NEWS IN BRIEF.

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 18 August 1909, Page 52

NEWS IN BRIEF .

The Primrose League membership has reached 2.000,000. Miss Muriel Mathers, a leading suffragist, has arranged a lecturing tour through Australia. Mr Matthew Keating (Nationalist) was | returned unopposed for Kilkenny South, in place of Mr N. J. Murphy, resigned. One of the Territorials died in the hospital as the result of a motor collision in which several othera were injured. Lord Dudley officially opened the National Show at Brisbane, Queensland. There was glorious weather, and a record attendance. America has notified Germany of her intention to terminate the existing commercial agreement in February, 1910. A Sydney firm has obtained a contract to supply the Admiralty with 100,0001b of tinned mutton. The Scottish Swimming Association has removed the suspension of Beaurepaire, the Victorian swimmer. The Pope has taken his first drive in the motor car which was presented to him lately by Americans. He is highly pleased with it. Colonel Davies, of New Zealand, will be attached to the Imperial staff during the manoeuvres in September. The Victorian Government Geologist's report states that the existence of deposits of valuable marble has been fully proved, the localities being east of Melbourne and widely scattered. Captain Marix, the reporter for the Central Court-maitial (Paris), was" sentenced to one year, and two accomplices were imprisoned, for ottering to sell pardons to prisoners. . * The judge refused Thaw's appeal for his release from prison on the ground that he was still irresponsible. Seventy-seven witnesses were examined, and the evidence of 49 was read. Swell mobsniPU robbed the Russian Princess Gagarme of jewellery and cash valued at £12,000 at the Savoy Hotel, St. Moritz. Prinees3 Bismarck, who is staying at the Hotel Belvedere, .was also robbed. A Portuguese Parliamentary Commission reports that the grants by the Royal Family to the Treasury in time of urgent need counterbalance the advances by the Treasury to the Royal Family. A motor car fell into a ravine at San Marino, Italy, killing its five Italian occupants. The Argentine Government has annulled the decree prombiting the importation of American cattle. General Marina, with 30,000 Spanish infantry, 1400' cavalry, 16 field pieces, and 40 mountain guns, wilt shortly attempt to turn the Rigs' position at Gurugo. There were 300,000 applicants for settlements in the three great tracts, formerly Indian reserves, in North-west America, which were recently thrown open for selection. Mr Swinburne, a member of the Victorian Assembly, has commenced .an action against the Age newspaper, claiming £500 j damages for an alleged libel contained in criticism on his administration when Minister of Water Supply. The total quantity of wheat and flour afloat for the United Kingdom is 2,240,000 quarters, and for the Continent 1,380,000 quarters. Tha Atlantic shipments were 129,000 quarters, and the total shipments to Europe for the week 925,000 quarters, including- 50,000 quarters from Argentina and Uruguay. As a result of the rivsr overflowing, 10,000 acres, including a large area under crop, are inundated at Kotupna, Victoria. The damage is estimated at several thousand pounds. , Numbers of residents are isolated, the only means of communication being by boat&. Mr Deakin attended the Premiers' Conference, and discussed with them the financial so'ieine. C'reat pains are taken to secure absolute sc-crecy. It is understood that the States are prepared to accept a settlement on a per capita basis. Collier's Weekly declares that Germany has determined on a policy that makes an armament race inevitable. it therefore concerns America, because if the latter indulges in a Japanese war, Germany would seek a footing in South America. The paper adds that it would be a singular sight if in the future Great Britain intervened in defence of the Monroe doctrine At the inquest on the Morris children at Perth. West Australia, the jury found that Arthur Morris had died from irritant poison administered by the woman Rendell, and that Thomas Morris, the father of the children, was an accessory to the act. Both have been arrested on, a charge of wilful murder. The evidence disclosed repeated sales of spirits of salts to^ Morris and members of the family. The Imperial Government's proposals have been accspted by the Defence Conference. The*e provide for the interchangeability of forces in all parts of the Empire, and for the organisation, training, equipment of arms, and manoeuvres the same a ~ afc Home. An active interchange of the ofhceife of the Imperial General Staff will contribute to uniformity, as also will the training colleges in the colonies, which will be in line with the Home staff colle 5fThe Timer's New York correspondent j states that General Bingham, ex-Commie- ! Moner of the New York police, declares iliat the power of Tammany half vests on its ability to control police affairs. Two thousand inembeis of the force are unscrupulous grafters, whose hands are aluays open for easy money The amount annually paid by criminals and dishonest politicians for protection, and for votes and immunity, r-anie to £20.000,000. He consider*, on the basis of his own actual experience, that New York is the most Idwlet^ city on eaith. The Au.-lral''an cricketers, in their return match against Gloucestershire, were disposed of in the first innings for 213. The Gloucestershire team lost one wicket for 120. Mr Arthur E<lward Remington, M.P. for Rangitikei, died on Tuesday morning. He I was married after Lie re-election last year. Mr Remington was born at New Plymouth in 1856. and was sent to England to be educated in the Channel Islands, afterward? returning to New Zealand. He was a member of quite a number of local bodies bofor© being returned to Parliament in ICO2. '

1 The insurances on the Strand Arcane building, Auckland, destroyed by fire on Monday evening, totalled £17,000. Of this £7000 was held in the New Zealand office, and the remaining £10,000 was distributed amongst the Alliance, Atlas, Northern, Guardian, and Australian Alliance offices. Ah Goon," a middle-aged Chinaman, was fined £2, with 17s 6d cost*, at the Dunedin Police Court for unlawfully smoking opium and having opium in hio- possession euitable for smoking. Complaint i$ made by some Dunedin merchants as to the manner in which cargo is being handled at the Dunedin wharves when landed. It is bundled indiscriminately into the shed and much time is los 6 | and trouble caused while the various packages and cases are being hunted for. Behind all is the knowledge that if not got away from the shed within 48 hours the importer w liable to "a fine. The Hon. G. Fowlds, Acting Minister of Defence, has notified that there can ■ be no compromise in Hi« matter of Mr Begg .resigning his lieutenant's commission I in the North Dunedin Rifles. After the lapse of 12 months the matter will be j again considered. Discipline must be | maintained, and any further agitation in- ' side or outside the company will only create | further difficulties in the matter of Mr , Begg's Mr Begg's breach of the regulations consisted of presiding at [ a .meeting of the company at which rei solutions' were passed to the effect that ' the corps would disband if Mr Benfell's election as a lieutenant was not confirmed.