CABLES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2011, 21 February 1907, Page 2

CABLES.

1-iUiSH ASSOCIATION COPTIIIOHT. VIENNA, Fob. 19. Austria-Hungary having accepted the duty of protection of Papal interests, has applied to France to restore diplomatic documents seized when the Nuncio was ordered to leave Paris. NEW YORK, Fob. 19. Dr. Evans states that during his examinations ho found Thaw was under the belief that Providence impelled him to kill White. it is reported at Now York that the revolutionary General, Parches, and eighteen followers, including three Americans, _ were executed at Venezuela. SYDNEY, Feb. 20.

H.M.S. Prometheus has returned from a cruise to the Islands. The officers state that there was not the slightest trouble in landing the .oturned kanakas at tho various islands, where they were received in a most friendly manner by the tribes to which they belonged. The warship shelled a native village at the island of Ata, as a punishment for interfering with mission work, and filing upon natives attached to the lr ission. The Premier promised an influential deputation to push forward the completion of tho sea wall at Darling Harbor as a plague preventive. Tho annual report of tho Benevolent Society indicates a large decrease in poverty, and'the condition of the poor of Sydney is more tatisfactory than for many years. The Chief Justice, in granting an appeal which further whittled down tho powers of tho Arbitration Act, said ho found by experience that the jurisdiction of tho Act was very limited, and instead of strikes being put an end to, they were as prevalent as over, if not more so. BRISBANE, Feb. 20,.

■ As the result of a caucus, the old Liberal section of the Government party is practically dissolved, members acting indefinitely in future. MELBOURNE, Feb .20. Tho Federal Government have decided to grant assistance to all healthy Australians wishing to return from South Africa. The New South Wales and Queensland Governments act independently on the same lines. Another 121 oz nugget has been found at Poseidon field. The latest finds indicate the discovery of a new lead. The State Cabinet has been rearranged. Sir Alex. Peacock joins as Chief Secretary and Mr. MacKinnonBoyd as Honorary Minister. Mr. Langdon, Chief Secretary, retires. LONDON, Feb. 19. In the House of Commons Mr. Runciman stated that the Hon. Jas. Bryce’s annual salary as Ambassador at Washington was £IO,OOO. The Hon. Mr. Asquith announced that the Inland Revenue Department was in possession of information suggesting extensive irregularities "in connection with dealings with spirits at Tullamore. Proceedings would be instituted in a court of law to investigate the whole matter.

The Times, commenting on Lord Percy’s amendment, says Mr. Asquith might have quoted his own speeches with more benefit. His declarations put a different conmploxion on the matter, notably those made at Sheffield on January 5, and Saint Monans on January 25, 1906. The Hon. Mr. -.yttelton, interviwod, supported the Hon. W. P. Reeves’ suggestion regarding an Imperial Council, and emphasised his own despatch of April 20, 1906, that the conference should not be overwhelmed with a mass of undigested subjects . A purely advisory commission might investigate and condense for discussion from time to time for the conference weighty subjects, which were continually arising. Mr. Trevisa Clark, agent for tho new mail syndicate, is on.the way to Australia to try and arrange with the Commonwealth for better terms. It is stated on the highest authority that Messrs. Beardmore and Co. have retired from the syndicate, and it is rumored others follow.

The Times’ St. Petersburg correspondent reports that some newspapers announce that Russia is on the eve of concluding an agreement with Britain and Japan. What is true is that negotiations with both countries are progressing in a highly satisfactory manner. A Queenslander, writing to the Globe, asserts that New Hebridean girls were often bought from, native chiefs for a gun or axe, and handed over to New Caledonian convicts.

An inquest lias been opened on Jack Layton ,who came from Australia as a doctor on the steamer Wakool,. and is supposed to have committed suicide by taking poison at Kensington, fearing the consequences of breaking his contract to return to Australia as ship’s doctor. Rayner appeared at the Marylebone Police Court charged with the murder of William Wliiteley, and was remanded.

SHIPPING CASUALTIES. SYDNEY, Feb. 20. Captain Sinclair, master of the Moruya, claims that the grounding of tlie steamer was duo to the change of the light on Cliffy Island from red to white. ENGLAND UNPREPARED. LORD ROBERTS’ WARNING. LONDON, Feb. 19. A disturbing debate occurred m the House of Lords relative to the risk of invasion, Lord Roberts declared that the blindness of the public to the risk of a sudden invasion, which could almost be carried out without any declaration of war, filled him with absolute despair at our state of unpreparedness. The Earl of Portsmouth expressed doubt that Germany or France in time of peace would ever be guilty of such gross treachery as Lord Roberts thought possible. Lord Tweedmouth deprecated the discussion as an alarmist hypothesis.

MEAT MARKET. ARMY CONTRACTS. Received Feb. 20, 9.41 pan. . LONDON, Feb. 20. In the House of Commons Mr. R. Hunt enquired whether Mr. Haldane would give the colonies first chance for the next contract for tinned meat as there had been no complaints regarding the methods of manufacture and packing. Mr. T. R. Buchanan, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, said that tenders had been from time to time accepted from colonial firms in anticipation of an increased demand and in view of the Chicago revelations, and it was the Government’s desire to widen the area of supply. A special officer would bo despatched to Australasia to report on the ca--1 acity of the colonies to give a larger supply than at present. THE KAISER’S SPEECH. Received Feb. 20, 9.41 p.m. BERLIN, Feb. 20. The Kaiser’s speech from the threne at the opening of the Reichstag, dwelt 04 the result of the elections, which had expressed the united wish on the part of citizens, peasants and workmen that the nation’s honor and estate should be faithfully and strongly guarded. Similarly ho was resolved to conscientiously respect all constitutional rights, and prerogatives. This is interpreted by the newspapers as a reply to the complaint as to a personal regime and alleged desigu on the suffrage,

THE TARIFF AGAIN. Received Feb. 20, 9.53 p.m. The Kaiser’s speech foreshadowed that bills which were before the last Reichstag would be submitted. Ho expressed confidence that peace would continue to be preserved. He referred in somewhat cold terms to the Hague Peace Convention. BRITISH POLITICS. Received Feb. 20, 9.51 p.m. In tho House of Commons Mr. Hill, in reply, moving his amendment to tho Address-in-Reply previously cabled, urged that the demand for preference in the colonies arose from tho colonies’ domestic needs. Preference had been given because it was desirable in themselves. Similarly the demand hero, if real, must arise from our domestic needs; that such a concession would create difficulties which only the Conference could satisfactorily settle. Ministers might attend when matters affecting their departments were being discussed.

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE. Received Feb. 20, 9.51 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 20. Sir Wilfrid Laurier asked that all members accompanying the colonial Premiers should be given full status at the Imperial Conference. Lord Elgin declined, believing that preference must be justifiable in itself apart from the question of reciprocity. Britain’s tariff, although not protective, was the highest in the world per head, spread over such necessaries as tea, sugar, dried fruit, and urged that with every portion of tho Empire, exceirt Canada, and perhaps New Zealand, preference was feasible on a basis of reduction of the existing duties, and no departing from freetrade. Regarding the fear that jrreference to Canadian wheat woul raise prices ho declared that there would be no enhancement in price if the untaxed supply exceeded the tax. Received Feb. 20, ll.O? p.m. MELBOURNE, Feb. 20.

Chief Justice Griffiths having sworn in the members, Lord Northcote opened the first session of the third Federal Parliament. The speech congratulated members on the unprecedented prosperity throughout the Commonwealth, referred to the Imperial and Navigation Conferences, announced an agreement with South Australia in regard to the transfer of the Northern Territory. The report of the Royal Commission on Papua was considered with a view to giving effect to the recommendations. The Government proposed to submit a scheme for determining financial relations between the Commonwealth and States. Trade relations with the Empire would be considered, also a scheme for immigration. Sir Frederick Holder has been elected Speaker of the House of Representatives. In the Senate Mr. Bent announced that he had accepted the Vice-Presi-dentship of the Executive Council, and Senator Keating that of Minister for Home Affairs. Mr. Gould has been elected President of the Senate. Received Feb. 21, 12.25 a.m. PARIS, Feb. 20.

The .French Chamber of Deputies, by 37 to 33, passed a vote of confidence in the Government in connection with M. Briand’s clergy lease contracts. The French cruiser Jeanbart is a hopeless wreck on a reef on the Barbary coast. The crew landed safely. Received Feb. 21, 12.22 a.m. SYDNEY, Feb. 20. Sailed, at 2.30 p.m., Victoria. HOBART, Feb. 20. The lonic sails at 5 to-morrow morning for Wellington. She has 45 Australian and 186 New Zealand passengers. MELBOURNE, Feb. 20. Sailed, Maheno. In the House, in reply to questions, Mr. Deakin announced that the Government had cabled to the Agent-General, asking what was behind the cable published this morning in reference to the mail contract. Until a reply had been received he is unable to give any information. Add Politics.

Received Fob. 20, 11.18 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 20. Sir Charles Dilke opposed Mr. Hills’ amendment largely in the interests of India. Mr. Ramsay McDonald said that the colonies had definitely adopted protection, meaning in Canada Canadian work for Canadian workers, and production to meet consumption. A similar situation existed in Australia, where they were now attempting to reduce to a disappearing point the amount of foreign productions that could get over tlie tariff. It was a mistake to suppose that Australia was very anxious for the motherland to take her raw materials. He quoted Victorian factory inspectors on expoits of timber and skins to show tl.at Australia was ('iscovering that if the raw material were drained out of Australia", it would be impossible to realise the policy of Australian labor for Australian workmen. He cited the agitation for bounties, and concluded. “Australia’s proposed margin of preference to the motherland is intended to be a disappearing margin ; while Canada’s friendly offer will be withdrawn upon the home position being stated.” He added that Britain would not consent to change the fiscal policy for a very narrow margin of preference, because if they were going to protect the Canadian wheat-growers, they must protect the British farmer. When the colonies were asked what they meant by ’’lmperial preference,” we found that it meant nothing whatever. It was merely a cry used for party purposes. Received Feb. 20, 11.37 p.m. SYDNEY, Feb. 20.

The Captain of the Ventura states that he never saw such bad weather as he experienced off the New Zealand coast. Head winds continued all the way. He admitted that the engines gave trouble; first the auxiliaries, then the steam pipes showed defects. Other troubles afterwards developed. Under the circumstances they took things easy. The latest development of the Ci ick-Willis trial is that the Full Court has granted an application on behalf of the Crown for a rule nisi, calling on, Andrew Brown to show cause why ho should not bo committed for contempt of Court while serving as a juror in the Crick trial. Affidavits by the fellow jurymen set out that on the first day of the trial Brown made a statement that no matter what the evidence was lie was for acquitting the defendants.