CABLES

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2054, 15 April 1907, Page 2

CABLES

PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPTRIOHT. LPNDON, April 11. ‘ Mr. Doakin, interviewed, said that tho Commonwealth Government took no half-hearted view of immigration, and wore only awaiting for something tangible to begin work in tho United Kingdom in real earnest. If tho negotiations with South Australia were concluded satisfactorily there were possibilities that tho magnificent northern territory would be adequately placed beforo the British people. Probably many of the very special class of laborer required to work the Queenslasd canefields would be forthcoming in Britain. He hoped the offer now made to emigrants who will ■ ork tho canefields would be extended to other agriculturists. One hundred thousand additional cartridges have been seized at Newcastle.

Sir Edward Grey, in reply to questions, said that a small AngloFrench Committee was being appointed to the New Hebrides Joint Board. The officials’ salaries and other conditions of service of Britain’s representatives in the conference had not yet been settled. Australia and New Zealand would probably appoint their own represetatives. King Edward and Queen Alexandra visit Minorca.

A shot from a rifle range at Aldershot killed Mr. Spenson, a member of the Stock Exchange, who, with a hunting party, strayed into tho danger zone in the mist. Mr. W. P. Reeves, the New Zealand High Commissioner, in a letter to the Times, explains the recent strikes in New Zealand. It was a ridiculous suggestion that tho Arbitration Act had broken down and the Arbitration Court was powerless. The newspapers criticise Lord Elgin’s refusal to interfere with the sentence in tho Grogan case, in which members of the Nairobi Colonists’ Association took tho law into their own hands and punished natives for insulting white women. Lord Elgin annouccd that tho officer administering at Nairobi reported that the insult to white women was not serious and only amounted to rudeness and disobedence; that Grogan and four Britishers flogged the natives, despite tho intervention of police officers. Lord Kitchener’s Commandership-in-Chief is to bo continued for a further period beyond November. Dr. Morrison, tho London Times Pekin correspondent ,mentions the practical exile of Tangshaoyi, a Chinese Minister, and a strenuous advocate of reform. He has been appointed governor of Mukden province and relinquishes various metropolitan functions which yielded an income of £25,000. A battleship of the Dreadnought class has been ordered in England by Japan, to be completed in 1909. She will carry twelve I2in., ten 8.2 in., twelve 4.7 in. guns. A sister *

ship is building in Japan. Native reports state that China’s new navy costs annually twelve million taels, including a dozen submarines.

Tlie Woolwich arsenal workmen received with their discharges information respecting the colonies and foreign countries’ engneering. Lieut. E. W. Chamberlain applied for a divorce on the ground of his wife’s adultery with Sir Brodrick Hartwell, with whom she eloped to Australia. The judge was satisfied with the evidence of adultery and adjourned the case for proof of marriage.

Mr. Hughes, delegate to the Navigation conference, said the Commonwealth had every right to be satisfied with the results of the conference, which had assented the principles regarding Australian shipping hitherto subject to hostile criticism in Britain.

Sir William Treloar, Lord Mayor of Loud on. on the requisition of Lord Roberts, Lord Linlithgow, most of the colonial governors, Lord Strathcona, and Mr. Lyttelton, has convened a meeting at the Guildball for the 23rd inst. to promote the cause of Empire education by creating an Empire Education Fund to supply books, maps, and other information.

PRETORIA, April 12. There is a prospect of—"a split amongst the Het Vollrites owing to the Congress of Christian National schools at Pretoria running counter to Mr. Smuts’ views, and demanding co-operation with Dutch organisations in other colonies to evolve a South African education scheme fully guaranteeing Dutch principles language, and history! BRUSSELS, April 12. Owing to a fresh defeat in the Chamber on the hours in mines question, the Belgian Government has resigned. MELBOURNE, April 13 Sir John Forrest. who has returned from a visit to Sydney, states that Federation is not intensely pc* pillar among the people he mixed with, but there was not any desire to break away. He thought if they got rid of the capital question, witnessed the conferring of the deand as Federation grew older, everything should go along right.

Schultz, manager of the Tasmanian Parcels Express Agency', uas fined £lO, while £2OO found on tho premises were ordered to be forfeited. The financial troubles of Mr. Havelock Wilson, the ex-English M.P., awakened sympathy' in Labor circles. A proposal Is on foot to raise a subscription. His difficulties occurred through Mr. Wilson’s criticism of the Merchant Shipping Rill. The amount required is said to he £7OO.

BERLIN, April 12. The Reichstag’s Election Investigation Committee invalidated Baron Richthofen’s election for Scliweid-uitz-Streigan, on the ground of Count Billow’s undue influence in telegraphing to the editor of a newspaper between the first and second ballots that all bourgeois parties should, regardless of their differences, unite against the Social Democrats. Mrs George Speyer, of Frankfort, a near relative of Sir Elgar Speyer, of Speyer Bros., has given £150,000 for promoting science.

PERTH, April 13. Before a large audience, including the Governor, Ministers, Mayors, Italian Consul, and Verischetti, Diver Hughes was presented with a gold watch and 100 sovereigns, and i medallion for his wife. Ilearno received a gold watch and 50 sovereigns. The enthusiasm was such that the police had to rescue Hughes from his admirers. Parnell, a mine owner, charged ivith having gold unlawfully in his possession, was acquitted. SYDNEY, April 13. The coaling of the Orient steamer is proceeding with free labor. A city clerk has been plagued. After hearing explanations the Jockey’ Club exonerated all parties of any suspicion of malpractice in connection with Peru’s running. Received 1.11 a.m., April 15. LONDON, April 14. General Botha and Sir Wilfrid Lauricr have arrived to attend the Conference.

BRISBANE, April 14. Arrived, Japanese training squadron. Admiral Toinoko was officially welcomed. CLARENCE RIVER, April 14. Sailed, Jap. for Westland. j Received 1 a.m., April 15. SYDNEY, April 14 % Arrived, Bloemfontein, from Dunedin ; Northern Chief, from Kaiparn. Sailed, at 1.30 yesterday, thy Malieno.

WRECK OF A TRAIN. OTTAWA, April 12. A broken rail wrecked a transcontinental train at Cliapelain, Ontario, and precipitated it over an ombenkment. The callages took fire. Nine adults and six children, mostly English emigrants, wero killed or burnt to death. AFFAIRS IN EGYPT. LONDON, April 12. The newspapers unanimously express gratitude and admiration at Lord Cromer’s service and sincerely regret his retirement. Lord Cromer’s resignation, especially his failing health, is keenly regietted on every side. Sir Eldon Gorst’s appointment was recommended by Lord Cromer, and meets the fullest approbation in British circles in Egypt. Lord Cromer’s letter of resignation emphasised that no political consideration of any kind whatever could bo associated therewith. Nothing could he more effective or generous than the manner in which the Government had supported him. Sir Edward Grey anil Mr. Balfour have eulogised Sir Eldon Gorst. Everybody knew how anxious ho was to carry out intact Lord Cromer s marvellous policy, and they wished him success. The Times says Sir Eldon Gorst goes to Egypt with an infinitely fairer ( prospect than Lord Cromer did in ISS3.

THE THAW TRIAL. NEW YOKE, April 11. The jury were a whole day preoccupied with Thaw’s mental condition. Extracts from the evidence were read to them at intervals at their request, also the Judge’s remarks relating to mental exports’ testimony. Thaw meanwhile is cheerful. NEW YORK, April 12. The jury in the Thaw case wore unable to agree, and were again locked up for the night. The trial cost Thaw and family £200,000, and the New York County £20,000. The Thaw jury disagreed, and wero discharged. Received 4.40 p.m., April 14. NEW YORK, April 13. 11l connection with tho Thaw trial, seven of the jury favored the return of a verdict of murder in tho first degree, and five were for acquitting, on the ground of insanity. The newspapers, commenting on the trial, agree in deprecating the fact that justice in America has been impaired and delayed by tho power of money and the introduction of confusion and irrelcvatn issues.

LONDON, April 13. The Times remarks that the trial reveals facts explaining that strong animosity’ exists towards a certain class of millionaires who, knowing nothing of the duties of wealth or the graces often coming in its train, end by seeking to escape from sheer boredom in unrefined excitements.

BRITISH POLITICS. COLONIAL PREMIERS IN LONDON. Received 4.40 p.m., April 14. LONDON, April 13. Sir William Lync addresses a meeting of London merchants on SYade and Commerce in Australia. The Times, in a special article indicating the general lines of approach towards Imperial unity, advocated the very cheapest il not free press cabling facilities to the colonies as most essential prerequisite to any advance in the direction of Imperial partnership. While the Chamber of Commerce decided to inform Sir H. Campbell Bannerman that the recent poll was laigely favorable to protection, the fieetrade group insisted that -he also bo informed that the poll only included 1549 votes out of 3200. Mr. Deakin and Mr. Hughes were entertained at luncheon by tho editor of the Daily Chronicle at the National Liberal Club, to meet a dozen editors of Liberal newspapers. Mr. Deakin, on behalf of the colonial Premieers, strongly urged Lord Elgin to admit the press to the Imperial Conference. He declared that flho Premiers did not leave their jposts for four months to sit with elosed doors and keep their constituents in ignorance of what was being ione. • Received 12.27 a.m., April 15. LONDON, April 1,4.

Mr. Doakin and Sir Joseph Ward leceived no invitation to appoint representatives on any Anglo-1' rench Committee to consider salaries and conditions of service of the officials of the joint court in connection with the New Hebrides Convention. They are rather disposed not to Assume any responsibility in the matter sinco they were not consulted. Mr. Deakin, Federal Premier, raises the whole question at the Imperial Conference at the earliest opportunity, including the quesion of French steamers conveying intoxicants to the Group. Australasian merchants gave a banquet at the Trocadero. There were 150 guests, including several Australian ex-Governors and others prominently connected with the Colonies and the Agents-General. Ford Jersey presided. Mr. DcaUm and Sir William Lync made speeches dealing with questions of Australian trade and preference. • deceived 12.13 a.m., April 15. Sir Francis Hopwood states that tile exclusion of the press will be from the opening of the Imperial Conference, which will itself determine subsequent procedure. It is believed Sir H. Campbell Bannerman win merely formally wolcome the Premiers, and make non-committal reference to the programme, leaving Lord Elgin to conduct the flrocecdTlic Premiers are very dissatisfied with the arrangements. Mr. Deakin warmly advocates the giving ot the fullest publicity, urging it m regard to almost all questions to be discussed. lie lias written to Sir H. Campbell Bannerman, protesting against secrecy, and insists upon At least a pretty full daily precis bf tlic results, disclosing the sentiments of the different speakers. Lord Elgin hopes that fifteen sittings, extending to May 8, will be sufficient, though this is considered doubtful.

the 'imperial conference. LONDON, April 12. Tho Premiers strongly urged Lord Elgin not to keep the proceedings o the Imperial Conference private, except regarding defence and other matters, tho publication whereof would bo against the public interest. The Government's decision will be announced on Monday. It officially stated that Sir 11. C. Bannerman will Xm present at the inauguration ot the Conference, and will address the members. , . , Mr Evelyn Cecil enquired whether the Government would give effect .o the resolution of the Associated Chambers of Commerce in favor of preferential duties. Sir 11. Campbell Bannerman replied that preferential trade occupied a prominent place among the subjects for discussion at the Imperial Conference. The Westminster Gazette declares the Government cannot consent to changes in the basis of the fiscal system. Sir H. C. Bannerman states that British Ministers will attend the conference when the business affects their departments. . ~ It is expected Sir H. C. Bannerman will offer a cordial welcomo to the delegates, hut tho barest reference will'be made to tho outline of tlioir programme.

Tho Times says that' tho announcement that Sir H. C. Bnnnorman will

address tho conference at tho opening his been received with general satisfaction.

FAMINE IN CHINA.

THREE MILLION PEOPLE NEARING STARVATION. 5000 DEATHS DAILY—PEOPLE EATING CHILDREN. Received 4.40 p.m., April 14. PEKIN, April 13. Tho famine in China has assumed terrible proportions. Three million people are nearing starvation. The deaths number 5000 daily. Cannibalism is beginning to bo practised, parents exchanging thoir children to eat. Towards fifteen million dollars nro required for relief purposes. China has contributed four million dollars, while another half a million has been received from foreigners. It will be impossible to raise the rest of the amount required in China.

THE PLAGUE. Received 5.12 p.m., April 13. SYDNEY, April 13. A caso of plague has occurred at Ashfiold, the patient being employed in tho city.

FATAL FALL OF EARTH.

FOUR MEN KILLED. _ Received 8.12 p.m., April 13. SYDNEY, April 13. A fall of earth" at South Cliltou colliery killed four men named Selby, Caviinngh, Sowilen, and Billing-

Received 1 a.m., April 15. SYDNEY, April 14. A filth man, Garner, was injured at Clifton. Cavanagh escaped the first fall, but went to tho rescue of his comrades. He succeeded in getting Billington clear, and was assisting Selby when a second fall occurred. All were buried. Tho fourth man was named Horder, not Sowdon.

EIGHT HOURS BILL. Received 5 p.m., April 14. LONDON, April 13. In the House of Common tho Coal Mines Eight Hours Bill »ias read a second time without division. Mr. Gladstone, accepting the principle of the Bill, declared it would be necessary t'o add many clauses to render it workable.

AUSTRALIAN MAILS

Received 5 p.m., April 14. LONDON, April 13. Nothing will be done respecting the mail contract until the syndicate movis, Mr. Deakin wanting them to go on or explain. It is probable tjhvj, the matter will remain in abeyar »e ponding t Messrs Travis and C trke’s return.

SWIMMING RECORDS. Received 1 a.m., April 15. LONDON, April 13. At Farmer’s baths Dave Billington swam 3 quarters of -a mile in 17 min. 3G 2-5 secs., establishing a world’s record. The previous best was 18 mins, seven seconds. Cecil Hcaly covered 100 yards in 57 secs., lopping three-fifths of a second off his previous best record.