CABLE BREVITIES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4781, 24 July 1894, Page 3

CABLE BREVITIES.

The Chinese have blocked the entrance of the Yang-tse-Kiaiig River, thus compelling ships to pass near the torts. The suggestion received at Berlin from a number of German residents in Samoa that Germany should annex the group lias been coldly received by the Government. A Republic has been declared in Hawaii, with JlrUale, as President. The same Cabinet is retained as in the Provisional Government. Affairs at the island are quiet. A Sheffield firm, having discovered thesccrctof manufacturing the new kind of powerful shells made for the Russian Government, basolfered to supply the Imperial Government with the missile, Four British warships and two torpedo-boats while being prepared for the naval mananivres were found to have defects in their machinery and broke down, They will be docked for repairs, Replying to a question in the House of Commons, Sir Edward Grey, Political Secretary to the Foreign Office, said that the German and Belgian treaties which affected the colonies were terminable 011 twelve months' notice. .Jjjto earthquake shocks continue atConstantinoplc, but lately they have been only very slight. Thousands of people have 1 eft their homes and are encamped 011 the shores of the Bospliorns, For the seventh time the Prince of Wales' yacht Britannia has defeated Messrs Gould's sloop Vigilant. The race this timo took place . nt Kingston, and additional interest was taken in the contest, as 011 the last-occasion when this pair of cracks met, thoVigilant won, though the issue would havo been doubtful had not the Britannia met with an accident. Conflicting accounts are given of the shooting of the shearer Ashton, at Queensland. Sub-Inspec-tor Carr states that a man named Prior fired the shot, which accidont- ' ally wounded Ashton. Carr thereupon snatched the revolver from Prior and arrested him. Ashton,sceing the revolver in Carr's hand, accused him of shooting him. Prior! is alleged to have confessed that he fired the shot. A woolshed at the Radcliffe Station has been burned down. There is every indication of v iucendiarism. A French torpedo-boat named the ■ Hydroudeur collided with a vessel in the English Channel, mid as slio was leaking badly all haste was made for , Bouk gne, with the view of beaching

her. The boat was driven along at, the rate of 28 knots, and the high rate of speed caused a fire on board. This led, to almost a'panic, and when it ■vras discovered that the outbreak

v ,r .J.\ /3. .ft. <A. J was in tjio vicinity of tjio magwino tiiS' natck extinguished,' .^oh(}^(i|i , Cßclife3., the harbour safely.'' ' |ln