CABLES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2060, 22 April 1907, Page 2

CABLES.

PRESS ASSOCIATION— COPYRIGHT. LONDON, April 19. Mr. Deakin denies advocating Imperial Federation, not believing the question is at present within practical politics. He insists that his attitude is to maintain the Confer ence absolutely on its present Lao’s. The Daily Telegraph says the whole mystery of the negative results of the two sittings is that while the timid representatives are not afraid that adoption of the advanced proposals would be beyond the desires of their peoples, they arc afraid that they are beyond the desires of the party bosses, who are unmoved by enthusiasm for Empire. SYDNEY, April 20.

The Attorney-General, after 12 months’ experience of the. Liquor Act, is confirmed in the views lie held when imposing the conditions on sporting clubs. Tlio effect has boon to wipe out a number of undesirable clubs.

The barque Saint Joseph has arrived at Newcastle. Tlio only evidence of her collision with the AVliangaroa consists of scratches and plates smashed on the starboard side. The captain states that his lights wore burning at the time of the collision. lie saw no lights on the other vessel, which bore down suddenly. Both captains held their vessels off, thus minimising the impact. The other vessel appeared to want no assistance.

A fire destroyed Wiliamsria Convent school, Huntor’s Hill. Five Sisters and eight pupils barely escaped in their night attire. ADELAIDE, April 20.

The State Treasurer has announced that he expects the financial year to end with a surplus of nearlv £200,000.

AIELBOURNE, April 20.

A dead rat ff'as found infected with leprosy. This is the first instance of the kind since one was found in Odessa in 1903. The bacilli of leprosy 'corresponds in every way with those found in human beings, but communication of the disease from rats to humans or other animals has not been demonstrated. It is a mystery how it reached Melbourne.

The Board of Control continues its meetings to-day, but it is understood satisfactory arrangements have practically been made for the visit of an English cricket team.

Received 4.40 p.m. April 20.

LONDON, April 20

At the Board of Trade inquiry into the loss of the Suevic, the captain attributed the disaster to a baffling current. He stated that another steamer the same night had been carried eleven miles off lier course.

Received 4.26 p.m. April 20. MANILA, April 20,

The town of Iloilo, in the Philippines has been destroyed by fire. There are twenty thousand homeless people.

NEW YORK, April 20. Air. Eliliu Root, addressing the American Society of International I,aw at AVashington, declared that the State of California is not compelled to provide for the education of foreigners, but if it did provide it must not discriminate against Japanese.

BERLIN, April 20.

The Hamburg dockers’ strike has ended. The dockers will resumo work on Alonday. THE PREMIERS. Received 4 p.m., April 21. LONDON, April 20. Lord Roberts presided at tlio Pilgrims’ Club banquet to the Premie* s which was a brilliant gathering. There were 350 present, including the Dukes of Argyle, Devonshire,

„„d Sutherland, the Marquis of Salisbury, Earl Cawdor, Lords Crewe,Carrington, and Elgin- Amongst otho.» present were ox-Mimsters, the American Ambassador, Mr. W. t • Hooves, and Lord Stratheona. Tlio American Pilgrims telegraphed —“Good wishes to the Premiers, who ~-e not tho least shining lights of the Empire.” . , Sir Edward Grey, proposing the Premiers, said that the greatest glory of the Empire was the relations ol the Motherland and tho self-govern-ing colonies. The word “colony now meant freedom and “empire” meant loyal affection. Our future depended upon our being true to ourselves true to each other. Formerly it had been believed that freedom and union .were incompatible . It was now shown that they were not only compatible, but inseparable. Mr. Deakin regarded the conference as the germ of an association which enabled the Premiers to speak in their mother’s house without hated breath, because they were members of the same family. He be- | 1 loved that Great Britain would become tho Greatest Britain during the present century. Hitherto the Empire had been able to stand, sustained by mutual affection. He feared that its sea would not remain unchallenged: Australia in undertaking tho task of self-development hoped to accomplish for the Empire in the Southern Seas the certainty of the ports’ security for commerce, a coasting station for Imperial warships, and food supplies for Imperial squadrons. They had some near European neighbors in the South Seas, within striking distance, who would not have been there if the British Government had listened to Austialia’s early warnings. Received 5.24 p.m., April 21. Mr Deakin continued: When reproached with being sensitive and alarmed Australia was unable to regret that it was not her fault that the strangers held a citadel so neai her own. Australians refused to believe that Australian interests could be separated from those of the whole Empire. Could Australia lose or gain anything that tho Empire did not lose or gain? If they really were as they believed, one people, with one policy', one flag, one throne, what were Australian interests which wore not Imperial? The Premiers desired to stand back to back against the common enemies of the Empire. Sir Joseph Ward stated that New Zealand to a large extent re-echoed Mr. Deakin’s sentiments, though in some details they did not see eye to eye. They preferred in New Zealand to make efforts to render every man able to assist to defend their hearths .and homes. Having a smaller coastline than Australia, New Zealand was convinced that their best policy was, instead of establishing an independent navy, to make material contributions of money and men to the British navy, because they knew that should trouble, arise their country’s future would depend, not upon any settlement by. the guns of their warships at the mouths of their rivers, but upon events and happenings thousands of miles away. (Applause.) Lord Roberts responded to .the toast of his health. He declared that the vast majority' of the nation earnestly hoped the conference would promote Imperial unity'.