CABLES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2029, 14 March 1907, Page 2

CABLES.

tIIESS ASSOCIATION COPTHIGITT. LONDON, March 12. Lords Rosebery and Curzon are candidates for the Chancellorship of Oxford University. Dr. Elliot Smith, a Sydneyite, lias been appointed to a fellowship of the Royal Society. The Admiralty and experts are considering the plans of Mr Middleton, a London engineer, for large submarines, capable of bringing food during war time. The steamer Dakota, which was wrecked at Nosliima Point, Japan, is ripped open two-thirds of her length. The loss of London insurance companies amounts to half a million if part of the cargo is saved. NEAA 7 YORK, March 12. Lord Charles Beresford, interviewed at San Francisco respecting the limitation of armaments, said, “The people are now arbiters of peace, and realise that battleships are cheaper than battles.” PARIS, March 12. Obituary: M. Casimir Perior, exPresident of France. The newspapers declare that his resignation placated the Kaiser and saved France. The general staff had intercepted M. - Perier’s letter wherein lie apologised to the Kaiser. Jolibois, a workman, at Chichy, Paris, attempted to strangle a woman. He killed a policeman and waiter, and wounded three other persons before he was arrested. ST. PETERSBURG, March 12. Terrorists bound a landowner and six of his laborers at Galta, Southern Russia, and cut all their throats. They hideously disfigured the landowner’s little son, and then left him alive. BUDA PESTH, March 12. A semi-official statement published at Buda Pestli is interpreted to mean that Austria-Hungary intends to prevent the Hague Conference discussing the restriction of armaments. AMSTERDAM, March 12. Prince Henry of the Netherlands declined a national testimonial in connection with his action at the wreck of the steamer Berlin. He declared he had only done his duty, MADRID, March 12. Spanish Conservatives triumphed at the elections. BERLIN, March 12. German newspapers are beginning to declare they have no further interest in the realisation of the Bagdal railway scheme, which has already been Gallieised. MELBOURNE, March 13. The Minister of Defence has invited the New Zealand Government to send an officer to attend the Australian encampments. Miss Ada AYard, the actress, now an evangelist, commences an evangelistic mission in Victoria. Received 11.15 p.m. March 13. PRETORIA, March 13.

5 General Botha’s speech was re--5 ceived with singularly unanimous approval. His definite assurance that t he would not disturb the industrial ‘‘ situation was warmly welcomed.- ” LONDON, March 13 Lord Elgin opened the Colonial Fx--0 bition at Liverpool. New Zealand e and AYest Australia are represented. . NEAV YORK, March 13 ■, Railway magnates, alarmed at the y prospect of 28 State legislatures I’ffi- ,, iting the passenger rates to a penny a mile, asked Pierpont Morgan to 6 assure President Roosevelt that they were willing to co-operate with the Government in the proper enforce- . ment of the rate law. President r Roosevelt consented to discuss matters with the Presidents of the three I" 'greatest railways. Received 1 a.m., March 14. 1 SYDNEY, March 13. ■». r Sailed at 6.45 p.m., Mokoia. The wool sales closed with the mar-' ket steady. The top price for greasy was lljd, scoured 23Jd. ’ MELBOURNE, March 13. The Federal Meteorologist proposes ) the establishment of two, mountain- . top observatories, one at Kosciusko, and- one at Mount Wellington, Hqbart. It also intended to use kites to explore the upper air. i BRITISH POLITICS. LONDON, March 12. A AYhite Book has been issued, containing Lord Elgin’s reasons for , not acceding to the request- of the Australian States for a separate representative each at the Imperial Conference. Replying to Mr. Lyttelton, Mr. Churchill stated that the Government neither supported nor rejected Mr. Lyttelton’s scheme of Imperial organisation at the Colonial Conference, but left the matter open to discussion. Referring to the New Hebrides Convention, Mr. Churchill declared it had been malevolently criticised. It really only represented the skeleton of regulations about which Mr. Deakin would be consulted. Permanent local regulations would then be prepared, giving effect to the convention. Mr Balfour commented on the fact that the Government regarded indentured labor in South Africa as slavery, but elsewhere as jsocjal reform. Sir Edward Grey insisted that recruiting in the New Hebrides was now subject to inspection and control. Sir H. C. Bannerman hotly declared that the Government had sanctioned nothing needing apology, excuse, or explanation. An amendment to reduce the olonial Office vote was negatived by to • The, minority included 20 Independent Laborites. The attendance of Unionists was unusually small. The House of Lords resolved to ask the ’ Government to legislate against Sunday trading at the earlest opportunity. Lord Beauchamp said the subject was not ripe for settlement, besides the Government’s hands were full of Bills of first-class importance.

explosion on battleship. three HUNDRED MEN KILLED AND'3OO INJURED. PARIS, March 12. An explosion occurred on board the Irenok battleship Jena at Tonlon. It is estimated that three’ hundred men were killed and three hundred wero ihjurd. thrilling details. Recoived 10.54 p.m. March 13. PARIS, March 13. Jena was ono of tho' finost French battleships, and flew Admiral Maneeron’s flag, commanding the second division of the. Mediterranean squadron. She was dry-docking at Missessy basin. During luncheon hour a powder magazine was left open for ventilation. There were 25 tons of powder and many shells aboard. An explosion of a torpedo occurred in the after magazines supplying 12inch guns. This was quickly followed by a far more terrible explosion, ripping up the after deck and destroying the stern. A fire broke out, blazing from stem to stern. There was a succession of deafening explosions every few minutes for nearly an hour, ns the ammunition stores ignited, Breaking away from tho supporting timbers and stores the Jena rolled over on her side. Efforts to flood the deck failed for some time owing to the difficulty of

opening sluices. Finally tho battleship Patrio fired a gun, blowing tho gates open. The inrush of watch, extinguished tho firo, and flooded tho magazine, stopping tho explosion of shells. Lieutenant Rouse was killed while heroically endeavoring to open the sluico gates. Tho flames nearly reached tho battleships Suffren and Bouvet, in the dockyard. Tho firo brigade displayed groat heroism. Tho electric cable wires on tho quays fusod, electrocuting sovoral workmen. INDESCRIBABLE PANIC. Received 11.12 p.m. March 13. PARIS, March 13. Ten men in tho port gun turret were killed by tho first explosion. Paris is deeply affected. There was an indescribable panic among tho crew, owing to the impossibility of escaping the firo of exploding shells. Many jumped to the dock, 50 feet below, and wero killed. A number who woro rescued wore scorched and blackened and had their hair burned. Fragments of shells wero hurled 500 yards. Sovoral woro killed in tho city, including a baby. Before the second explosion a few officers and men on deck escaped over tho shore gang ways. Most of tho crew were below, and experienced a horrible time, owing to the firo exploding the shells. Tho wildest reports woro at first current as to fatalities and damage to tho dock and city, but wero much exaggerated. Tho authorities aro still quite un able to give reliable estimates. I hey admit that the Jena is a total l<>->-.. and that they believe 80 wero killed and 20 seriously injured, many slightly.

' The killed include Adigard, captain of tho Jena, and Commander Vertio, who was burnt, tho cabin door-way being blocked by debris, prevented his escape. Mancoron was badly burnt. Tho first and second engineers, surgeon, and other officors were killed.

The origin of the disaster is doubtful. Admiral Binamo attributes it to tho spontaneous combustion of powder. King Edward and Mr. Treloar telegraphed sympathy, which is universal.