GENERAL CABLES.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 812, 29 January 1903, Page 1

GENERAL CABLES.

TENDERS FOR MEAT. By Telegraph—Press AssociationCopyright. LONDON, Jan. 27. The Admiralty-ndtify 'that they will shortly invite tenders for canned meat, and they request packers who arc; not already on Uio list to send names and samples, and appoint their agents in London. A NOTH ER. COM BIN ATION. The Welsh anthracite coal mining companies are forming, a combination with a capital of four millions. NEW BATTLESHIPS. Tim new British 18,000-ton battleships will he each armed with four 12irt.. eight 9,2 in., and twelve (Jin. gum;, and will have nine inches of armor. Probably their speed will be 19 knots. KING OF ABYSSINIA. PARIS, Jan. 27. The King of Abyssinia has notified Fiance that he is unable to arrive at Jibuti! on the date fixed for the opening of the railway previously arranged, and his visit is therefore postponed, LOAN TO MOROCCO. PAT? r« .Tar 97

Paris bankers are lending Morocco 4.2.30,f100 sterling for four years on a Customs guarantee. A PREMIER TRYING TO BOUNCE CATHOLICS. ROME, January 27. Tho French Premier’s claim that the exclusive right of selection of bishops should lie recognised as remaining vested in the Government 'is strenuously resisted by the Vatican. The Pope declared that he would prefer to have every See vacant and the Concordial abolished rather than yield. A SENSITIVE PRESIDENT. BERLIN, Jan. 27. Herr Ballcstrem, ex-President of the Reichstag, has been made an hereditary member of the Upper House of Prussia. PLAGUE AT FREMANTLE, FREMANTLE, Jan. 28. Amongst nine plague contacts removed to quarantine, two more have developed the disease in a bad form. A POLITICAL SCANDAL.

MELBOURNE, Jan. 28. In the Assembly, Mr Prendergast’s motion Tor adjournment challenged the action of Mr McKenzie, Minister of Lands, in sub-letting lor 41000 certain lands for which he was paid a grazing license of £25 yearly. He contended that his conduct unfitted Mr McKenzie to hold office, and demanded an enquiry. Mr McKenzie admitted that he sold the grass on the land, but said that he had spent £3OOO in improvements, and considered that he had a right to recoup his losses. He desired a full enquiry, and placed his resignation in Lite hands of the Premier. Subsequently the Premier gave notice of his intention to appoint a com. mitl.ee of enquiry into- the charges agctiusL Mr McKenzie, THE OLD CHARGES.

OXJJiNJLI, tJclu. -iO. The Evangelical Council resolved to ask the Governor-General to appoint a Royal Commission to enquire into the grave charges made by Cardinal Mourn on a public occasion, against .the character of His Majesty's subject.; in a sphere beyond British jurisdiction, to wit, Samoa. The grounds on which the request is made are that tile honor and credit of the Empire demand that the charges ho searcliingly and fearlessly investigated, with a view to bring the authors of the crimes to justice, if it is prov, ed that the crimes have been perpctraed, or if found false, freeing British oflicers and Protestant missionaries from the stigma the Cardinal sought to affix to them,, and to have the britisn name upheld. As Cardinal Moran refuses to supply the alleged pet of which would enable the aggrieve I parties to put the law in motion in the ordinary way, they say there is no other way of making an enquiry than by a specially-appointed Royal Commission.