CABLES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2005, 14 February 1907, Page 2

CABLES.

irjUEBB ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT. LONDON, Fob. 12. Tho Woolwich explosion was chiefly of cordito. It was heard 51 miles distant, but south of the river was heard only three miles, owing to hills intervening. The explosion occurred in the early morning in tho laboratory of tho magazino when tho workmen wore absent. A gasholder, containing 330,000 feet of gas collapsed, tlie gas taking fire.

Tho number of deaths from core-bro-spinal meningitis is increasing in Dublin, Edinburgh, and Belfast. Twenty-six deaths occurred in Glasgow in throe days, chiefly among tho poorest classes. Professor Martens, President of tho Hague Tribunal, is in London negotiating with the Government in reference to the next meeting. He is satisfied Germany, the United States, and Prance will help tho Hague Conference. Ho expects 40 Powers will ho represented! Disarmament and the limitation of armaments are certain to he discussed. Ho is personally convinced it is quite impossible to obtain practical results at present.Sir Robert Pullar lias been elected unopposed for Perth. Mr. Lloyd George’s advisory committee, to co-operate with tlie Board of Trade in administering the shipping regulations, consists of 16 members. Tho Board of Trade will nominate three, the Shipowners’ Parliamentary Committee select four, the shipbuilders, underwriters, certificated officers and seamen two each, and tlie firemen one.

The Times publishes the views of a naval expert, and jn leading articles justifies the Admiralty’s reduction of the building programme because France, Germany, and tlie United States are lagging behind. It approves of redistribution of the fleet, especially in the North Sea. Britain will probably have nine or ton Dreadnoughts and Jnvincibles afloat before any other Power will have oue. SYDNEY, Feb. 13. Trouble is threatening in the Western collieries. The miners ask for a fixed hewing rate instead of the sliding scale provided by the Arbitration award. Tlie owneis offer to give a fixed rate on a condition which the men cannot accept. BRISBANE, Feb. 13. The Workers’ Political Organisation at Rockhampton denounce Mr. Kidston s action, which they consider a menace to democracy. Tlie Premier is likely to be opposed by the Opposition and Labor.

PERTH, Feb 13. During a theatrical performance two horses fell 30 feet through an aperture in the stage during a racing scene. Toe riders were not seriously injured: One horse was killed. MELBOURNE, Feb 13. The body of a Chinaman was found in an old shaft near Castlenfaine. The man had been brutally murdered and thrown down the shaft. A lengthy despatch has been received from Loid Elgin, giving suggestions as to the procedure' at .he Imperial Conference and subjeots to be discussed. It is probable the Vancouver service will be rearranged as the result of negotiations between the Post-master-General and tlie Union Company. Brisbane may be discontinued as a port of call and Wellington substituted. Received 12.52 a.m. Feb. 14.

SYDNEY, Feb. 13. In the sculling tournament over the Parramatta course, Arnst qualified for-, the final in the all comers’ handicap, beating L. Pearce, who conceded him 8 secs. He won by a couple of lengths in 11J minutes. Tlie Income Tax Commissioners are suing Willis for £2475 sterling, income tax for three years, with fines. The Commissioners allege that Willis’ statement of income is not true. Received 12.58 a.m. .Feb. 14. SYDNEY, Feb. 13. Mr. Crick has commenced an action against the Sergeant-at-Arms for £2OOO damages, for ejecting him from tho Assembly. NEWCASTLE, Feb. 13. Sailed: Rangatira, for Bluff. MELBOURNE, Feb. 13. Sailed: Moeraki. The German ship Dcruyter, from Philadelphia to J apan, signalled Queenseliff that she had the .shipwrecked mariners aboard. A tug wont and brought them ashore. Capt. Ree aud two sailors belonging to tlie Danish schooner Catherine, wrecked at Crozet Islands on December 14th, state that all hands are safe on tho islands. The captain and two men left in tho ship’s boat to get assistance. They wore at sea nine days when picked up by the Deruyter.

• ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION. LONDON, Feb. 12. Lieut. Shackelton commands the British Antarctic expedition leaving in October for New Zealand. The expedition lands a party at the Discovery’s winter quarters, returning to Lytteiton. Next year it picks up the explorers. AVliile the' expedition hopes to land a party at Mount Melbourne to try to reach the magnetic pole, its main object is to pursue sledging discoveries, to create a new farthest south record, and to reach the geographical South Pole. It is intended to use a motor car suitable for travelling over ice.

AFFAIRS IN RUSSIA. ST. PETERSBURG, Feb. 12. An infernal machine with clockwork timed to produce an explosion in two hours, was found in an unlighted stove near Count and Countess AYitte’s bedroom. Ten politicals in a St. Petersburg prison escaped by utilising a corridor 21 feet leading to a dwelling. Two were recaptured. MUSIC HALL DISPUTE. REFERRED TO ARBITRATION. Received 9.54 p.m., Feb. 13. LONDON, Feb'. 13. The music liall dispute has been referred to the arbitration of G. Rasquith. COLLISION AT SEA. A STEAMER SUNK. Received 12.52 a.m., Eeb. 14. LONDON, Fob. 13. Tho steamer Larchmont, bound from Providence to New York, collided with the collier Harry Knowleton off Quonochontang, at midnight on Monday. The Larchmont sank in ten minutes. She carried 150 to 200 passengers and a. crew of 30. Capt. McA r ey, and 19 survivors reached Block Island after suffering fearfully from intense cold. It is feared that tho rest have perished. THAW TRAGEDY. Received 11.56 p.m. Eeb. 13. NEAV YORK, Feb. 13. Evans, mental specialist, deposed that lie agreed with AVagner’s view that Thaw d.'d. o'- kr.cw ho was s" oYr'in, AYhlto. Ho had examined t • prisoner oigl* > Hines, ika latter at first suffered from an exaggerated ego. Gradually the mind passed from tho explosive condition to one of greater calmness and stability.

OPENING OF IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. SPEECH FROM THE EHRONE. LONDON, Feb. 12. The King and Queen opened Parliament in state to-day. Tho weather was cold. Tho Countess of Warwick contributed £ls to-day to an unemployed demonstration in Hyde Park on the occasion of tho meeting of Parliament. She sent a remarkable letter to Jack Williams, in which she said: “I returned my Peeress’ ticket for the opening ceremony when I heard of your march. How could I drive through tho street in satins and face tho unemployed?” Received 9.54 p.m. Feb. 13. LONDON, Feb. 13.

Though tho weather marred the pageant in the streets, there was much loyal enthusiasm. The scene at the House of Lords was brilliant. Tho Prince and Princess of Wales were present.

Tho Speech stated that foreign relations were friendy. It expressed satisfaction with tho way the Government officials had met 1 the emergency in tho deplorable Kingston earthquake, and recognised with gratitude America’s sympathy and the prompt assistance of the navy. The Ameer’s visit would tend to promote a right feeling, While firmly guarding tho strength and unity of the executive power in India, Ministers looked forward to a steadfast effort to widen the base of peace, order, and good government among the vast population. Serious questions had arisen from unfortunate differences between the House of Lords and the House of Commons. Ministers were considering this important subject and solution of the difficulty.

Bills were promised for licensing reform, Scottish land valuation, army reorganisation, establishment of a Court of Criminal Appeal, regulation of tho hours of labor in mines, amendment of patents laws, enabling measure to allow women to servo on local bodies, valuation of property and amending small holdings in England and AVales, aud better housing of tho people. Measures would bo submitted' for further assisting the people of Ireland in tho management of domestic affairs and improving the administrative and financial aspects of the government. Proposals would be submitted for effecting reform of university education in Ireland. Three thousand unemployed marched from Tower Hill to Hyde Park, the police preventing them approaching Parliament. Received 11.15 p.m. Feb. 13. LONDON, Feb. 13.

The House of Lords agreed to the Address, the adoption of which Lord Castletown moved, and Lord Chichester seconded. Lord Lansdowne said he was disthey would approach the Colonial Conference, whilst the references to the relations of the two houses were grave aud oracular, yet they were au agreeable contrast to some of Lord Crewe’s and Mr. Bryce’s recent speeches. He and his friends were readj T to meet any charge. He advised the Government to clear their, minds respecting what they wanted, appointed that Ministers had not indicated the frame of mind with which Did they want to, make the House of Lords stronger or degrade the House to a mere debating society ?. He believed the country was convinced that the danger of au unreformed House of Lords was nothing compared to the dangers of an uncontrollable House of Commons.

Lord Ripon said the Conference would be a ble to discuss any question or circumstance. The House of Lords was composed of one party, a great danger to the people. Government did not intend to propose an Irish legislature with a responsible executive, but measures improving the system of administration. In the House of Commons Mr. Tomkinson moved, and Mr. Rainy seconded the adoption of the Address in Reply.

Mr. Balfour said it was amazing that the Speech contained no reference to the Conference, considering its great Imperial importance. He advised the Government to think more and talk less about constitutional issues. He bantered Mr. AYalton as “robes-pierro in disguise.” It would be idle to suppose that they could have a second chamber and no conflict of opinion at all, which was necessary. In the long run people would have ultimate power in decision. It was fruitless for Government to try to find something which could bo both homo rule and not -home rule for Irelaud. Referring to New Hebrides he charged the Government with tacticless conduct and want of judgment in not sufficiently consulting the colonies That was most amazing. Government had just won the general election by representing that indentures for labor slavery should cease, while in New Hebrides hey re enact the Guana system of indentured labor with the addition of compulsory repatriation.

THE PREMIER’S REPLY. Received 11.50 p.m. Feb. 13. LONDON, Feb. 13. Sir H. Campbell Bannerman said that Government had followed Unionist precedents in 1897 and 1902 in not referring to the Colonial Conference. Ho fully realised the serious nature of tho task which he intended to ask the House in due time to undertake against tho House of Lords. For twenty years the House of Lords was quiescent and ready to accept whatever the Unionist Government offered. The House of Lords was called a watch-dog, but after being for twenty years somnolent there now came a period of ferocity. The House of Lords became unblushingly aggressive. The leader of the Opposition was always ready with men not elected, but born to support him. He was aware he was opening an enormous question, but Government would not shrink. He was not sure the problem was not easier of solution than many thought. Anyhow, settled it must be, for tho present state was dangerous and demoralising. Like every self-govern-ing colony, the Irish were entitled to the management of their own affairs. That was the largest policy ho had previously referred to. It might not be reasonable or desirable to give nil at once, but Government hoped to remove obviously objectionable features from the present system, and in such a way have a larger policy open. New Hebrides lias been discussed, ro-discusscd, and re-discus-sed again with tlio colonies for five years. No new policy was sprung on them. Government had to make the best possible fight with a friendly foreign power. At last tliey had to tell the colonies: “A\ r e protected your interests as far as we can. AYo have come to a point when you will have to take what you can get. Regarding indentured labor, wo secured tho best terms wo could got for the protection of cannibals.” Government intended to proceed further with reform of tho procedure of the House of Commons.

Mr. Redmond regarded the Government as pledged to deal with tho Irish problem this session on lines leading to complete self-government. Mr. Keir llardio suggested that Sir Edward Grey ought' to hint to tlio Russian Government that its method of treating reformers should conform more to the methods of western civilisation than barbarian byegone ages. Ho complained that tlio Speech had not referred to old age pensions, tho unemployed, tlio aged and deserving poor, which first would have claim on tho expected surplus of fivo millions.