GENERAL CABLES.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 415, 15 May 1902, Page 1

GENERAL CABLES.

By, Telegraph—Press AssociationCopyright.

LONDON. May 13.—1 n the House of Commons, Sir Michael Hicks-Beach said lie abandoned the cheque tax. The British mission to Lake Tchad peacefully occupied the town of Bautschi. The mission defeated and captured the notorious freebooter Gibrilla, who was usurping the position of ruler of Lower Borum, and appointed a British Resident. The French garrison occupied the town of Dikiii, which is said to be in German territory. Mr Alfred Holt, of Liverpool, has offered to purchase all issued shares jf the China Mutual Steam Navigation Company at £529,991.

In the Canadian House of Commons,

■Sir Wilfrid Laurier, amidst cheers, mnounced that hetwas prepared to arrange with Mr BfTrden, Leader of tl e Opposition, for the unanimous adoption of a resolution in favor of mutuaf

trade preference with the Empire. At the Colonial Premiers’ Conference invitations will be given to discuss commercial relations. It is presupposed that Mr Chamberlain will make some proposal. The Daily Telegraph states that the Admiralty adopts the German system of warships, one-fifth cyclindrical, fourfifths water tube boilers. The Rome correspondent of the Manchester Guardian says it is expected that Cardinal Moran will succeed Cardinal Ledvehowiki as Prefect of Propaganda.

Details of the air-ship disaster show that the 'motor fired a leakage of gas, lighting the huge envelope of the airship, which was instantly destroyed. Experts declare that the construction of the air-ship was dangerously defective. The aeronauts were terribly

mangled. Senhora Severe, her son and sister witnessed the accident. The first evolutions were successful, tfen the motor got out of order.

SYDNEY. May 14.—The troopship Columbian brought a number of returning troops, including forty New Zealanders. There are two fresh cases of plague. Sixty-three thousand rats have been destroyed at the Government incinerator, and thirty thousand on ships, since November last.

The Indian residents at Albury have drawn up a petition for presentation to the Governor-General for signature by Indians throughout the Commonwealth, setting forth their claims oj have a representative in the Federal Parliament. They propose to levy half-a-crown per head to pay the salary of their member. Sailed, yesterday, the Sierra.

The barquentine Elverland ran into a storm the second day out. On the following day a seaman was washed overboard. Attempts were made 1o rescue him, but the sea was too rougn to launch a boat. Shortly after the vessel was dismasted, she then being 400 miles from the Australian coast, and for two days she knocked about at the mercy of the mountainous waves. A boat was smashed, and considerable other damage was done ; then, under jury rig, she battled her way hack t ; il the Chillagoe picked her up. NEWCASTLE. May 14.—Sailed, yesterday, Port Victoria, for Oamaru. MELBOURNE.

May 1-I.—ln reply to enquiries, Lord Kitchener has informed Mr Deakin

that the Remount Department has ceased to buy Australian horses for South Africa only on account of the inferior class of animals imported by private speculators. If good horses were sent he would instruct the authorities to purchase them,.