General News.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 149, 7 January 1902, Page 2

General News.

Land fifty milss from Johannesburg is selling at £SO por acre. The United Irish League is arranging to boycott the King and Queen's Irish visit.

Entries for the Floral Society's show on Thursday close to-day at 10 p.m.

Franco is establishing wireless telegraphic communication between Algiers and Tiuibuctoo. It is uncertain whether Queen Alexandra will be well enough to participate in the opening of Parliament. The Panama Canal Company has notified the Isthmian Canal Commission of its willingness to sell its interests for 40,000,000 dollars.

Mr J. C. Scott, surgeon dentist, ha removed to rooms above the shop of Mr Coltman, jeweller, and will attend there every Monday as usual.

Mr J. Kirkland notifies that he has commenced practice in his rooms, Queen street, where he has every convenience. A lady attondant is present to assist lady patients. The Home Newspapers announce that preparations are being made for the Prince of Walei) to visit India in November, and attend the proclamation of the King as Emperor of India.

There is apparently a large demand for poultry for South Africa. Seven' firms there have written to the Agricultural Department, New Zealand,' asking for regular shipments, and agents are buying largaly in the country districts.

Mr Ay son, inspector of Fisheries, is proceeding to Hakataramea hatchery, to lay out soma extensions and improvements. It is intended to try again the acclimatisation of tbe Atlantic salmon, and the Agent-General is to obtain a supply of ova. The New York Herald gives currency to a strange story to the effect that owing fjo disagreements at the War Offica, Lord Eoberts will "in April, if not sooner," resign his post of Com-mander-in-Chief, and will consequently not take part in tbe coronation ceremonies.

The King has devoted £200,000 given to him anonymously for a sanatorium for patients Buffering from tuberculosis, and £BOO to be devoted to essays on tuberculosis and plans for a model building at Portsmouth. The •Daily Mail states that - Sir Ernest Cassel was the .anonymous donor to the King of the tuberculosis sanatorium.

Mr William O'Brien received an enthusiastic welcome in Adelaide. Speaking of the aims of the Irish Party in the House of Commons, he said that he was not going to say that , < tbe people would be satisfied with the | measure of Home Rule proposed by i Gladstone. They would probably want more. He weuld not be satisfied till he saw the Government purchai-' ing the rich land in the centre of Ire> - land for the settlement of the sturdy peasant yeomanry who were tinable $$ .

Mr John Redmond, speaking at Sfigo advised Lord Rosebery to lend his lagged regiment of Imperialist Unionists into camp, leaving the Radicals to act alone. The United Irish League now poaessed far greater power than either the once powerful Land League or National League. If Mr Wyndham "tries coercion the last vestige of landlordism in Ireland will be awept away. As an instanca of the extent to ■which farmers are being affected by ihe present low price of wool, the Hawera Star states that at a recent Bale a bale of 4001 b of first class English Leceister brought but 2£d per lb, and netted the grower but £1 3s 3d, less exchange. A short time ago a bale of such wool would have been good for £2O.

Lord Rosebery has published hi s Chestershire speech in pamphlet form. In the preface which he headed " National Policy," he Bays that policy has large need of general approval, but political opinion must be organised, and political energy must be converted into practical work, and entrenchments thrown up. "I want soma spade work," he says, " on behalf of my •policy, otherwise the wave of adhesion whicu it has received will ba lost in '>

The Wellington tradespeople are -wroth with the Government for cancelling contracts which weie let for the supply of stores for the Eighth Contingent. Tenders were invited at short notice and sent in by local Thoy were accepted by telephone, and a written contract immediately afterwards was entered into. Then the Defence Minister declared that the tenders had not been sufficiently advertised, and that those which had been accepted must be cancelled. Some of the firms are talking of prooeeding against the Government for damages for breach of jontraot.

The London Times' Paris correspondent has received from Dr Mar, a prominent student of Chinese affairs, ■ documents emanating from the Taotai -of Canton, dated February, 1900, to the Taotai's son in Mongolia, showing 'that Li Hung Chang suggested to Eussia to foment Boxerism, as he was •convinced that Russia alone was able to extricate the Empress Dowagar 'from her embarrassmants. Ho accepted Prince Ukhtomsky's- offer of help to the Dowager against the western Powers, if she turned the Boxer ury from the dynasty against foreign-Si-rs, Eussia obtaining free access in !Syanchuria. The "Times says that the documents explain Russia's withdrawal from Pek'tn and her proceedings since the siege. The steamer Walla walla, bound from •San Francisco to Puget Sound with 38 first class and 28 second class passengers and 60 of a crew, collided at night off Mendocino, on the Californian coaet, with an unknown French barque which rendered no assistance. The "weather was hazy and there was a rough sea. Life-boats and rafts were lowered and life-belts distributed. The boats only accomodated 63, and there was a terrible scene among thosa who -were left on board. The women screamed, and men and boys leapt into the sea. The Wallawalla sank 35 minutes after the collision. The officers and crew wars cool and ■courageous. The steamer Dispr.t h rescued the occupants, who were drifting in the boats and ou the rafts. : Twenty-sevon of the passengers and • crew wore drowned.

THE DECEMBER RAINFALL. In our last issue a printer's error raade the 1899 rainfall " 17.6 inches." This should have been "37.6." Following is the correct rendering : At " Crosby" during December a rainfall of 6.31 was recorded, bringing the total for the year to 26.5 inches. In 1900 33.8 inches fell; in 1899, -37.6 inches'; and in 1898, 29.95. Mr Beckett tells us that the rainfall last month was the heaviest for any one montu for four years, except for October, 1900, when 6.35 inches fell.

" ZADKIEL " ON NEW ZEALAND. "Zadkiel," the well-known British ;prophst, in common with the rest of the outside world, is paying increased jyitention to New Zealand. In his almanac for 1902 (seventy-second year >of publicity) " Zadkiel" has more than a passing word of forecast for the •colony. He does not take the side of the pessimists regarding the condition of affairs here during the coming year, although he gives indications' of a disuial finish to the month just ended, ' that were, happily, not realised. In March, he declares, the public revenue will largely increase. Eailway interests will suffer, most likely through accidents and increase of expenses. In his notes upon a partial eclipse of the sua in May he says that the eclipse, which will oniy be visible in the South Pacific Ocean, " takes place in the eleventh house in Taurus." He goes -on to say that Cardan averred that a solar eclipse in Taurus portends [ barrenness and scarcity by reason of excessive drought. " This is, unfortui nately, very likely to- happen in New -Zealand, as Mars is elevated above the "•nri and moon in the precedent angle, and a shock of earthquake is also very probable. An attack by a madman or anarchist is likely to be made in the latter half of May on a person in high authority. An important change •will be made in the Legislature aft6r keen debates in the House of Representatives. The defences of New Zealand should bo strengthened. Mars in the tenth house foreshadows increase of taxation." June, says the prophet, " will bring a most prosperous and healthy quarter to New Zealand. 1 '