COLONIAL ITEMS.

Press, Volume XLIV, Issue 6902, 7 November 1887, Page 5

COLONIAL ITEMS.

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[RE-TERV ____6_B___-.j Received November 6th. 10.0 a.m.

Berlin, November 5. The German Commission for the Melbourne Exhibition has issued a circular in which it urges the importance of participating in the. Exhibition, m order to cultivate German .mdustry, aud to increase the success gained at tho last •Vustralian exhibition. The Commission advocates collective instead of individual exhibits of each class of products. Received November 6th, 8 p.n_,

London, November 5.

A banquet was given at St. George's Club this evening, the Agents-General lor the various colonies being pretjeot. Lord Onslow presided. Referring to the recent Imperial Conference, upon the benefits which jKjcrued therefrom, and the prospects of the establishment of a great commercial and political union of every portion of the British Empire. His Lordship alluded to the negotiations recently concluded with the French Government relative to the evacuation »f the New Hebrides, which he declared proved that the Home Government was mindful of the wishes of the colonies. Sir Graham Berry, replying on behalf of the colonies, said the. altered tone.of the Colonial Office was much appreciatedby the colonials, and that the commercial and political union of the Empire in the early future was their earnest hope. Referring to the New Hebrides difficulty, Sir Graham Berry stated that the settlement arrived at carried unmixed satisfaction throughout Australia.

[SPECIAL TO PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Received November sth. 11.45 a.m. " London, November 4. This morning's message re the Bank of New Zealand shares is incorrect. It should read the Bank of New Zealand shares are being freely purchased at £15 10s, hot that the bank is purchasing its own shares. Received November .th, 12.30 p.m. London, November 4. The New Zealand Bank shares are quoted at .£l6. When the Colonial Office has completed the draft of the Unclaimed Piw'dends Bill, which will be on a sk-ilar basis to that of the Imperial enactment on the same subject, the Agenta-General will be called together: ■ to consider it. j Received November 6th, 6 p.m. London, November 5. At the interview between the AgentsOeneral and Mr Gosohen on postal matters, the latter refused to divide the surplus of postal rates or agree to the proposal for cheapening postage to the colonies.