LATEST FROM EUROPE AND AMERICA.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 393, 15 September 1875, Page 2

LATEST FROM EUROPE AND AMERICA.

[Per Press Agency.] LATEST FKOM EUROPE. [Via Auckland.] London, August 28. An inquest has been held relative to the catastrophe by collision between the Royal steamer Alberta and the yacht Misletoe. The jury were unable to agree to a verdict. The Alphonsist troops have captured the citadel and garrison of Urgel, a fortified town in Catalonia. The Pacha of Servia and the Foreign Consuls are to meet at Mostar, a town in European Turkey, on Tuesday next, to aegociate with the Herzegovinian insurgents The Bank of California and the National Gold Bank of San Francisco have failed, causing a panic in San Francisco. Singapore, August 28. Nothing is officially known here confirming the news lately received of an insult offered to Mr T. F. Wade, Minister Plenipotentiary to Pekin. Mr Wade has only informed the Home Government that he was dissatisfied with the action of the Government of China, and suggested the expediency oJ having troops ready to send to China if required,

COMMERCIAL. London, August 28. Wheat is declining under the influence of more favorable harvest reports. Australian is quoted at 55s to 565. Wool is steady, without, however, a recovery in the decline of prices. Foreign buyers are operating largely. The copper market is steady, and prices are firm. Chili is quoted at £B2 10s; Burra, £B9 to £9O ; Wallaroo is held for higher prices. The tin market is active. Straits, 82 to 83 ; Australian, 80 to 81. SHIPPING. Arrived —Lady Jocelyn, from Lyttelton, on May 14th, ADDITIONAL AUSTRALIAN. Sydney. The widow of the late Judge Milford died yesterday. There are political rumors that a member of the present Ministry is to receive a permanent appointment in connection with the railways. It is also stated that an offer of the then vacant portfolio is to be made to a member of the late Administration. The Government have received a communication from South Shields, England, stating that the examiners of the railway iron, appointed by the New South Wales Government, deny that the iron was inferior or different from the conditions of the specification. Melbourne. A young man named Richard Whycross Sawyer, has been arrested, charged with neglecting to make an entry into the books of the Bank of Victoria (of which he was teller) of £I4OO deposited there. It is stated he will be accused of taking part in the robbery of the £2OOO worth of notes, about the loss of which there has been so much excitement. At a sale of 400 pure-bred merino rams from the Erceldoun flocks, the lot averaged £4 4s. Wheat has improved ; 5s 9d is offered, and at that price it is much wanted. Flour is to be obtained under £ll ss. Sugar has improved in prices. Maize is quoted at 4s lid. An Australian Health Society is projected. Ah Cat was executed in Melbourne gaol. Mdlle de Murska was serenaded, and was honored by a torchlight procession. John H, Leeds, a drover, has committed suicide by taking poison. His cheques had been returned unpaid. Advices has been received that 2250 Martini Henry rifles have been shipped for the Volunteers. The Minister for Education informed a deputation that in order to carry out the promises already made for the erection of schoolhouses, £300,000 will be required. Leggat, worn out and fatigued, has returned to Melbourne with the Stephens’ lifeboat. He had reached as far as Port Albert, Queensland. Henry Jordan, at one time Agent-General, has been appointed Master of Titles. The Premier, Mr Macalister, leaves for London by the next Torres Straits mail. The ship Star Queen, with immigrants for Brisbane, which vessel called in at Melbourne for provisions, will form the subject of a rigid enquiry here and at home. The immigrants appear to have been on half rations for a week previous to the ship's arrival at Melbourne. The Government papers show that certificates were signed for full rations for 140 days. It is thought that the Education Bill will be shelved owing to the action of the president of the Legislative Council. Mr Mackay, editor of the Queenslander , has been appointed Commissioner to represent the colony at the Philadelphia Exhibition. Mr Warry, grocer, has suspended payment. His liabilities are stated to be about £20,000, of which £4OOO are due to Sydney creditors. Adelaide, A fresh addition has been proposed to the stamp duties ; on lawyer’s annual certificate, £lO ; Queen’s Counsel, £2O, The extra stamps on policies have been expunged, and an annual fee substituted of £SO for local marine companies, and a fee of £25 for fire, and £25 extra for foreign companies. Wheat is dull; buyers are offering 5s Id, but holders ask a Id more. Country flour has been sold at £lO ss. INTERPROVINCIAL. Auckland, September 14. The following are the latest arrangements for the football tour. The team of twenty leave Onehunga at 3 p.ra, to-morrow per the Hawea, arrive at Taranaki at 8 o’clock the following morning, play the Taranaki match from 11 to 1; embark at 4 p.m , arrive at Nelson the following morning, pass on to Wellington, being due there on Friday night, play Wellington on Saturday afternoon; passing Lyttelton, arrive at Dunedin on Tuesday, the 21st, play the local team on following day; leave on the return journey on the 23rd, arriving at Lyttelton on the 24th, play the Christchurch match on the afternoon of the same day; leaving in the evening; Nelson will be reached on the 26th, and the Nelson match played on the 27th. The team arrive back in the Manakau on the 29th. Should the weather prove unfavorable for landing or playing at Taranaki on the way down, this match will be played on the return. Father Boibeux, Catholic priest, died today from a complication of disorders, after a long illness. He arrived here in 1860. He was for many years actively engaged in the Maori mission. A Poverty Bay telegram to-day states that there was a violent earthquake there last night at 11.40. There was a heavy vibration in the north and south direction, lasting nearly a minute. The whole town was in commotion. In one hotel there was quite a scene. Consternation was depicted in every face. The bells were ringing, and the clocks stopped. The shock made several people quite sick. THE ABOLITION QUESTION. {From a correspondent of the Press ') Wellington, Sept 14, The following in the Post fully states what took place at the caucuses to-day, A meeting of the supporters of the Government was held at the Premier’s icsidence at eleven o’clock this morning, forty-eight being present and three absent, Dr Pollen opened the proceedings by stating that on Saturday he communicated with Sir G, Grey, and in*

formed him that the proposals which had been suggested by the Opposition could not be acceded to. It was not until yesterday that he received the following reply from Sir G. Grey—“ 13th Sept., 1875. My dear Sir —On Saturday I received your letter of the same date, when I was about to communicate to you the result of the meeting of the Opposition, which had taken place that day, The feeling of that meeting was such as to satisfy me that a settlement of the question was practicable on the basis of the proposals submitted. I regret to find your supporters have been uuable to agree to those proposals. In reference to the latter part of the resolutions enclosed by you, I have only to say we are desirous to forward the business of the country, and shall be willing to assent to any proposal for again discussing the question with that view,—Yours truly, George Grey.” On the evening of the 13th, a conference between the Government and Sir George Grey, Messrs Fitzherbert, Macandrew, and Rollest'on, was held, and a long discussion took place. The Opposition made the following proposals—“ That the Act should not come into operation except upon a proclamation of the Governor issued subsequent to the close of the first session of the new Parliament.” To which the Government replied by submitting the following proposition, which, if made to them, Ministers would recommend for adoption by their friends, 1. The Abolition of the Provinces Bill to come into operation on the fortieth day after the opening of the first session of the new Parliament. 2. That point being conceded, the details of the Bill now before the House shall be fairly considered in committee, and settled in the usual course, without unreasonable opposition. 3, That the Provincial Councils shall not meet again. That the departmental appropriations shall be provided for by Act of the Assembly, at the rates now voted, until the close of the next session ; the administration, as already established, being carried on. Th.d from the present date no contracts for works upon which any public money may become payable shall be entered into by any Provincial Government, without the consent of the Governor.” The Premier suggested to the meeting that the Act should come into force at the end of next session, unless repealed. After some discussion, a resolution to this effect was put and carried. Mr Stafford said that the negotiations had been conducted with very great skill. The chief object was to get the Act on the Statute Book. It was not of so much importance upon what particular day it should come into operation. He quite approved of the proposal of the Government as to the Act coming into force at the end of next session, but be hoped the party would concede nothing further. He then moved the following resolution, which was carried :—“ That this meeting having learned the result of the interviews between the Government and the Opposition, and the opinions of the Government thereon, is satisfied to leave the final decision in the hands of the Government upon the basis of the proposals submitted to the meeting.” Mr O’Conor objected to the proposal not to allow Provincial Councils to sit again, and to all works being done by the General Government. It was impossible to have to wait for reference to Wellington for every ten pound job. Hon vlajor Atkinson pointed out that the Government only intended to use their powers to check expenditure upon works for which Provincial Councils had voted money far beyond their own revenue. The ordinary details of administration ; would go on as before, Government granting the money that would have been available for the Provincial Governments. The Government would also make proper provision for the local bodies. The meeting then separated. The Opposition also had a caucus, which lasted upwards of two hours. A very strong feeling wag expressed that the Abolition Act should only come into operation on being proclaimed by the Governor, and it was unanimously agreed that the proposal that it should come into operation forty days after the new Parliament met, could not be entertained. While the caucus was sitting it became known that the Government meeting had agreed that the Act should not come into force until the end of the next session, A very general feeling was then expressed that this was a fair concession, and one which should be accepted. As, however, no official intimation had been received, it was determined that the Government should be asked not to bring on the question to-day, so as to allow further time to arrange a settlement. The Government have postponed until tomorrow further proceedings with the Bill, so as to allow time for the compromise, to the terms of which both parties are now really agreed, to be formally ratified and settled. It is expected that at to-night’s meeting the Government and the Opposition leaders will arrive at a final settlement. An explanation on both sides will be made to-morrow, and on Thursday the House will go into committee on the Bill. The session is expected to finish in about five weeks.