YESTERDAY’S CABLES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2138, 13 March 1908, Page 4

YESTERDAY’S CABLES.

In the House' of Commons, in tHo debate on the vote on the naval pay, Mr Balfour, reiterating comparisons of the navies, asked for a clearer answer than was possible on the previous night. Mr Asquith, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said the country would mnintiin unassailable supremacy. The two-Bower standard was good, practicable and workable. Oil that there was no dilferenee of opinion. He added that Mr Balfour’s question was confined to vessels of the 'Dreadnought class. Tho - .assumption that Germany by November, 1911, would possess thirteen of that class was based on the hypothesis that one would be built in thirteen moilths after it. was laid down, and the whole programme on paper executed to the letter. There was grave reason to doubt that, but for the moment ho assumed that hypothesis to be correct. Great Britain by January ol 1911 would possess • twelve Dreadnoughts, and* later would bo one ahead of Germany if they completed their programme in the time. That assumed that nothing would be done here in tho wav of new construction in 1909, or if vessels wero laid down at such a date that they would not he completed..by 1911, but without forecasting the' programme for 1909, lie could snv without the faintest hesitation that “if we find a reasonable probability of tho German programme being realised, as the paper figures suggest, we shall provide a sufficient number of ships at such a datej of laying down that, by November, 1911, the superiority of Germany,-which Mr Balfour foreshadows, will not be an actual fact.” (Loud Opposition elicers.) Mr Asquith added: “lliat is the policy of the Government. It remains on record, and ought to reassure the llouso that wo do not intend to bo left behind. (Cheers). The Times declares Mr Asquith’s explicit. declaration will, bo _ received throughout tho country with profound satisfaction and no lit-tlo senso of relief. . Tho London Standard attributes the Cabinet’s definite statement on naval construction to Mr Asquiths "rowing ascendancy, and deo.aies Mi Asquith is trying to induce the Cabinet to break from.the (Socialists, lie deputed Mr F. Maddison to move tho rejection of Mr J. H. AN itson s Unemploved Bill, which provides that legistered unemployed and their dependents be maintained at the .public ex- * In the House of 'Lords Lord Loreburu moved the second reading of tho Scottish Small Holdings Bill. He offered to consider minor amendments not affecting tho crofterizing of tho Lowlands. Lord Montrose moved an hostile resolution. ‘ Iho debate was atl, rlio' 1 French President visits England in May. . The London Standard warmly praises the spirit of patriotism cm-_ bodied in the Commonwealth defence scheme, embodying a national guard. The deaths resulting from influenza in London last week numbered 12A Tho Court of Appeal in London upheld Mr Justico Lawrence s decision regarding the Great Northern and .Central railways amalgamation scheme, particulars of which wero cabled on tho 3rd jnst. , , Mr J”ustice Novill sanctioned ttio sale of AV. and A. McArthur’s warehouse in London, the proceeds to become the assets in the new company. In the House of Commons, Air Gladstone was .asked if lie would consent to defer the Minors’ Eight Hours Bill to another session, owing to the depression in industries largely dependent on tho price of coal, " lie replied in the negative. The Metal Exchange, at Swansea, representing 326 members of South Wales and Monmouthshire, unanimously condemned the Bill, predicting it would seriously diminish tho output of coal and increase prices in the engineering trade. A Swedish laborer named Gren, a discharged lunatic, fired a dozen shots with a Remington rifle at Christiana Castle at noon. Ho was arrested and declared lie intended to kill Ixing Haakon, who had no business in the country. Two bullets penetrated the rooms of tho Ring and Queen, uho w 4 ero absent. . ... At the instance of tho Nationalists, who sympathise with Air Ginirell, member for West Meath, Ireland, now undergoing imprisonment for contempt of court, the House of Commons, by a majority of 115, adopted a motion that jurisdiction in matters of contempt of court is arbitrary, and requires limiting. Air Augustine Birrell declared that the law of contempt was' an excresence, and its amendment was urgently required. Air Cyril Jack-soil, tho well-known educationalist, has been appointed chairman of the London County Council’s education committee. Vere Goold, the Alonte Carlo murderer, has been sent to New Caledonia, and his wife imprisoned at Montpellier- . The report of the administrator of Papau contains a record of a curious incident. A European, Weaver, was murdered 1 near Port, Aloresby. His murderer was on good terms with Weaver. One of them built a house and wished to paint it in a certain manner. Native custom forbade him to do so unless lie Lad previously killed a man ,and ho therefore killed Weaver. He afterwards tried to charm back the life. Tiie murderer was hanged and his accomplice imprisoned. Representatives of the proprietary articles section of tho London Chamber of Commerce interviewed the Minister for Customs on the. proposed legislation dealing with patent medicines. They urged that tho distiusuro of the formulae would comooK!y ruin the trade with Australia. They admitted there were numbers of undesirable articles which legislation should .aim at eliminating, but it should not destroy the good cues. Air Chapman promised to g'?e the matter careful consideration. Their legislation was intended to regulate, and not to eradicate, the ’ usm’ss. In tho Alelbourno House Mr Fisher, labor loader, notified a motion favoring Federal Old Ago Pensions. Air, Deakin stated that lie understood a French judge, appointed under tho New Hebrides Anglo-I’nnch agreement, had arrived. , The. at tention of the Imperial authorities had been called to the necessity of appointing an English judge, lupiesentations as to the control of the islands being removed from F’Ji to Sydnev were being considered. Air Bent declined to leeoive the secretary of the unemployed movement in Victoria on a deputation t on the ground that he was a Russian socialist. He ordered him out of the room. „ , r i The Alothodist Conference m Melbourne discussed the declining birth •rate and adonted a resolution in favor of legislation'to prevent certain practices. One speaker declared that women' could be seen about the streets nursing black-faced dogs and fierceeyed cats, who would be ashamed to be seen nursing a baby. In tho N.S.W. Assembly Mr 0 Sullivan moved an addition to the censure motion, disapproving of two sessions in succession instead of a long one. In the Queensland Assembly Air Philip hotly attacked the Government for events loading up to the dissolution. Ho thought it would have shown much hotter taste if Mr IvidStoll had left out-.of the Address-m-Jteply any reference to the Governor. lie moved the delotiou of such clauses. Air Kidstoii said there was uri'ent need for the unusual matter in "the address. It was the first duty of the House to make certain that Air Philip or any other- Premier would not do again what had been done. Alinisters were as loyal and respectful to the Governor as any body, but there were also representatives of the people, and it behoved them to be loyal to protect the interests of the people and to reassert the right of control of executive government. The debate was adjourned.

Eighteen Hindoos were fined one hundred pounds for entering British Columbia in contravention of the Act.

King Alfonso lias inaugurated a new street at Barcelona. Ho attended a gala concert at the Lycoe Theatre, and received an ovation everywhere.

Tho accident was to llto NorthWestern Mail train from Narr.ibri, not Brisbane as at first reported. All trallied! the northern line, including the Brisbane mail, was blocked lor several hours. Passengers wero transferred at the scene of the mishap and reached Sydney this evening. A refrigerating ear next tho engine first left the rails, two-second class cars following. These became derailed and toppled over a slightembankment. The remainder ol the train kept the line. Many persons who were asleep were rudely awakened mul siilfered from shock, those in tho overturned cars behaved splendidly. Darkness impeded tho work of rescue until fires were lighted, by which the passengers remained, iho injured wore tended to until yuviurival of relief trains. Altogether alofr.it persons wore nut red, all slightly. The damage to the rolling stock in heavy. . , f Alotor races at Cairo in honor ol the Duke and Duchess of Connaught were aliruntly closed owing to a e,ar swerving, killing three and injuring ten of the crowd. The duke and Duchess of Connaught arrived later.