CABLES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2013, 23 February 1907, Page 2

CABLES.

rttisss ASSOCIATION —COPTHIOHT. CAPE TOWN, Feb. 21. looting San Domingo revenues. Piet Forrovia, leader o! tho late Capo raid, and four other participants, have boon sentenced to death at Kimberley. Two of them, Potgiotor and Reticf, were recommended to mercy. They alleged that a German named Captain Siebert induced them to cross tho frontier and create a diversion to Germany’s benefit. They received £2OO for doing so. Siebert flatly denied the statements. In tho Transvaal elections the Nationalists elected include W. Wyeburgh and H. C. Hull, former members. Sheffield (Independent) won Japperton seat, defeating Cressv ell (Nationalist). NEW YORK, Feb. 21.

Tho United States Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee endorsed the treaty relative to America colLONDON, Feb. 22.

Tho Now York correspondent of tho Times reports that under the law allowing tho Governor to take proofs of the efficiency of State officials, Mr Hughes, Governor of New York State, lias created consternation among politicians and political officeholders by summoning and publicly examining Kelsey, State insurance superintendent, a man of integrity and ability, who had refused to resign, preferring to rely on the support of friends in the State Senate. Kelsey, in reply to Hughes’ questions, confessed that ho road the Armstrong insurance report only cursorily and made other admissions. Hughes recommended the Senate to dismiss him.

Sir ’H. Campbell-Bannerman, replying to the Peace Society’s appeal, wrote that lie adhered to the opinion that the question of disarmament should bo discussed at the Hague Convention if possible. Dr. R. J. Campbell has resigned the Chairmanship of the London Board of the Congregational Ministers’ Union, because the Board blackballed Wallace and Mabschauer, supporters of the new theology. There is a strong upward movement in India for Ceylon teas, with the prospect of a further advance, owing to moderate supplies. Common India teas are selling at threepence per pound above the lowest point reached last year. The underwriters get a considerable proportion of the Australian loan.

The Butter Bill conies into operation on January 1, 1908. Sir J. A. Swettenham has asked the Imperial Government to grant £150,000 for the relief o the sufferers by tho Jamaica earthquake and for a loan of a million pounds at 0 per centum for rebuilding purposes.

The German concessions scheme at Madiera has been defeated. Obituary: Lord Davey, of Fenhurst, aetat 74.

LONDON, Feb. 21

At the United Empire Club dinner Sir Horace Tozer ,Agent General for Queensland ,regretted that the Government liad decided to close the door against discussion at the Imperial Conference of one of the most important questions affecting the mutual interests of Britain and her colonies.

Mr. C. H. llason, Agent-General for Western Australia, declared that the colonies were anxious to share the responsibilities of the Empire. It was absurd to suppose that the giving of some preference to the colonies would necessitate the imposition of undue burdens on the British working classes.

MELBOURNE, Feb.-22.

Mr. Deakin, explaining liis intentions at the Imperial Conference, indicated that he would support the Conference being made an Imperial Council, consisting of the Prime Ministers of the colonies, who would meet periodically, and otherwise hold consultation by an organised system of correspondence with the Permanent Secretary, and together collate information. He also indicated that he would advocate preference between the colonies, and that Britain should give as well as receive under preference.

SYDNEY, Feb. 22,

The s.s. Ventura was docked today for a thorough overhaul of the machinery. • Until this is completed the date of her departure cannot be fixed.

MELBOURNE, Feb. 22. Both Houses adopted the Address-in-Reply. The cost of the late Federal elections was £46,679. The electors enrolled totalled 2,109,562, whereof 52.21 per cent, voted. Mr. Clarke states his visit is not associated with the mail contract, but to make himself acquainted with tho export trade, establish agencies, and to make arrangements for berthing and stevedoring. His firm are perfectly satisfied with the terms of the contract. Mr. Esplin, head of the well-known firm of naval architects, wlio accompanies Mr. Clark, will interview tlie Minister for Defence in reference to the construction of torpedo boat destroyers. Captain Barton, Administrator of Papua, has been granted twelve months’ leave. Judge Murray, Chief Justice of Papua, acts as Administrator till Parliament reassembles in July, when complete proposals regarding the Territory will be submitted

PERTH, Feb. 22

Tho report of the Commission on the alleged gold stealing finds there is no direct evidence of stealing. It recommends more stringent legislation.

•Forty prisoners in Fremantle gaol refused to work as a protest at one of their number being flogged while allegedly in ill-health. After considerable delay the malcontents obeyorders. An inquiry will be held. ADELAIDE, Feb. 22.

Tlio population of the State on December 31 last was 350,240, an increase for the year of 5847.

BRITISH POLITICS. LONDON, Feb. 21. The by-election for South Aberdeen to fill the vacancy caused by the appointment of tlie Hon. Mr. Bryce as Ambassador to America, resulted: Esiemont (Liberal) 3779, McNeil (Unionist) 3422, Bramley (Labor) 1740. Owing to bis attack on Mr. Balfour, cabled yesterday, Mr. Rowland Hunt has been omitted from the official list of Unionist members. In tlie House of Commons Sir Clias. Dilke introduced a Bill providing a single franchise at the elections for men and women of full age, whether single or married. The Bill also provides there shall be no disqualifications as to sox or marriage wlien voting for members of Parliament or any public function. Mr. Will Thorne’s amendment to the, Address-in-Reply, rgretting that the question of unemployment was not mentioned in the Speech from the Throne, was rejected by 207 to 47, Mr. John Burns protesting against any attempt to add a link to tlie pauperising chain. The Ad-dress-in-Reply was then agreed to. Mr. Birrell, in reply to a question, stated that tho Inspector-General of Constabulary reported that up to January 31 there had been ten cases of serious boycotting in Ireland and 38 minor cases of attempts to boycott.

Tlio Times complains that Mr. Balfour merely negatively declared himself opposed to high protective duties on foodstuffs. By not speaking clearly in relation to preference Mr. Balfour exposed liimsclf to tlio raillery of liis opponents. Mr. Lloyd George, speaking to Mr Hill’s amendment, denied that the colonies need our preference.

STEAMER WRECKED. ENORMOUS LOSS OF LIFE. LONDON, Feb. 21. Severe gales have occurred in England and Northern Europe. The j wind velocity was GO miles an hour. I The Great Eastern Railway Co.’s i steamer Berlin, from Harwich, i has been wrecked near Rotterdam. ! The steamer was driven ashore at 1 5 o’clock in the morning on Voorno j Island, and quickly broke asunder I amidships. I Tugs and lifeboats vainly tried to j approach tho wreck, but the heavy ’ seas that were running prevented them. A few persons were still seen to be clinging to the wreck at noon, but their chances were hopeless j The Berlin had 120 passengers, in- , eluding Mr. Arthur Herbert, King’s I messenger, and sixteen members of ! tlio German Opera Company from Covent Garden Theatre.

i The crew number 60, and only two j were saved. ; Twenty-five bodies have been recovered. (The Berlin was a steel twin-screw steamer of 1745 tons, built in 1894 by Earle’s Company, Hull, and owned by the Great Eastern Railway Company, lier port of registration being Harwich. She was 302 ft long, 36ft beam, and 16ft 2in. depth.) Received Feb. 22, 9.43 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 22.

Lord Knollys telegraphed to the manager of the Great Eastern Railways: “Tho King and Queen desire me to say how horrified they feel at the foundering of tlio Berlin and the terrible loss of life.” ; Mr. Arthur Herbert was the bearer of important despatches to Denmark, Russia, Germany and Persia, j A parcel of diamonds and a dozen mail bags were lost.

The wreck is attributed to tho breakdown of the engine. Captain Parkinson, of Belfast, who was a passenger and the only man heretofore saved, swam for an hour in stormy, icy water, amid corpses and wreckage. He declares that he saw a hundred on the foredeck swept into the sea.

Desperate efforts were made throughout the day to reach the wreck. A lifeboat and tug established communications, but the hawsers parted, and both were thrice flung shorewards. Those aboard could hear the cries of the survivors on the Berlin’s afterdeck.

Those on the Great Eastern, a steamer from Amsterdam, when she was passing in the evening, heard cries. The efforts to rescue were continued during the night. Received Feb. 22, 9.40 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 22. An operatic company aboard the Berlin included Fraulein Schoene, leading soprano; Fraulein Buttel, of the Court Theatre, Berlin; and.:Fraulein Gobel, of the Court Theatre, Dresden. Received Feb. 23, 12.15 a.m. LONDON, Feb. 22. The Berlin carried 91 passengers and 52 of a crew. The vessel was not insured. She was valued at £70,000. The company's maximum liability is £26,000.

THE THAW MURDER. FURTHER REVELATIONS OF ORGIES. Received Feb. 22, 9.43 p.m. NEW YORK, Feb. 22. Mr. Jerome elicited from Mrs. Thaw further admissions of relations with White, which were renewed from a month after the drugging incident until 1902. She was on such occasions more or less drunk. She described White’s night orgies wherein she and others participated. She declared that it was only when Thaw proposed to her in Paris, and serious conversations ensued that she fully realised the wrongness of her relations with White. RUSSIAN GENERALS EXCITED. KUROPATKIN INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN FOUR DUELS.

Received Feb. 22, 9.43 p.m. ST. PETERSBURG, Feb. 22. Generals Kaulbars, Grippenberg, Reunenkampf, and Bildering have each challenged General Kuropatkin to a duel as the result of his recent revelations. THE HOUSE OF LORDS. THE REFORM BILL. LONDON, Feb. 22. In the House of Lords, Lord Newton’s House of Lords Reform Bill, as cabled on February 6, was read a first time. It withholds a writ to summon a Peer unless he has held certain high political, civil, naval or military offices, or been elected twice before succeeding to the Peerage, or unless elected as a representive Peer. All hereditary peers without a seat would elect one-fourth of their number as representative Peers for one Parliament. The Bill confers on the Crown the power to appoint life Peers to represent interests there unrepresented hitherto. It reduces the number of Bishops sitting in the House. The second reading has been fixed for March 5.

THE NAVY. AND OUTLYING STATIONS. LONDON, Feb. 22. In the House of Commons Mr. Robertson, Secretary to the Admiralty, in reply to a question, admitted that tlie Admiralty were not sending to outlying stations ships appearing on the navy list as available for subsidiary service. SOUTH AFRICAN ELECTIONS. Received Feb. 22, 11.6 p.m. PRETORIA, Feb. 22. To date 29 Hetvolkites and 21 Progressives have been elected for tlie Transvaal Assembly, including General Botha, and Gregorowski, who Mas Chief Justico of tlio Transvaal Republic. It is estimated that the combined majority against tlie Progressives Mill ultimately be 19. Excepting Mr. J. Hay, Chairman of the Johannesburg Progressives’ Association, and Mr. A. D. Wolmaraus, member of the Hctvolk Head Committee, none of those nominated for the Upper House arc prominent in politics. The majority belong to tlie British side of tlio community. Tlie composition of the Upper. House has generally been adversely criticised in the nen-spapers, who declare the nominees are nonentities, political pigmies, appointed to the supremo work of government.

Received Feb. 22, 11.6 p.m. S. JOHN’S, Feb. 22. The Legislative Council of Neu - - foundland, by 11 to 2, adopted an address of protest to Lord Elgin against the vivendi. LONDON, Feb. 22. The public subscribed about ten per cent, of tlio Westralian loan. Received Feb. 22, 11.15 p.m. SYDNEY, Feb. 22. There is another case of plague. Obituary : H. G. Rusell, late Government Astronomer, aetat 71. MELBOURNE, Feb. 22. The Federal Parliament prorogued until April 9. It is expected that it "'ill not meet again till about the end of July. The Exhibition Building liad a narrow escape from fire. Tlie fire started in tlie Queensland Court of tho Australian Natives’ Association exhibition. Luckily the firebrigade station M'us bandy, and tlio brigade subdued tlio fire after it had partially gutted the Court. The damage •will amount to about £IOO.