CABLE NEWS.

Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 507, 10 April 1880, Page 2

CABLE NEWS.

MR GLADSTONE’S ELECTION. London, April 5. Mr Gladstone has been elected for the Scotch county constituency of Midlothian, by a large majority. BRITISH TRADE IMPROVING. April 7. The Board of Trade returns of imports for past month amount to thirty-seven millions six hundred and twenty-five thousand, being an increase of nine millions one hundred and eighty-seven thousand five hundred pounds, as compared with last year. The exports for March reached a total of eighteen millions eight hundred and twelve thousand five hundred pounds, being an increase of two millions six hundred and eighty-seven thousand five hundred pounds as compared with March, 1879. LORD HARTINGTON’S LEADERSHIP. April 8. Liberal demonstration took place to-day, at which Lord Hartington made a speech denying statements that Liberal party is divided. He said it is more united than it ever had been. KING THEEBAW. London, April 8. The rumour recently published in London newspapers that Theebaw, King of Burmah, was dead,is entirely unconfirmed. LONDON MARKETS. April 8. Wool market continues strong. Arrivals, 280 bales. Hides, fair demand for most descriptions. BISMARK’S RESIGNATION. Berlin, April 8. The Emperor refuses to accept Prince Bisrnark’s resignation, who remains in office. AUSTRIAN EXHIBITS. Vienna, April 8, The Minister for Foreign Affairs made application to the Austrian parliament for extra grant of 1,000 for proper representation of Austro-Hungary at Melbourne Exhibition. MELBOURNE POLITICS. # Melbourne, April 9. It is understood that the Government intend to re-employ Mr Gordon, Irrigation Engineer, who was dismissed by the Berry Ministiy. STOWAWAYS FROM WELLINGTON. Sydney, April 9. The a.s. Wakatipu has arrived; and seven stowaways were found aboard after her departure from Wellington. CHINESE CARGO'AT SYDNEY. Sydney, Friday. Anti-Chinese meeting was held last night, at which a petition to Parliament was adopted praying the immediate passage of an act of one clause requiring the steamer Brisbane, now quarantined here with 215 Chinese, and with some cases of srnall-pox on board, to depart immediately, without discharging, under penalty of £20,000. COOLIE HARDSHIPS IN QUEENSLAND. Brisbane, April 9. Commission has been appointed to enquire into the cause of the heavy mortality which has taken place among Kanakas on a piautation near Maryborough.

FIRE NEAR CARLYLE. The town was aroused last night by the ringing of the fire-bell, and every body rushed up the street towards a vast luri d blaze a mile north of the Postoffice. T-he newlj-org’anfzed Fire Sri—gade got out a score of buckets, and placing them in Captain Dixon’s trap, about 20 firemen ran hard and fast to the destructive flare-up in the distance. Reaching Mr. Gilligan’s farm, they found u stack of straw ablaze, and there being a strong wind, the landscape was lit up around. A crowd of people, and a very large crowd for Carlyle, was now trooping along the road to see the novel spectacle. The stack of straw, fanned by a high wind, burns as fiercely as a furnace, and nothing could be done to save the remnant. The brigade directed their energies to saving a quantity of oats lying near the stack, yet far enough away to escape contact, the wind being fortunately in a direction which blew the blaze and sparks away from the threshed produce. The stuck had been fired by some means unknown to Mr Gilligan, who was indoors unconscious of the fire when the police went early to the place to apprise him of the destruction of his property. The fir& was observed by the police about 9 o’clock, and Sergeant McGrath acted with promptitude in giving the alarm to prevent farther damage. Most of the spectators supposed the stack had been fired by the owner, this being a common practice in a district where straw has little or no value. But Mr Gilligan, as we have said, knew nothing of the fire. It would of course be stupid and very dangerous to set straw on fire in the evening, the glare being likely to cause alarm at a distance. In trie present case, however, Mr. Gilligan will have sympathy for the danger he ran, and for the loss sustained.