Miscellaneous.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Issue 38, 11 February 1899, Page 3

Miscellaneous.

It is 91 years since gas was first used in London. By the death of Prince Alfred, the Duko of Con naught becomes heir apparent of the Dukedom of Saxe Coburg. 4 monster sewing machine, weighing 3£ tons, is in use in Leeds. It sews leather beltings, A brilliant balj, held at the Hotel Cecil, resulted in J67QQO being subscribed to the Gordon College fund. An American syndicate proposes to monopolise the Cuban tobacco output at a cost of .£8,000,000. Ma^or Marchand reached Icjop, on the river Sobat, all well on January 11th. He has abandoned his flotilla, and is marching to Addjsabba, President McJSmley has commuted General Egans sentence of dismissal, for calling General Miles a malicious liar, to six years' suspension from service. The death. ' is announced of Prinpe Alfred of Coburg, son of the Duke of Edinbuigh, aged 25. His death, was due to a chronic cerebral attack. The Naval Committee of the American House of Bepresen'tatives recommends the construction of three battleships, three armoured and six ordinary cruisers, at a cost of 30,000,000 dollars. Mr John Dillon has resigned the leadership of the Irish Nationalists in the House of Commons, with a view to the promotion of a reunioix of the. Irish party. Commandant Booth has offered that if the Victorian Government provide' £he necessary land and capital, the,' Salvation Army will undertake ' the' replantation of drunkards. ' The Senate ratified the peace treaty by 57 votes to 27. There were two doubtful voters. The recent attack of the Filipinos on Manilla practically decided the question. Frequent friendly communications have passed between Lord Curzon and

the Ameer of Afghanistan since Lord Curzon's arrival in India, which it is hoped will have fruitful results. All Englishmen have withdrawn from Cabul. Lord Salisbury echoed the Earl of Kimberley's great satisfaction at the prospect of Australian federation, believing that it would tend to the prosperity and happiness of the colonies, and render more indissoluble the bonds with the Motherland. The Board of Trade returns show that the British imports in January increased by .£1,287,000, and exports increased by JG1, 116,000 compared with the corresponding month last year. New ships built in England for foreign countries are included in the exports for the first time. The difficulty connected with the range for the New Zealand Rifle Association's meeting, Major Sommerville states, has been satisfactorily settled, and the meeting will be held at Putiki, a mile from the town, commencing on the 25th instant. Shooting will be due south, and the range is excellent. Out of 43 applicants for the captaincy of the fire brigade, the City Council tonight selected Mr T. T. Hugo, Adelaide. There were 14 candidates from New Zealand and 29 from Australia, and the selection committee reduced these to three, the other two being Mr A. E. Moorman, Brisbane, and Mr W. Newsome, Ballarat. Terrific storms have 6wept the Atlantic. The Cunard liner Lucania, bound to New York, fought the hurricane for sixteen hours. Oil was poured on the sea but proved useless. On approaching the American coast, a shoal of whales in front of the steamer necessitated a stoppage of the vessel to prevent the pi'opeller fouling them.