CABLES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2010, 20 February 1907, Page 2

CABLES.

eitKSS ASSOCIATION—COrYKIOUT. SYDNEY, Feb. 19. A private cable announces tlio death in India of Colonel Olcott, President of the Theosophical Society. The Cricket Association xicrsists in its refusal not to remove the suspensions on leading cricketers till the players make personal application to the association. Tlio City Council’s electric light operations for the year yielded a gross profit of £19,410. Now South Wales and Queensland havo declined to participate in the Commonwealth scheme of repatriating Australians stranded in South Africa. t HOBART, Feb. 19. [ The Premier is negotiating witli other Premiers ill favor of presenting a joint petition to the Colonial Conference, claiming for the various Australian States tlio right of direct representation at future conferences. LONDON, Feb. 18. I The Navigation Conference opens March 2G. Sir Thomas Sutherland :a among tlio British delegates. 1 In connection with the programme of the Peace Conference, the Daily News expresses the hope that 'lie Government v, ill not lightly disap point tlie high hopes raised by Sir Jl. Campbell-Bannerman in his me enable words at ilie intor-Parlia-limitary Conference in July last. A Royal Commission lias been appointed to inquire into the sanitary condition of Belfast.

lan Malcolm, a former private secretary to the Chief Secretary for Ireland, ill a letter to the Times after a special visit to Ireland, declares that Mr, Bryce’s recent description of the tranquil and peaceful condition of Ireland, is false, and ho gives painful instances of tlio widespread passive and active boycotting in West Munster. The Gazette denares that if Mr. Winston Churchill is correct, that the repatriation clause is only compulsory on masters and not on natives, there is no analogy between the New Hebrides and Chinese ordinances, and adds that if this interpretation is wrong, then revision is still possible. ST. PETERSBURG, Feb. 18. A quarter of a million people arc utterly destitute in the Ufa district, and £200,000 is needed for private relief. BELGRADE, Feb. 18. Three regicides attacked several Servian deputies in the streets of Belgrade, dangerously wounding one, because tlieir newspaper organ continuously attacked tlie regicides. TOICIO, Feb. 18.

The Japanese at Tokio are displeased at the proposed restriction of labor immigrants to the United States, though the statesmen may accept it as a solution, LONDON, Feb. 18. Tlie Times congratulates the German Ambassador on the firmness and energy with which lie rendered signal service to Germany, the Turkish people, and civilisation, and declares that Feliim was the most powerful, wickedest, and most dreaded member of an infamous clique which too long had been allowed to govern tlie palace and Empire. TURKISH AFFAIRS. CONSTANTINOPLE, Feb. 18. The Sultan paid Feliim Paslia £750 sterling a month as secret service money to enrol 140 spies, Feliim being entrusted with the mission of ■watching the heir-apparent, Resliad Effendi On Friday tlio British Aiiibassador showed the Sultan a document wherein Feliim, as the Sultan’s aide-de-camp, threatened to murder a merchant, who sought British protection, unless paid blackmail. This turned the scale against Feliim, and the spies are being dispersed.

FATAL BOMB FUMES. BRUSSELS, Feb. 18. Later details of the mishap aboard a steamer bound from Antwerp to Gothenburg, in which, it was stated, four persons had lost their lives by inhaling the fumes from a cargo ot matches, shew that M. Tsck. i-iii vi, was technical adviser to Russian revolutionaries, two Swedes, and one French police agent, passengers on the steamer Olaf Wyjk, proceeding from Gothenburg to Antwerp, were killed by means of fumes from a stinking bomb, supposed to have been placed in Tscherniak’s cabin by a Russian police agent. Tlio fumes spread to the adjoining cabins.

RIOTOUS STUDENTS. LONDON, Feb. 18. No such scene as that which occurred at Mr. Hardie’s meeting lias been witnessed at Cambridge since Cardinal Manning and Sir IV. Lawson attempted to speak on the local veto question. Tlio Daily Chronicle and Daily News comment on the discreditable scene, happening on a day whereon the Duke of Devonshire made an appeal for the re-endowment of tlie University. TRAMWAY COLLISION. SIX PEOPLE KILLED. LONDON, Feb. 18. Owing to a break in the gear, runaway trains collided at Trimsaran colliery, Kidwelly, Wales. Six persons were killed and many injured. SHIPPING CASUALTIES. LONDON, Feb. IS. The Heliopolis, after the collision with the Grianda, proceeded to Cardiff, where she is being fitted to take 2000 Spanish emigrants from Malaga tc Honolulu. Pi-ess Association DUNEDiN, last night. Tlie French barque Marguerite Miraband is now considered a total wreck. The barque and cargo will be sold by auction. AUCKLAND, last night. The ketch Pock Lily, bound from Auckland to Tairua, is ashore on the bar at tlie entrance to Mercury Bav. The vessel is not badly damaged aiid is likely to be refloated safely. Carpenters are now at work repairing the damage.

UNITED STATES NAVY. A BIG PROGRAMME. Received Feb. 19, 10 p.m. NEW YORK, Fob. 19. The United States naval committee endorsed the Appropriation Bill, which includes three million dollars applied to the increase of armament and new battleships, bringing tbo aggregate for these purposes to twelve million dollars. Two Dreadnoughts are included in the naval programme. BRITISH POLITICS. Received Feb. -9, 10 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 19. In the House of Commons Mr. J. W. Hill’s amendment to the Address-in-Reply, regretting that the King’s speech did not mention the Colonial Conference, was postponed. Mr. Percy moved an amendment regretting that social legislation, which the Government declared to be urgent, .should be postponed for the purpose of effecting revolutionary changes in parliamentary control ever the United Kingdom, and in the constitutional relations of the two Houses. He quoted speeches of Ministers, where they pledged themselves at the elections against Home Rule, notably, Mr. Haldane. He contrasted tliem with Sir H. Camp-bell-Bannerman's recent definition of a larger policy “that it makes no difference whatever in the proper sense of tho word in the solidity of the Empire tiiat the Irish should have whatever a self-governing colony has of power to manager her own affairs,.

Received Fob. 19, 10.21 p.m. Mr. Percy continuing said that he meant control of tlio army, police, judiciary, own taxes, and Customs — this was Home Rule in a far wider sense than Gladstone’s. If it was the deliberate view of the Government that they wore at liberty to introduce legislation pointing to such an ultimate goal they sat on the Treasury benches under false pretences. Regarding tlio House of Lords, tlio only hint of tlio Government’s intentions was the suggested limitation by veto for one session—that was a singlo chamber in disguise. Mr. Asquith twitted tlio Opposition with having no inkling of what the Government’s measures were, yet condemning them beforehand. Ho rebutted as a slander the charges of false pretences. He reiterated his declaration that the dominating issue of tlio election was freetrade. Therefore tlio introduction or passing of Home Rule was out of tlie question for this Parliament, but lie adhered to bis speech delivered at St. Leouar ds in March, 1902, regarding the extension of local government to Ireland.

Mr. Asquith, continuing with great deliberation, declared that if tlio Government’s scheme contained anything in letter or spirit inconsistent with declarations he would instantly resign. Ho added, amid Irish cheers, that if, owing to clumsy taunts about Homo Rule, the Government attempted to shelve tlio Irish question, they had indeed sunk to the lowest depths of cowardice and political dishonesty. Received Feb .19, 10.50 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 19. Mr. Baulfour spoke at length. He asked if it was intended to give an instalment of Home Rule, why make two bites of a cherry Y He was warmly cheered by liis own side for asserting, in reply to one of Mr. Asquith’s incidental suggestions, that lie never directly or indirectly consented to any iorm of devolution. Mr. Birrell described the House of Lords as a Tory pocket borough. Mr. Percy’s motion was negatived by 374 to 111. Sir 11. Campbell-Bannerman was absent owing to a severe cold.

Received Feb. 19, 10 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 19. Lord Elgin declines to make polling day in the Transvaal a holiday. The Banffshire by-election, to fill the vacancy through Mr. A. TV. Black being killed in the Arbroath railway accident, resulted: * War, Liberal, 2901; Whitelaw, Unionist, 1892. THE VENTURA SAFE. SYDNEY, Feb. 19. There was no sign of the s.s. Ventura from Auckland at noon. The steamer left Auckland at midnight on Tuesday last, and is almost a week out. Received Feb .19, 10.21 p.m. The steamer Ventura is entering tlie Heads. Received 1.23 a.m., Feb. 20. SYDNEY, February 19. The Ventura anchored down the harbor. No communication with her was allowed to-night. The ship’s reports attribute the delay to heavy weather off the New Zealand coast, right' across the Tasman Sea.

EXPLOSION OF BENZINE.’ NATIVES BLOWN TO PIECES. SCHOONER DESTROYED BY FIRE. Received Feb.. 19, 10.33 p.m. COOKTOWN, Feb. 19. Three hundred and forty cases of benzine aboard the schooner Papuan for transfer to New Guinea exploded last night. There was a terrific roar. The town was instantly awakened. People thought an earthquake had occurred. The Papuan caught fire. The glare lighted up the harbor for a great distance. The flames spread rapidly, and the vessel was soon enveloped. The efforts of the firemen were directed to saving the wharves.

By four in tlie morning the Papuan was burned to the water’s edge. Canisters of benzine continued to burn long after tlio vessel was destroyed. It is believed that the explosion was caused by a native going below with a lighted pixie, which ignited the fumes. Martin, steward, and three New Guinea boys were aboard at tho time of the disaster. Martin succeeded in cscaxiing to the wharf, but was severely injured. One of the New Guiuea boys was found under tho wharf, where he was thrown by the force of the exXilosion. His injuries are likely to lirove fatal. Two other natives on the vessel wore blown to x>ieces. The Paiiuan was insured for £3500.

MISCELLANEOUS. NEW YORK, Feb. 19. The United States House of Representatives adopted the conference report on the Immigration Bill as it passed the Senate. Dr. Evans testified that the codical to Thaw’s will bore traces of the same form of insanity as witness had noticed in prison. Received 1.23 a.m., Feb. 20. SYDNEY, February 19. Gregory nets over £6OO from the benefit cricket match. The Premiers’ Conference has been postponed to next year. Another case of plague, making tho sixth caso from one hotel, is reported. The hotel is now closed. The authorities have decided in future to quarantine all premises where plaguo rats are found or patients removed. OTTAWA, February 19. Sir Wilfrid Lauricr, in the Dominion of Commons, said tho Government still adhered to the view that tho creation of an Imperial Council would serve no good purpose. HOBART, February 19. Arrived, lonic from London. THE FOX AND THE MIRROR. The noise of glass being smashed m tho house of a Staffordshire chemist caused the occupants to rush into the room, where they found a fox trying to force its way through a mirror. The place was in confusion, pictures having been torn from the walls, chairs upset, and ornaments broken and strewn about the lloor. Reynard was captured after a struggle, but was released outside. He had been hiding in tho room for ■six hours, • and was seen passing through the Fall, but was mistaken for a dog. Ho had evidently been disturbed by someone knocking at the door.