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Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 1, Issue 55, 5 August 1890, Page 3

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The Labour Question. The Whitcombe and Tombes Trouple. A Big Fight Expected. Heavy Floods. The Rheumatic Exterminator. Exciting Scene in the House of Commons. [By Telegisaph.] :: ; / (From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON. August 4. A considerable amount of excitement has been occasioned in commercial circles owing to the a.vowecL intention of the Maritime Council to boycott the firm of Whitcombe and Tombs, of Christchurch, by ordering the Union men in the railway service and those in the employ of the various steamship companies to refuse to handle any goods assigned to or from the firm. The Secretary of the Amalgamated Bail way Servants’ Society at Christchurch sent the following telegram to the Commissioners to-day: Instructions have been received from thei Maritime Council to boycott ail Whitcombe and Tombs goods. The Railway Unien has decided to comply strictly with these instructions. If the railway men are suspended we must call all hands out, and 'the Port of Lyttelton will be practically blocked by the Council until the suspended men are re-instated. Our action is imperative, as the case is a test one 1 I—J U— s*44k/vi* HaiV VAII ITI-

backed by other arms, uan you mstruct Whitcombs and Tombs that the Railway Department is not responsible through cavil.” The Commissioners replied, That as they are public carriers they cannot refuse to accept -the firm’s goods, and if trouble ensues the blame will have to be oh the shoulders of the executive, and not on the Commissioners. . . A. late telegram from Dunedin states that the Maritime Council is concerting steps to close all trade at' Lyttelton pending settlement of the disputes. The ease' will probably resolve 5 itself into trial of strength between capital and labour, and the result will be

PUU •••• watched with intense interest, not only in-New Zealand, but in the-' other Colonies. The Maritime Council, to which all the labour organisations in the Colony are affiliated, has lately become a very strong body, and so plenty of assistahre will be forthcoming both from Australia and the Mother Country. It is expected that the victory will eventually rest with

labour.' The ship Otaki, which broke away from the s.b. Mawhera on Friday night whilst being towed into Picton, was picked up again by the steamer add taken into Port Underwood, * the weather being unfavourable for taking her to Picton on Saturday evening. It has been arranged for the s.s. Herald to go over to-night to tow her to her destination. ’ 1 Andrew McKenzie, a well-known itort&geper at Carterton, was found deffithis - morning with a discharged him. His death is attributed to an accident. A gale of considerable violence blew alt day yesterday. Severe weather and heavy floods are reported from Hokitika arid Greyrpouth. Arrangements have been completed whereby produce from Wanganui district will be shipped on board the direct steamers in the roadstead instead of being railed to Wellington for shipment. , f The Registrar (if Patents hat heard Mrs Mackay’s evidence on her application for letters patent for her ointment entitled “ A Rheumatic Exterminator*” Having previously beard ilie evidence of Mr Inman, of Blenheim, in opposition,

be he baa decided that Mrs Mackay is not ill the inventor of the ointment, and there* to fore not entitled to patent rights, a Sir George Grey, and Messrs Seddon, ir. Keeves, Fisher, Moss, and Fish addresss rt a public meeting this evening on politico cal subjects, ir ■ , : r . ST. PEXEBSBUB6, y August 2. 1( j, , Another plot against the Czar has i. hern discovered among the Nihilists and is two officers of the army, who were sus)f pected of complicity, have committed it suicide. Numerous arrests have been [i made both here and at Moscow. it' ' ; t SOFIA, e August 2.

e There are indications that pressure i« . being brought to bear to compel Prince j Ferdinand to resign his claim to the . Throne of Bulgaria. r '' , MECCA. ‘I Aligns 2. The outbreak of cholera is rapidly t spreading, and one hundred deaths per day are reported.

r ZANZIBAR, August 2. Acting under British influence the Sultan has forbidden the sale or exchange of slaves, and has issued instructions closing the depots formerly used for the receipt of slaves. He his also agreed: that slaves may purchase their, freedom, and declares that slavery will end with the death of the present owners. The Arabs accept th e decision with composure. LONDON, August 2. It is reputed that Viscount Dunlo and bis wife have become reconciled. In the House of Commons to-day the Speaker rebuked Sir Vernon Harcourt for accusing the Government of insolence towards Scotch members. Hon. members resented the Speaker’s _ _ u m a. tm d _ Hnnll Itn /I

remarks, and an excited scene resulted. A correspondent of the Daily News sends s >me . horrible details of the treatment to which prisoners in Macedonia are subjected. The British Docks Committee has arranged with the Anglo Australian .Steam Company for a regular line of steamers to run between Avonmouth Docks and Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney. The first steamer will probably leave for the Colonies about the middle of the month. The scheme has been largely supported in the West of England. I' , , KEW YOBS, August 2. Intelligence from San Salvador states that the traitor, General Rivas, escaped from custody, but was recaptured and shot.