CABLE SUMMARY.

Waikato Argus, Volume VII, Issue 461, 15 July 1899, Page 3

CABLE SUMMARY.

WiRELEes telegraphy' will be employed in connection with the forthcoming British naval manoeuvres.

Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, Chancellor of the Exchequer, replying to a deputation from members of the House of Commons, protesting against the exorbitant cable rates to India, declined to grant cheaper cablegrams at the cost of the ratepayers. He said he was opposed to a general scheme of Government telegraphs, though he thought the Indian rates a. grievance. He favoured the principle of filling the gaps in the existing laud lines, as advocated by Mr Heuniker Heaton and Sir Edward Sassoon.

Truth states that the Emperor of Germany lias abandoned his projected vis't to Cowes, because he is deeply offended at the Duke r.f Connaught's resignation of his Coburg succession. The Council of the National Rifle Association (Bisley meeting) »has discarded the .4 ammunition owing to its tendency at a dangerous pressuie to •drive out the lead core, leaving the metal jacket in the rifle. It has aUo a tendency to detonate on firing during high temperature. The Council has substituted .2 ammunition. Colonel Gordon, inspector of warlike stores for the Australasian colonies, in August last forecasted the uncertainty of the .4 ammunition, and still regards the .2 as the best for target practice. A syndicate has raised £IO,OOO to assist Mrs Druce in the prosecution of her claim to the Dukedom of Portland.

Mr Wrightson (Conservative) has been elected for St. Pancras East, replacing Mr R. G. Webster (Conservative), who retired.

A proposal to hold boat races, in which crews of the British and French warships at Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, would take part, fell through owing to the Britishers refusing to associate with the French.

\V. G. Grace has completed 50,000 runs in first-class cricket.