Frisco Mall News.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue XXXXV, 11 December 1903, Page 3

Frisco Mall News.

tPer R.M.S. Sonoma at Auckland.) Fire at coney island. On Nov. 1, the Bowery, at Coney Island, a famous resort outside New Sc'ork, was laid in ashes. Two lives Were lost, and a scoite of persons badly injured. Three hundred buildings were destroyed, and the loss of a million dollars sustained, Tho police and citizens worked together Valiantly in saving lives, and reServes were brought in from all districts within a radius of ten miles. Firfe broke out in a forest of wooden buildings, and water was scarce. The Music Hall, Valued at a Quarter of a million dollars, was ."Among the buildings destroyed.

TWENTY LIVES LOST. Tii New York City on Nov. 1 the famous tenement known as. •House or Alt Nations" was ijiirr.yi ~i':v'.y,\-ty-five lives were vlost. A peculiar feature of the disaster, considering th" large loss of life, was iHic fact that the fire was practically extinguished in t'veuty minutes. Onlv one person was injured, save those who perished, and the property loss was only 7000 dollars. The dead were mostly Italians.

A BRAVE MIDSHIPMAN. A telegram from Victoria. 8.C.. Nov. 10 states :—Details of the death of Lieutenant Pearce. in Northern waters, brought by the return of his ship H.M.s. Floral, to Esquimault, reveals qrualitics in his companion. Midshipman McGuire, which sho v how worthily he upheld the traditions of the service. The Floral had called at Queen Charlotte Island to obtain some samples of coal to forward to the Admiralty. She had gone up Skidegate Inlet, which separates Moresby from Graham Island, intending to remain there for two days. While the ship lay there Sub-Lieutenant W. C. Pearce and Midshipman McGuire took leave one evening at four o'clock, intending to hunt up the inlet, and return by eight o'clock. During their absence a windstorm arose. After an exciting chase the two men attempted to return to the ship. Miscalculating the treacherous currents, they were carried on to a low reef in mid.channel, where their fragile boat was dashed to pieces. . They clambered up on a rock, but from it there was no way of escape. Pearce was physically much less robust than • his companion, and was chilled to the bone by the winds and surf. McGuire unselfishly stripped himself of almost .all his clothing to protect his superior. All through the night he vainly strove to keep warmth in his companion's body. When found in the morning toy an Indian McGuire was exhausted, helpless, and almost naked, and beside him lay Pearce, wrapped in the clothes, but dead.

CANADA'S TRADE. Consul-General Culver, of London. Canada, has been investigating the conditions of trade in that country, and finds a continued increase of imports of goods from United States, notwithstanding the British .preferential tariff. Statistics show for the fiscal year ending June 30. 1903. that Canada imported from the United States goods amounting to over 137,000.000 dollars, and exnorted to the United States only about 72 - 000,000 dollars worth of.goods. In 1882 47 per cent, of the imports of Canada came from the United Kingdom and 43 from the United States. In 1902 about 27 per cent. came from England and about 60 from the United States. The prosperity of Canada continues unabated, the present year being the most prosperous in her history. She is establishing a valuable export trade, particularly with Great Britain, and her people are looking forward to a great increase along this line. As the exports to Great Britain increase there is a diminution of rthe former desire for reciprocal trade relations with the United States. The Canadians realise that they are much more in evidence in the Mother Country than ever before, and occupy an import- , ant place in the resources of the British Empire. They hope in the near future to supply the British market with the great bulk of the food consumed by the people of England. Exports of food products show enormous increase during the last five years.

A PROPHECY. The London correspondent of the New York Sun cables the following prophecy :—"Within three months, probably before tho New Year, direct communication, witlhout intermediate repeating stations, will be established for the first" time between New York and London, and telegrams will be exchanged at a rate more than four times the previous capacity of any cable. I am tempted to go a step further and express a strong expectation that within a year it will *be as easy to telephone between New York and London as any shorter distance. Credit for this signal triumph of modern science belongs to England."

THE POPE. A despatch from Rome, dated Nov. 12, says Pope Pius held his first consistory, when five cardinals received red hats. The ceremonies were imposing. His Holinesss was clothed in full pontifical robes, with the .mitre, and an immense emerald sparkled on his finger as he raised tois hand in a blessing. Preceding him were the Swiss guards, the cardinals following, the Noble guards came next, escorting tne PontilT.who was follpwed 'by a 'train of bishops, priests, monks, and court laymen, at the end of the procession being another detachment of guards. During the ceremonies the Pontiff's voice was full of emotion, and he embraced the live cardinals tenderly. Tho newly honoured prelates then went to their brother cardinals, giving and receiving the usual fraternal embrace. When the ceremony was over the Fope bestowed the Papal Benediction on all present, and then withdrew, the halls re-echoing with acclamations as he passed on his way to his apartment.