BEYOND THE DOMINION.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 121, 11 January 1909, Page 5

BEYOND THE DOMINION.

Mr tiodrb-he r,' ,r nreus. I'o-rirraster-Ge-ieral of Cat'Bfln. who re>-«>r.t'y veiled FrcL-.r-.d with the cbr.-rt <if securing [•h'.ip.T r.i'!ri j;.'t'jfp.Ti <'.ir.ai3 and Br-r.s.ui. IUV3 that a furth«-" confere:■ -■ v/tth the Imperial Government v/;'l [«■• ■•.'•<■,-.' --ary before .a reduction in the cab'.' rates ran be arranged. t!••..• ><«■•..!.• Fr-'i«' Vi'rc, r .. B prominent .v; .r.ruv. jimrn.il. rr.akea in its leading art-r-b- of J.ir:ua:-y Tth. an «-xtraordinaniy v'i!.T.t attack- nn Great Britain. Tb-> rap.-r .•!.■-! ire-i th.it p.rit.itn nr«--tenU t,> b«- peac-fub but keep* on stirring tb» r'-re.s ;n :!«d.gr id--, and incit-d th«- boycott of Austria'* ruining her tndus t :•>■--. Britain' hostility to Austria-Hungary wn tntenriei. the Neue Fr«-ie b«-!i.-v.-.q. to domon- * Urate *h«- danper of any country standnig by Germany. It affirms that Britain drops poison in th«* c.irs of the Servian MtnsUry and continually lays new traps for Austria at Constantinople. The Vienna correpsondent of the Times says the article has caused a considerable sensation, and that there is strong reason to believe that it repreents Baron Von Aehrentnal's j personal views. "The majority of Aastrians of my acquaintance," he adds, "deplore it, some terming it eraay."

Frantic scenes occurred in New York on an emigrant ship from Italy, among the 200 Calabrians and Sicilians aboard, when they heard, before landing, of the disasterous earthquake, this being the first news tbey bad received of the earthquake. It is reported that the British and Canadian Government are considering a twopenny Atlantic rate, beginning in July, if the cable companies agree, or later if it be necessary to lay an Imperial cable across the Atlantic Reports from the fire-swept districts in Australia disclose widespread devastation. Settlers along the Hawkesbory Valley, the south coast, and the Hunter River districts are severe sufferers. Many lost their entire crops, and some homesteads were destroyed. Thrilling stories of narrow escapes and heroic rescue work are told. In the pastoral districts, besides many thousands of acres of grass and crops, numbers of cattle and sheep perished. The great beat wrought havoc amongst the poultry. The heat wave has now broken, and a cool change set in last night, accompanied by light rain in the south-eastern districts.

A sad domestic tragedy occurred at Hamilton, near Newcastle, yesterday. A man named Albert Handle quarrelled with his wife, apd shot her in the breast. He then turned the weapon on himself and fatally shot himself. The couple had only been married for five weeks, and had lived unhappily dttring that period. Handle left a letter stating that his wife bad told him she intended to commit suicide, and he could not live without her. The woman is now in a very weak state. The director of the Etna Observatory, who is visiting Messina, found enormous fissures in the mountains behind the towns. Several alarming shocks were f-lt at Reggio, Monteleone, Palmi, and Catania on Thursday. The British warships left enormous supplies of stores at Villa, San Giovanni, near Naples, and the admiral before his departure received a frantic ovation, the population crediting the British sailors with having rescued all fromt he ruins, and crying out: "Long live England, long live our saviours." Nobody is allowed to enter Messina without a permit. The troops fire on all detected stooping over the ruins.

Mr Edison has perfected his electric storage battery for street cars, one of which ran a whole day without requiring to be recharged. Mr Edison is convinced that his invention will revolutionise surface car traffic and so cheapen traction that everyone owning horse will soon be able to afford an automobile.

The Camorra, a criminal secret society, practised a heartless hoax upon the inhabitants of the suburbs of Naples early on Thursday morning. A number of alarmists rushed through the streets shouting, "The earthquake! The earthquake! Others clanged church bells. The inhabitants, panic stricken, rushed half naked into the streets, seeking the open, while criminal gangs of the Camorra looted the deserted shops and dwellings. The Messina correspondent of the Times states that many villagers from a distance obtained supplies by pretending that they were refugees. Such offenders have now been weeded out and punished. It is regrettable, he adds, to learn that 50 have been shot. Several cases of 'spotted fever"--cerebrospinal meningitis—have occurred in Brisbane. Two have terminated fatally.

Owing to the action of leading j Mahommdans the riots in India are \ subsiding. | Mr T. H. Newberry. Acting-Secre-tary of the Navy. has submitted to the House of Representatives of the United State,*, the Naval Committee's plans tor the expenditure of To million dollars in the construction of battle,*hips, four scout cruisers, four submarines, and 10 destroyers. Th*> trouble at the Broken Hill mine between the workmen and proprietors rontinues. The three railway lines ' leading to the Broken Hill Proprietary mtr.«- have been torn up in some place.*. ar.d in other* blocked by large boulder?. The mine is now completely cut off. and no attempt will be made at present to resume the running of trams. Some telephone wires have also been pulled down and insulator? ; broken. Tom Mann, the socialist or- [ ganiser, is taking a prominent part in ] the leadership of the men. delivering j inflammatory speeches against the I capitalist's system. Several hundred more polic are held in readiness for : depatch to the Barrier if their services are required. The Chief Secretary has directed the mining inspectors not to recognise the union pickets when \ they desire to enter the mines. If! interfered with* they must look to the Government for protection through the police. The unions are appealing for funds for their support while the trouble lasts.