GENERAL CABLES.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 383, 7 April 1902, Page 4

GENERAL CABLES.

By Teiegraph—Press AssociationCopyright. „ LONDON. April I.—Sleuth Flowers has abandoned iiis action against a newspaper, for slandering him with regard to the title to the ftlokau property. An American company with a capital of six million dollars has bought Alarconi s United States patents “for wireless telegraphy. SYDNEY, Saturday. The ship Ditton, whilst being towed into Newcastle, collided with Lite ships Port Crawford and Peebles!lire. The two former were seriously and the Peebleshire considerably damaged. A seaman named Hobbs, belonging to the Ditton, was thrown from aloft and drowned.

MELBOURNE, Saturday. The Age says, more or less authoritatively, that it. is stated that Tasmania having been deprived of pecuniary benefits in Tattersalls, there is a proposal afoot for tlie Tasmanian Government to take over the whole of Adams business as a going concern, and conduct it as a Tasmanian Government lottery. It adds that 'Mr Deakin is considering the matter, but is unable to give an opinion off hand, but considers that if a Department of Lotteries is properly constituted, the Postmas-ter-General could not refuse to forward letters.

April s.—Owing to the advance in the price of breadstuff's, the price of a four-pound loaf has been raised to sixpence.

In return for placing their land in the New Hebrides at the disposal of the Commonwealtli, Air Barton lias agreed to pay Burns, Philp and Co. £2IOO in addition to their present contract for conveying the mails to the New Hebrides. This enables the Company to substitute wiiite for black labor on their steamers, and to extend the service to other islands. The final selection of the Bisley team has been postponed until the Federal Government lias voted £2OOO for the expenses.

The Federal Minister of Defence has made arrangements for organising four battalions to be known as the Commonwealth Horse for service in South Africa. Eacli battalion is to he 493 strong. New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland are raising one each, and South Australia, Tasmania, and Westralia tiie remaining one. Preference will be given to those who iiave been serving in existing military units, or who have previously served in South Africa.

It is possible that Mr Barton may return from the Coronation via Japan. The Japanese Government have asked him to meet them and discuss matters of mutual interest to Australia and Japan. BRISBANE. April a.—The insurance on the Longreach fire includes £3150 with the New Zealand Company, and £SBO with the South British.

The girl Amedee’s body was found on the roadside. She had gone on an errand an hour previously. There were signs of a fierce struggle, but no trace of the murderer.

SYDNEY. April s.—Bishop Cooper has declined election to the Gippsland see.