HOME AND FOREIGN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 260, 2 December 1903, Page 3

HOME AND FOREIGN.

WHOLESALE HUSBAND POISONING. BUDA PF.STH, Nov. 80. Five widows in Southern Hungary confessed that ' the.v poisoned their husbands and that the coroner was their accomplice. One hundred cases of husJWand murder are reported from one district. REPORTED OFFICIAL VANDALISM. * LONDON, Nov. 30. Tlio Daily Mail's Durban ccnespondent says the authorities nze biurning waggton loads of hams and bacon, anil vast quantities* ol tinned beef and jam, which are apparently wholesome. AMERICAN TRON STOCKS. NEW YORK, Nov. 30. Alt-hough America reduced the pro-duct-ion of pi'g iron by 190,,000 tens during the year, stocks have steadily accumulated, the total lieing 597,000 tons. SOMALTLAND. MASSOWATT. Nov. 3il. Six thousand Abyssinians left H-arrar to co-operate in British Somaliland al»ut Christmas. SHIPPING FREIGHTS. Rec. 1, 10.10. p.m. LONDON, Dec. 1.

The shipping ring announces that after December 15 the following reductions in steam freight and measurement will be made : Adelaide by 12/6 ; Melbourne and Sydney, 10/ ; all ports; fine goods, 7/6 ; rough weigilvt, 2/6. It is understood that the reductions are due to the Lunds line and Aberdeen line desiring to leave the ring at the end of the year. It was rumoured that a war of rates was likely to ensue, but present indications point to an amicable settlement. SENSIBLE LADIES. Received 1, 6.45 p.m. MADRID, Nov. 30. The ladies attending theatres in the city have now decided to obey the orders of the Governor that they should remove their hiat*. FLOODS AND STORMS. LONDON, Nov. 80. There are fresh floods in- the Thames Valley and over Essex: Storms are raging, and have caused some wrecks, with the loss of several lives, on the English and French coasts. SOUTH AFRICAN MINES. LONDON, Dec. 1. TRe Morning Post says China refuses to permit her subjects to work in the Transvaal mines. LABOUR MATTERS. SYDNEY, Dec. 1. The Select Committee, whioh failed througfh lack of power to -swear Leary, secretary of the Machine Shearers' Union, and take evidence whether the Union was an evasion of the Trades Union Act and Arbitration Act, is a(b)out to be replaced (by a Royal Commission. H is alleged the Premier decided this step without fully consulting the CaWinet, and that friction has resulted. FLOODS. SYDNEY, Dec. 1. Heavy monsoonal rains have fallen in the State, three inches having been recorded at Mossvale. Nearlj an inch fell in Sydney, in half an hour. SALE OF DERENTURES. Rec. 1, 10.3 5 p.m. MELBOURNE, Dec. 3. Tenders for the Savings Bank Commission £IOO,OOO worth of 3£ per cent, debentures with a eurrancy of nine years were opened. The psblic took half, the Commissioners taking the balance at an average price of £B7 lis. AUSTRALIAN TRADE STATISTICS. Rec. Dec. 1, 10.15 p.m. SYDNEY, Dec. 1. Tables prepared by Senator Pulsford show the consumption of Australian goods in British and foreign countries. Of £18,000,000 worth exported to Britain, £6,300,000 is re-exported to foreign countries, and £1,000,000 to B(itish possessions. With the quantity exported direct to foreign countries this gives them a consumption of £17,000,000 against Britain's £11,900,000.