CABLEGRAMS.

Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 114, 18 January 1879, Page 2

CABLEGRAMS.

(From Exchanges.) . London, Jan 10, The trade returns for December quarter impnits show a decrease of five and-a half millions, exports one and a half millions,, as compared with 18V7. Lord Beaeonsfield’s health is completely restored. Jan 11. The Ameer was received with sympathetic hospitality from Russia in Turkestan; The Russian Budget proposed to increase the taxation to equalise the revenue and expenditure. The Grand Vizier of Turkey proposes to reduce the army to a minimum, and decentralise the provinces. ; , Jan. 12. General Roberts on the 18th attacked a body of Afghan irregulars, and, after, a severe and protracted contest the Afghans were defeated, with the loss of five hundred killed, and numerous prisoners. The British also captured a herd of cattle and quantities of grain. Jan 13. At an official inquiry into the explosion of the 38-ton gnn on board IT. M. S. Thunderer, a verdict was returned to the effect that the explosion was due to a defective weld. . Russian Commissioners have been appointed to consider the best menus of reducing the public expenditure. ‘ Times ’ has reason to believe that Yakoob Khan has been officially informed by the Indian .Government of the probable terms of peace, which are such as Tie can honorably accept. The Midland Institute, Birmingham, containing the largest Shakespearan library in the world, has been totally destroyed by lire. Jan. 15. .The French Government have notified their intention of terminating ail treaties of commerce with England in January next. The Glasgow Bank have declared a dividend of 6s Bd. In an explosion at Ponty Pridd mine, fifty-eight were killed. A reduction of the discount rate is expected. Yellow fever is raging in Jamaica. Germany is vigorously supporting the Sydney Exhibition. ’ • A fatal accident occurred in the Rhona mine, in,Wales. Two thousand Communists have been amnestied. The signature to the President’s pardon wili be definitely attached to-morrow. ‘ ’ A tremendous conflagration occurred in New York. A large wholesale .clothes store- was completely, destroyed. The estimated loss is two million dollars, f Bombay, Jan. 11. A powerful -.tribe of Mangalo has assumed a threatening attitude. General Robert has consequently decided upon returning to Kuruni, where he will concentrate his forces. Latest advices state that Afgzail Khan, who com nanded the Afghans at Candabar, has disbanded his army and left the province. The Deputy-Governor of Candahar has tendered complete submission to the British. The City of Candahar was formally entered on the 9th. The leading officials and troops at Candahar fled tp Herat. Berlin, Jan. 9. A Bill has been introduced by Prince Bismarck, into the Federal Council, having for , its object the suppression of: Socialism.

AUSTRALIAN

'Melbourne, Jan. 15. 1 Three prisoners escaped from the Williams town gaol by forcing the casement. Jan. 16. A rich gold discovery is reported at Ssawell. While firing a salute at the opening ceremony two gunners were killed by t explosion of a gim ; and a third wounded. Botli were accorded a public funeral. The Governor; in his speech, stated that on the expiration of the Tones mail service tenders would be invite ! for fresh services, ns the present rate of speed is considered; ina iequate to the requ remeats of the colony. . Sydney, Jan. 16. The ' missing Shak -spernm picture which was much wanted lor the. c ntoouial has been found in a lot of lumber

at Sydney. It was insured for five thousand guineas for transmission to London. Japan makes a great show at the Sydney International Exhibition. The owners of the immigrant ship Hereford were fined LSOO for a breach of the charter party regarding water supply. Montgomery has been committed for trial for the jewellery robbery. Brisbane, Jan, 15. The Queensland Parliament met yesterday! JVIr King was ejected Speaker. The members of the Queensland ex. ; , ploring. expedition have reached PoweiUfcMi Creek, in South Australia. They lived on game latterly. ' They were unable to cross the. dry. swamps, and killed three horses in attempting it. They were relieved by the occurrence of thunder storms. . ■ The New Caledonian -insurrection is languishing., . Two. tribes have surrendered, and been sent to the Isle of Pines. Daily, the master of the Heather Bell, has been arrested, and the vessel ordered to Fiji by ’ the High Commissioner’s Court. Adelaide, Jan. 15, . Millers’ prices for wheat, are 4s 8d to 4s BTd for large parcels.

Travellers’ Wonders. weather-beaten sailor w T e overheard theother day in a Clay-street Bestaurant, kindly giving a few reminiscences of travel to some lady friends he was treating to corned beef and cabbage, “ Talking about lions,” he went on to say, “they are the intelligentest animal what is. A cur’.us thing happened once when we were on the East Coast last cruise. One of our officers went out hunting deer, and the next morning his bod}’ was found bit clean in two. but with his watch missing. Nobody understood it. Next day tke quartermaster’s body was found in tlie same condition, with his ‘ watch gone. Seemed as though a lionband pickpocket were -kinder snacks, as it were, only the lion : didn’t eat nothing. Next day two middies disappeared—same result. None of the sailors were hurt had no watches, you see. Of course the whole crew turned out for a grand hunt, and at . last, we lulled a ,liqn six feet long. la his stomach wc found all the watches, still running. Cold fact, I assure you. The ship’s surgeon, who cut the beast open, said lie wasn’t in good health —had a torpid, liver. So we seed at once that the animal had, killed all the officers, just to swallow their watches —sorter pills, you know. The lion must a thought the v/heels and things would kinder tickle him up inside. When we shot him he was lying with his eyes shut and his month open, listening to the works going inside him. Sounded like a whole jewelry store. Fact, main. Take some more cabbage.” —‘ American Paper.’ Filling Balloons for Military Purposes.— The production of hydrogen was is a very simple matter. Water or steam, which is the same thing, is composed of • oxygen and hydrogen. If, therefore, we can have recourse to any process in which the oxygen can be abstracted from steam, hydrogen gas alone remains. One ; of the readiest ways of effecting this decomposition is to passf** steam over hot iron. Captain accordingly fills, ai large tube with pieces ’’ of iron, and heats it in a furnace; he then passes steam through the tube. The result is tint the pieces of iron once begin to rust, or oxidise, from combining with oxygon in the steam while the hydrogen p cs s on out of the tube and into the balloon. In the field a traction engine would at mice afford sufficient steam, while any large tiro might replace the furnace ; the tube and a supply of iron fragments would form part of the -balloon train on the march. But it is not proposed to manufacture hydrogen only at the moment it is wanted. Tim balloon train of the future is to carry the gas about with it, so that an ascent may be made without delay, the hydrogen is to he compressed and stored away' in cylinders, as it is the fashion to keep gaseous waters bottled down. A Tricky Bankrupt. —From reliable authority, we, ‘ North Canterbury News,’ learn that a well known Pangorian, who “ filed his shovel” a short time ago, on the plea that lie had L 2400 stolen from •him, has been trying to work a little dodge on his creditors. It appears that he offered his creditors “ five bob ” in the £, but they being hardly able to swallow the tale of the robbery, put the detectives on the scent, and on Monday, sown up in a dress or a f—l p —t, belonging to the missus of the unfortunate bankrupt, were found LBOO in notes. It is thought that perhaps some of the other garments are thus richly hned ; anyhow,> a vigorous search will be prosecuted. The •feelings'bffthe luckless m in may be better imagined than described, when, on returning homo from Christchurch, he found “the cat was out of the bag.” Unpleasant Talkers.— Of these, says the ‘ West End,’ the person you meet at a ball who practices ‘ party talk ’ is the most detestable. ‘ Have you been to such a play ?” mentioning - the last new one ; you perhaps never go, or if you do, have become thoroughly tired of talking about it, having had to 'do so at least a dozen times before ; or else it is “ Have you-been skating *T' or if it is summer. “ Have you been to many garden parties this season ]” or How do you like the Academy this year?’ as if you went to all these places as regularly as you would eat your dinner. Perhaps, to fashionable people, who do all these sights, this conversation may be my pleasing, but to those who" do not, it is most - 1 tiresome and annoying, as you almost always know, what is, coming before the person speaks. If the conversation is addressed to men it is carried on in a similar manner, only five topics are of a worse description, being generally “The weather, the wine, or ie women.” Then there is the unpleasant talker, who is the particular _ aversion of learned men, who thinks he konws a great deal, and fancies nc has made some wondeafnl discovery in some such sciences as chronology, or which, as we ' all know, leave a margin for wonderful U e way be a member of a learned society,- and having made the acquaintance of die other membeis, daily bores them with his wonder discovery ; to get away from him is impossibhn for lie is'the longest winded of all our talkers. The next disagreeable is the warm politician he is is that seig-s you by the button-bole, and holds you fast, telling you ’with 'violence gestulptiou ; “England is aroirig to ruin and vvheni ever a war breaks out, that it is just what I

he expected, and goes on prophesying no end of future evils. Of whatever nation he may be, it is always his own country that is in the wrong. Thera are many other unpleasant talkers, such as, for instances, the amateur doctor*, and the scandal-monger ; but it would make this paper to lengthy to enumerate more than the principal ones. Marriage Reform. —The ‘ Cosmopolitan’ proposes the following marriage vow for its lady readers, when occasion requires: “ I will continue to love ray husband so long as he is loveable, honour him so long as he remains honorable, aim obey him so long as his commands are just and reasonable.” Married Women’s Property. —Among the Bills: (says a contemporary) passed by the late Legislature of Oregon, and has since become.a law, is an act relating to property of married women, which provides, that property'owned, by a woman at the time of marriage, ; or acquired thereafter by gift, devise or inheritance, shall not be subject to debts or contracts of the husband, and the wife may manage, sell, ■ convey, and devise the same as the husband can' his property. ‘ The property of either husband or wife shall not be liable to debts or contracts of the other. Action may be maintained by husband or wife against the other for the recovery of property of which the other has obtained possession, the same as if they were unmarried. For civil injuries committed by the wife, damages can be recovered of her alone, except in eases where he is jointly responsible,. Conveyances or liens from one to the other shall be valid. One may constitute the other his or her attorney, to act for mutual benefit or attorney in fact. The wife may recover the wages of her personal labor in-her own name. Neither is liable for the debts of the other incurred before marriage. Expenses of family, and education of children shall be chargeable on property of both husband and wife, or of either of them. We have here an Act which seems to be pretty well up to the advanced claims of those who have been laboring for a law which would give woman control of her own property and earnings, and put her on an in this respect with man.