GENERAL CABLES

Gisborne Times, Volume XII, Issue 1069, 10 December 1903, Page 1

GENERAL CABLES

BRITAIN’S UNIQUE WORK

By Electric Telegraph—Per Press Association—Copyright. VIENNA, Dec. 8. An Austrian, residing in the Transvaal, writing to the newspaper Neues Wiena Tageblatt, declares that Britain’s work in the Transvaal is absolutely unique, changing the Boers’ hatre(T'*Tnto sincere,respect and even affection. DOWIE FINANCING. NEW YORK, Dec. 8. Dowie, assisted by his friends, is 'arranging with his creditors for a receivership in connection with Zion City, OBITUARY. LONDON, Dec. 8. Mr "Herbert Spencer, the author, is dead, aged 83. BRITISH CUSTOMS RETURNS. LONDON, Dec. 8.

British imports in November- increased £3,61)5,000, and the exports decreased £1,610,000, compared with the previous November. THE BURNING OF FORT DURBO. MASSOWAH, Dec. 8. Bluejackets from a British gunboat burned Fort Durbo, and killed 30 natives. The captain of the Mohawk was wounded, and a marine killed. 1 Commander Ernest Gaunt, commanding H-.M.S. Mohawk’s attack on Durbo fort', sustained a compound fracture of the thigh,'- and is doing .well. SPECIE FOR INDIA. FREMANTLE, Dec. !). One hundred thousand pounds in specie has been shipped to India.

NAVY LEAGUE. lIOBART, Dec. 0. A branch of the Navy League has been formed here. AN EXPLANATION. MELBOURNE, Dec. 9,

In the Assembly, Sir Alexander Peacock made a statement in reference to the alleged attempt to bribe Mr Mitchell by Dr.q Montague. He admitted he acted carelessly, being the bearer of a letter ’containing £SO in notes from Montague Mitchell. As to the policy of the Society, it had regularly paid premiums, and courled the fullest investigation of the matter. The Premier said lie vcould, without the slightest hesitation, accept Sir A. Peacock’s explanation. Correspondence between Sir A. Peacock an! the Turner Governments and Dr. Montague showed that both sides regarded the matter as a •business transaction, conducted honorably; on both sides. Dr Montague’s negotiations with Mitchell were more serious, and indicated an intention to corruptly influence Mitchell. He came to the conclusion that it was necessary ,to investigate all the circumstances from the foundation of the 1.0. F. Association in Victoria, He intended to propose a Royal Commission for this purpose. The matter .then dropped.

DAY LABOR. SYDNEY, Dec. 9. The report of the Public Service Board Commission on the day labor question finds that the main cause of the excessive cost is the . system oi political interference with responsible officers controlling the workmen. It recommends that the Pub-

lie Works Department be placed

under a Commission of three members, and that relief works be entirely separated from the ordinary operations of the Department. PREFERENTIAL TRADE LEAGUE SYDNEY, Dec. 9.

A' preliminary meeting of business men and politicians decided to form a Preferential Trade League, and appointed a committee to draw up a constitution to be submitted to a larger meeting on Thursday, Mr Wise delivered an address in the interests of preference. The State .Treasurer and the Minister of Works also spoke in favor of it, :