MAIL NEWS,

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2023, 7 March 1907, Page 1

MAIL NEWS,

RUSSIA. J a unary 13. [n Odessa tlie political prisoners demanded certain privileges, which the authorities refused, whereupon 230 inmates of the prison resolved to starve themselves to death unless their demands were complied, with. Yesterday three abstainers from food were taken to the hospital in a state of exhaustion, whereupon the authorities submitted.

Frequcnt, rapid, and extreme changes in the temperature have filled the hospitals with patients, and engendered a new form of influenza, which affects only one side of the body and tho head. One oyo swells, one side, of the face twitches convulsively, one arm and ono leg are temporarily paralysed. The physicians have never observed this form of the malady before. H UNTING ACCIDENTS. Whilst hunting with the South Cheshire Hounds at Ridley, yesterday, Lord Arthur Grosveuor met with a singular accident. He was riding along a road, when lie was bumped” by another rider, and, being thrown violently to the ground, sustained dislocation of the shoulder, but was otherwise unhurt. After being attended by a field doctor lie was removed to Broxtou Hall in the Earl of Hopetoun’s car. At a late hour bis lordship was reported to be doing well. Viscount Holmxley, AI. R., bad a narrow escape while limiting with the Kiniiington Hounds, of which he is the master. In jumping Normanby Beck, which was swollen and very deep, the horse got entangled ill the barbed wire over the stream, and both fell in. They were ill some danger of drowniiig, lint after a struggle Lord Helnis.ey scrambled on to

the bank, and the horse was subsequently pulled out by tho aid of ropes, cut and injured. His lordship changed bis clothes at a neighboring house and resumed the hunt. A “FAITH TEA.” Last evening, at Swanage, what was termed a “faith tea” was held in •onnection with a Christian ’Temperance Mission, No provisions were ordered for the feast; those attending wore to have faith and trust that the necessary provisions would be sent in. The result was somewhat embarrassing, as all kinds of eatables, etc., were forthcoming, and so generous was the supply that not only was tea partaken of, but a supper was provided later in the evening and basketfuls were left over for distribution among the poor.

ENTOMBED SEVENTEEN DAYS. Last Boxing Day six men, entombed in a flooded mine, at Gorseinen, Glamorganshire, were rescued, after having a hairbreadth escape, the last three being up to their .necks in water before they were brought to bank in an improvised cage. Previous to seeking their own safety they took the only horse they had underground with them to a small opening at tho end of the level immediately opposite the main slant, this being the highest portion of the workings, and deposited close by about ten bushels of grain and chaff, all the food they could find, The natural supposition was that the horse would novel* come out alive, for, if it were not overwhelmed by the rising waters, it was believed it would, as is usual with animals left alone underground, make for the pit bottom, and he drowned in the attempt. Seventeen days later.—yesterday—the pit was pumped out, and the explorers, on going through the workings, were astonished to find the horse, not only alive, hut manifesting the liveliest satisfaction at the sight once more of human beings,

CHINESE FAMINE. BRITISH AGENT’S REPORT. Captain lvirton, who was sent from here to travel through tho faminestricken area as correspondent, of tho foreign relief committee reports from Tsing-kiang-pu that flip famine refuge camps here consist of liiat-slieds, arranged in rectangular groups, in street, formation, and provided with gates. They cover an area two miles long and one mile wide. There are other camps, too ,in the vicinity. Captain lvirton estimates tho number of refugees at 450.000, 30 per cent of whom show signs of distress. The roads are thronged with rice pedlars, while women and children arc everywhere to bo seen grubbing up roots and grass for food and cooking leaves and twigs.

The efforts of the Chinese officials are confined to trying to persuade the people to return homo. Some of tlx people comply, but their places are soon filled with newcomers. One hftndred thousand men are absolutely idle. No relief works have been orga-nised,-though it would be easy to do so. , Captain Kirton adds that it is obviously a gigantic problem, and unless relief works are organised it is difficul to foresee how it ivill end, especially as the worst pinch has not yet been felt. The subscriptions raised in Shanghai now amount to 55,000 taels.