GENERAL CABLES.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1021, 14 October 1903, Page 1

GENERAL CABLES.

CONGO FREE STATE

By Electric Telegraph—Per Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, Oct. 12. On the eve of the visit of King Leopold to the Emperor Joseph, the reply of the Congo Free State to the British Note is published at Brussels. It is pronounced as weak and evasive, and tries to mitigate and excuse the various charges of cruelty and maladministration. It declares that the suggested reference to the Hague Tribunal tends to establish as cases for arbitration the questions of sovereignty and internal arbitration, which current doctrine has always excluded. It adds that the Congo State will he glad to submit to arbitration disagreements regarding the Bah-el-Ghazel region.- Advices from Vienna state that A'ustria will render no dis-ser-viee to Great Britain in this matter ii she is asked. QUESTION OF AGE. LONDON, Oct. 12. The Marine Engineers’ Association at Glasgow declares that some of the largest concerns on the Clydeside have directed that no engineers oi er 45 should be hereafter employed, The order is attributed to the nnerou* effects of the Workmen's Compensation Act. The Association contends that a man of 45 is worth two of 25.

BUYING MONEY. LONDON, Oct. 12. ,The Victorian conversion loan arrangements have strengthened the Colonial Government’s hands. The Morning Post says it is anticipated that most of the holders will accept one of the alternatives.' THE MULLAH ACTIVE. MASSOWAI-I, Octooer 12; The Mullah has looted 11-ig. CLAIMS ON VENEZUELA. NEW YORK, Oct. 12. Mr Dulliel'd, of Detroit, the umpire in regard to Germany’s claim for t n indemnity against Venezuela, has awarded ,£91,000 out of £302,450 as claimed by Germany. NEW HEBRIDES, MELBOURNE, October 13. Mr Deakin promised a deputation of the Presbyterian Gebcral Assembly to forward to the Secretary for the Colonies a resolution in favor of 'appointing a tribunal to deal with lan,d disputes in the New, Hebrides.

THUNDERSTORMS. SYDNEY, October 13. Telegraphic communication with •the Southern States lias been greatly interrupted by. heavy, thunderstorms.

TWO WRECKS., SYDNEY, October 13,

Noumean advices state that the island schooner Mou was wrecked on the Goro Reef, in the locality, of the Islands.

The crew of kanakas escaped in wo boats.

One boat containing eleven is missing, and the crew are supposed to ho drowned. 1 The schooner Alice has been wrecked on the coast of New Caledonia. The crew were saved, PETTIFOGGING SEE.,, SYDNEY, October 13.

At a banquet that was given at the opening of the Tumut railway, Sir John Sec declared that lie would •refuse to give the Federal Parliament an inch more capital site than it was entitled .to under the Constitution Act. He asked the Federal Parliament to go warily, before it •entered into this contest for the acquis tion of territory.