GENERAL CABLES.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 May 1920, Page 2

GENERAL CABLES.

By T*legr,i[)h.—Press Asan.—Copyrlffht. The . New South Wales Government Statistician reports that from the outbreak of war to the.armistice food prices increased 39.7 per cent., and since the armistice had advanced to 81.2 per cent.

The Union Company is resuming the monthly Sydney to San Francisco service in November and is converting the vessels to oil burners.

The New South Wales Cabinet has decided to complete the erection of wheat silos throughout the State by day labor. The cost will be £1,000,000.

A ballot of woolgrowers in Melbourne to decide whether the scheme for controlling the disposal wool be adopted lias concluded. It is unofficially stated that the required 75 per cent- in favor of the scheme was not obtained.

Baron Gysenberg was murdered when going to Muenster ■ to give evidence against the Red Guard leader, who was charged With plundering Baron Gysenberg's castle. The Red Guard had previously offered 20,000 marks for Baron Gysenberg*s head.

An attack to force the German suV marine bases was contemplated by the British and American naval forces during the closing months of the war according to Rear-Admiral Benson. The American fleet was to be kept at home to protect the coasts in t!\ event of the Germans- breaking the .British cordon-

Hathan tribesmen, British subjects, who were recently abducted by the Afghans, have been returned under an Afghan escort. This is regarded as a hopeful sign, particularly as regards the continuation of the discussion with the Afghan delegates at Mussoorie.

A special meeting of the shareholders of the Colonial Sugar Company at Sydney passed a resolution providing for paying off capital to the extent of 80s per share by handing to each shareholder Commonwealth- war bonds, payable in December, 1925, bearing interest at 4i per cent., the bonds being accepted at their face value.

Tn ■opening the debate in the United States Senate on the resolution declaring the state of war with Germany ended Senator Knox asserted that President Wilson was arbitrarily maintaining that the United States was technically at war in order to coerce the Senate into agreeing to accept the Versailles Treaty. 'President Wilson desired above ail to retain the autocratic powers conferred on him during the war in order to use them for other purposes.

Mr. Hall' (who was appointed AgentGeneral for New South Wales, and later had his appointment cancelled), was greatly amused when he read the cables from Australia appearing in the English newspapers with reference to the discussion concerning the recommendation for a baronetcy. He :.-.id the matter had never even been suggested to him.

At the trial at London of Fraser and Rollins, who were charged with the murder of Senior in February, two women associates gave King's evidence. Fraser's associate gave evidence that the men planned that she should entice Senior into the park and they would follow and blackmail' him. Rollins took Senior by the throat and Fraser hammered his face with his fists and a revolver. The woman added that Fraser had been living on her earnings for 18 months. Fraser and Rollins were sentenced to death.

It is intended to rebuild the Bank of England. The new building will be of seven stories, and architecturally worthy of the most valuable building site in the ivorld. Accommodation will be provided for several other large banks, thus relieving the congestion. At present it is impossible to secure an office within half-a-mile of the Bank.