GENERAL CABLES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 84, 26 August 1912, Page 2

GENERAL CABLES.

THE COST OF PERIODICALS. By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright I Sydney, August 24. In consequence of the increased cost of handling the freight, wages and cartage, English periodical:;, now soiling at a penny, will be raised in price by a half-penny. Queensland agents will follow the example of New South Wales shortly. THE AUSTRALIAN CENSUS. Melbourne, August 24. The Australian census shows the population to be 4,455,505, of whom Christians number 4,274,414, non-Christians 36,785, indefinite agnostics 14,073, atheists and no religion 10,016, objected to reply 83,003, unspecified 36,114. A PONY'S EXPERIENCE. Melbourne, August 24. A pony disappeared from a paddock at Ballarat, and was found after thirty days down a shaft alive, and was with difficulty hauled to the surface. It had been without food throughout the whole time, but rain provided it with drink. THE TRUST EVIL. New York, August 23. Prosecutions have begun at Chicago against the American Bell Telephone Company, under the Sherman Anti-Trust law. The Federal officers declare that a monopoly has been created. It is alleged that the company, by secret manoeuvres, sought to acquire stock in every telephone company throughout the world. i AN INSURANCE FRAUD. London, August 23. Mary Friedman, of Hickfang, (has been extradited on a charge of having obtained by a forged instrument £IOOO on a policy issued at Capetown by the Colonial Mutual Life Insurance Company of Australia. AN ENTOMOLOGICAL COLLECTION. London, August 23. Mr. L. Adams, the entomologist, has bequeathed to the South Kensington Museum a collection of 150,000 butterfl.es, valued at £40,000. PREPARATIONS FOR WAR. i Berlin, August 23. The Krupps' organ, the Machrichten, advocates joint Austro-German manoeuvres with a view to the next war, which would find those forces opposed to the united armies of Britain, France, and Russia. FRUIT RATES. Capetown, August 23. The mail contract fixes the fruit freight flat rate at 40s per ton for .apples, plums, grapes, and nectarines, 'and 25s for citrus fruits. THE OLYMPIC GAMES. Berlin, August 23. The Government 'is granting £SOOO annually to ensure representation at the Olympic Games. I OPIUM SMOKING. Calcutta, August 23. The provincial .Governments, including that of Burma, have been instructed to prohibit opium smoking gatherings exceeding two persons, and to reduce the quantities supplied to individual I purchasers.