London

Manawatu Herald, 8 November 1892, Page 2

London

Lord Rosebery, Sir W. V. Harcourt, and Mr Mor'ey declined invitations to attend the Lord Mayor's banquet. The German press condemn the attitude adopted by the Russian Government in demanding a passage for their vessels throngh the Dardanelles. The French newspapers support Russia in the matter. H.M.S. Howe is on the Pereire reef. The ship is being lightened, but her position is considered bad, two rocks having penetrated her through the hull. She was only steaming seven knots at the time. The vessel has taken in an immense quantity of water. It is feared that H.M.S. Howe will become a total loss. Her keel is destroyed and her bow submerged. The crew are safe. Admiral Fairfax telegraphs that he is making every effort to secure the ship on the rocks. Admiral Fairfax refused the Spaniards' offer of a pilot for H.M.S. Howe. The vessel mistook the course while following the flagship of the Channel Squadron into Ferrol. The vessel's guns and ammunition have been saved. The reef upon which the vessel struck is well known. The Howe struck in I road daylight. It was always difficult to keep the vessel in her proper course, owing to the tendency of the steering gear to carry her out to starboard. Divers J declare that repairs to the bottom are impossible, but the Admiral .asserts the bottom keel is not pierced. In the Thirsk railway accident the signalman admits that he was asleep having beeen tired out by watching at the deathbed of his child the night before. He asked to be relieved from duty, but the stationmaster refused. He admits that he foreshowed the disaster, but is not willing to accept the decision that it was owing to his being refused relief. His mind, he says, was confused. He recollects the express'passing and then all is a blank. The officials do not deny the statement of the signalman that he had asked for relief, being exhausted owing to sickness in his family. Mr Gardiner, of the Board of Trade, has issued instructions prohibiting the importations of live cattle from Canada, fearing the introduction of pieuro-pneunioma. The decision has caused considerable excitement in Canada, as it is feared it will be the death blow to the cattle trade.