LATE CABLES

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 547, 17 October 1902, Page 2

LATE CABLES

CUSTOMS CONFERENCE,

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Capetown, Oct. 16. Sir G. Sprigg states that the Customs Conference of all the South African States meets in January to consider the possibility of a general Customs union. DANISH WEST INDIES. Copenhagen, Oct. 16. The Landsthing, or Upper House, has read a first time a Bill for the sale of the Danish West Indies to America. HONORS FROM THE KAISER. London, Oct. 16. The Kaiser's announcement conferring high decorations upon Mr Brodrick, and Generals French, lan Hamilton, and Kelly Kenuy, who recently visited the German manoeuvres upon the day tho Boer Generals reached Cologno, is considered significant. THE BOER GENERALS. Before leaving Paris for Berlin, tho Boer Generals issued a manifesto appealing to the charity of the French, owing to their non-success in inducing tho British Government to assist tho Boers. A FIRE. Bolton Hall, Lord Bolton's Yorkshire seat, has been destroyed by fire. The pictures were saved. IRISH LAND BILL. London, Oct. 16. Mr Wyndham, speaking at Bolton, announced that tho Irish Land Bill would be tho principal measure next session. NATIONAL LIBERAL FEDERATION. An impassioned meeting of tho National Liberal Federation, held in London, adopted a resolution demanding that tho Government should either withdraw tho Education Bill or dissolve. Rev. John Pritchard, minister of tho Praed street church, and President of tho Metropolitan Free Churches' Council, declared that the Freo Churches' demands would not bo compromised. If tho Bill passed both Houses of Parliament ho would do all ho could to prevent tho King signing it. Mr Augustiuo Burrall, Lord Crewe, and Professor Bryco, were amongst tho speakers.

MINERS’ STRIKE. ' Now York, Oct. 16. Mr Mitchell, after a long interview with President Roosevelt, convened a joint meeting of the Executive of tho Boards of tho United Miuers for to-day. Mr Root states that it will bo necessary to clear some of the obstacles before the proposed commission can bo appointed, but ho believes they aro removable. The official American miuers’ strike has ended.

EARTHQUAKE. Sydney, Oct. 16. There was a distinct c-arthquako shock last night. AVHALING SEASON. Norfolk Island, Oct. 16. Tho whaling season has been very successful to date. WRECKED CREW. Sydnoy, Oct. 16. The steamer Titus' brought five of tho Mambaro’s wrecked crew from tho Islands. 600. .WOMEN AND CHILDREN TAKE REFUGE, TURKS MASSACRE CHRISTIANS,

AN APPEAL TO EUROPEAN STATESMEN. _ SOFIA, October 16. Six hundred Macedonian women and children have crossed Urn Bulgarian frontier. They report that the Turkish troops have desteoyed several Christian villages, massacring the inhabitants, and desecrating and burning the church at Serbinov. Tiie Macedonian Committees convened, at Sofia, on Sunday, a mass meeting of all the provincial Macedonian societies. They appealed to European statesmen to protect tiie Christians, They summoned all Macedonians ami refugees to defend the National cause.

CHEATING THE CHINAMEN. PEKIN, October 16

Chinese officials complain that the Russians, prior to handing over the .Shanhaikwan-Niuchang railway, removed everything portable, leaving the line in a disgracefully neglected condi(Jiori.

Out of twenty-six - locomotives only three were fit for use.

GENERAL FERNANDEZ PRO CLAIMS HIMSELF. LONDON, October Hi.

A German newspaper, the Frankfurter Zeitung, has published a cable announcing that General Fernandez, after capturing the Columbian President, proclaimed himself dictator.