GENERAL CABLES.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 357, 6 March 1902, Page 3

GENERAL CABLES.

By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright SYDNEY, March 5. 'Phe s.s. Moana steamed from Brisbane to Sydney in thirty-one hours, a record. Three boys, Anderson, Montrose, and

another, were drowned by the capsizing of a boat at Surprise Bay. I-lOBART, March 5. Herbert Lceniing and Brownrigg confessed to the bank robbery. MELBOURNE, March 5.

Mr Barton, in the course of a statement, said that under the Mew xlebrides postal contract negotiations the service of Burns, Philp and Co. would he extended to the Gilbert and Ellice Groups. The replacing of black by the white crews would be a consideration in the matter of payment. lie understood that the Australasian and New Hebrides Company had not been a success, and had parted with its rights to Burns, Philp, and Co. If the negotiations were successful the, land obtained would be thrown open on long leases at a nominal rent, and settlers and their belongings would be carried to the Islands free. The Commonwealth did not propose itself to become an owner of lands in the New Hebrides, but might make arrangements to enable settlers to acquire such conditions, to alTord a counterpoise to a large settlement under any other organisation. The supposed case of plague in regard to a man who had worked on board the Coolgardie is now proved not to be a case of plague.