COLONIAL ITEMS.

Press, Volume XLIII, Issue 6628, 20 December 1886, Page 3

COLONIAL ITEMS.

[Br Kucmsc Txligkaph—Coptmoht.] [iBWBUX. TO HUBS ASBOCIATIOK.] Keeatfßd OMMiter IK*, pja. XiMtdok, December IS. Oβ ship which west asbor* on the Glamorgan eoaeft <m the 10th baat., Iβ bring nnloaded, but the vox* of landing the railwaymaterial is my sknr,in eo&teqaenee of tl)« violent wither. <- \ Meaars Banabter predict * bright fatore for Australian viae* especially of tfae fighter qualities. The Belgian Government intend to Mod • Commiasioner to the Adelaide JmbiUe Exhibition. All the Adelaide exhibits at the ledian and Colonial Exhibition, and thoee from Victoria, which are to be exhibited at the Adelaide Exhibition, will be shipped by the Oawpana, leaving for Adelaide at the end of the month. The appeal ease Colonial Insurance Company t the 800 th Australian Marine AsiiiiliHnn has been dismissed with ecste. Judgment in the eaee Queensland GavarnmentT Gibbons hae been reserved oatU February. Mewl Boeephrey and Oα, corn merchanta, of Liverpool, have failed, with Bahtlitie* amounting to £55,000.

The Midland BaUway Company of Hew Zealand will not proceed with the allotment of shares, as only a few applications have been received.

There is an imprearion prevalent that Mr B. Stanhope is indisposed to adhere to the offer ef an initial grant of £100,000 in connection with New Guinea, and that he is awaiting fresh proposals. He declines at present to state whether the Government would be willing to accept the rest of the proposals re New Guinea put forth by Sir W. Griffiths if the Colonial vote was made permanent. Sir J. F. Garrick has protested against a comparison being drawn between New Guinea and the Gold Coast Colonies.

[aauTma'a tbuobambJ [BwMind Dooemker 10th, LlO a.m.] Lohdon, Deeembtr 18. At a meeting between the Agents* General and Mr Stanhope yeatarday the Secretary of State for the Colonies announced that the position ef affaire with regard to New Guinea and the New Hebrides was unchanged. Negotiations were proceeding between the British and French Governments relative to the French occupation of the New Hebrides.

Sir J. F. Garrick has stroagly, but vainly, urged the Government to make some definite arrangement with regard to New Guinea.

Beeeivisg a depatation, urging improved postal telegraphic arrangement ■ between England and the colonies, Mr Baikee, Postmaster General, deprecated aay antieipatian of the deeieions which •honld be arrived at by the comieg eonferenee, at which paetal arrangements would be discussed. He considered that a reduction in the telegraph rates would be better effected by the rivalry of different companies than by eubaidiee being graa'ed.