REUTER'S CABLEGRAMS

consistent with their demand for freedom and independence. At the wool sales to-day 8000 bales were catalogued, making a total of 342,100 submitted at auction since opening. There was a fair demand for the various lots offered. After two days' debate the House of Lor la has, by a majority; of 89, adopted the motion brought in by Earl Lytton in favr r of the retention of British forces in Candahar. ,; -"... : La In the House of Commons to-day the Irisfi Arms Bill was read a second time. ' The Coercion Act has been declared to have forc6 in Ireland which has been most disturbed, and owing to the fear of arrest a considerable exodus of Leaguers andiother agitators is taking plaoe. Washington, March 4. Gbneral Garfield was tosday inaugurated as President of the United States, with the customary ceremony. " March 5. In his inaugural message to Congress on assuming office, President Garfield refers to the projected Panama Ganalj and in the course of his remarks maintains that t the same should alone be under thefsupreme control of the United States.

' AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

: : Adelaide, March 6. Earl Kimberley, Secretary of State for the Colonies, , has telegraphed to the Governor, declining with thanks the offer made by a number of Volunteers of this city to proceed to the Cape for service against the Boers* - ; .:.i. . Melbourne, March 6. > As the turret ship Cerberus was practising yesterday afternoon near the Rip in Port Phillip, her gig was suddenly blown up by a torpedo. Five men on board were blown to atoms, but one was saved. In the Legislative Assembly to-night, the debate on Murray Smith's proposal for a conference of the two Houses on the Reform Question was resumed, but now stands further adjourned to Tuesday next . , March 7. The details regarding the Cerberus disaster state that the gig left the ship at the Heads to explode a charge, and that during the preparations an oar fouled the wire, and, although the battery was not connected, the explosion was caused, and, as already reported, the boat and all of its occupants save one were blown to atoms. I It is understood that Government has resolved to strongly resist at the present time Murray Smith's motion for a conference on the Reform Bill. Sydney, March 7. Authentic information has been received here from Mount Poole goldfield in the Grey Ranges. Five hundred men are there and perfect order prevails, but the Chinese have been denied access to the ground. The average yield up to present has been an ounce and a half per load. ■ It is stated that the field is untenable unless rain tails, as water is very short. Only 20 of the miners are known to be on gold. '

BRITISH AND FOREIGN. LATEST FROM THE CAPE. WOOL SALES. THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE PANAMA CANAL. COLONEL WOOD MADE A MAJOR. GENERAL. SUSPENSION OF HOSTILITIES BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND BASUTOS. RETENTION OF BRITISH TROOPS JN CANDAHAR. IRISH ARMS BILL READ A SECOND TIME. COERCION ACT IN FORCE. EXODUS OF LAND LEAGUERS FROM IRELAND INAUGURATION OF GENERAL GARFIELD AS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. REFUSAL OF GOVERNMENT TO ACCEPT ADELAIDE VOL(JN« TEERS FOR THE CAPE. BLOWING UP OF THE CERBERUS GIG BY A TORPEDO.— FIVE MEN KILLED. MOUNT POOLE GOLDFIELDS. London, March 4. Consols unchanged at 99§. The total quantity of wheat afloat for the United Kingdom is 2,240,000 quarters. Australinn tallow— -Best beef ' has declined to 32s 6d, and beßt mutton to 32s 6d per cwt. . ■•■■a- ■• ■ • v Five Per Cent. New Zealand 1883 Loan, 104J ; 1879-1904 Loan, 97£. Best Scotch pig iron, No. 1 free on board in Clyde, 60s. At to-day's wool sale 7500 bales were catalogued. The tone of sale was firmer. Colonel Sir Evelyn Wood, who temporarily commands the British troops In the Transvaal, has been appointed a Major-General. In the House cf Commons to-day Gladstone made a statement, and announced that negotiations had again been opened between the Cape forces and Basutoa for the termination of hostilities, and that a prolonged armistice had therefore been declared. It ia announced that Major-General Edward Newdegate will accompany Sir F. Roberts to the Transvaal. March 5. The Government has received information frota the President of the Orange Free State, regarding the overtures which he made at the renuest of the late Sir George Colley to the Tranvaal Boers for the cessation of hostilities with the British. Dr Brandt announces that the leaders of the Boer Republic, in reply to his communication, state that they are willing to conclude peace, provided the terms are