YESTERDAY’S CABLES.

Evening Star, Issue 7753, 26 October 1888, Page 1

YESTERDAY’S CABLES.

Australian. The Electoral Bill introduced in the Victorian Legislative Assembly abolishes plural voting, and compels under pain of a penalty all persons on the roll to record their votes. The Press loudly denounce the latter proposal. The Searle-Kemp race for LSOO a-side and £he sculling championship is exciting very general interest. The betting is brisk, and 7 to A is laid on Searle. Kemp has laid LI ,000 to L3OO that he can beat Neil Matterson* and it has been arranged that a race between these two will be rowed on Parramatta River on Monday. Premier Parkes, speaking on the Divorce Extension Bill, said he would not admit the right of the Secretary of State for the Colonies to negative a Bill which had received the deliberate support of the Legislature, and he would vote in favor of sending the Bill back to the Imperial authorities, be* cause he held that Parliament had the right under the Constitution Act to pass the measure into law, Mr G. R. Dibbs has been reapj pointed Leader of the Opposition. A serious complication has. arisen with regard to naval command in Queensland. The Government granted Commander H. T. Wright, R.N., commander of the marine defences, leave of absence until his term of office had expired, but refused to pay his salary for the unexpired period, and ordered Lieutenant Taylor to assume command, of the defences. Commander Wright refused to hand over the Queensland gunboat Gayundah, or the stores and arms, and placed Lieutenant White under arrest, alleging that he was guilty of a breach of discipline. He also declared that while flying the white ensign he was not amenable to the Queensland Government, and at once prepared the Gayundah for sea. A body of police, armed with carbines, were held in readiness to board the vessel ; but in the meantime Com# mander Wright, after parleying with the Under-Secretary, agreed to leave the vessel and proceed to Sydney to discuss the question with Admiral Fairfax.