not oxpected that any payments will be asked from the Australian States until after tho beginning of the next financial year.