LATE CABLE NEWS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 5427, 22 February 1886, Page 2

LATE CABLE NEWS.

London, February 11. Mr Murray Smith sails for Melbourne on April 22. The Oriental Bank has paid the Victorian Government twenty shillings in the pound, with interest added, in satisfaction of their claim against the old bank. The Agents-General are discussing Mr Griffiths's despatch regarding the New Hebrides. February 12. Mr Anderson, of the Eastern Extension Company, declares that will not pay to lay an opposition cable between New Zealand and Australia. Mr Charles Russell, Attorney-General in the new Ministry, has been re-elected to his seat. The frozen meat by the steamer Coptic is selling at 5d per lb. Ai the next meeting of the Royal Cjlonial Institute, a paper on Imperial Federation will be read by Sir George Bowen. Two eight-inch twelve-and-a-half ton breech-loading guns, made to the order of the Victorian Government at Sir Wm. Armstrong's factory at Elswich, have been shipped by the Midlothian. The flour market is depressed, and there are large country supplies in stock. The wheat market is steadier, but values are unchanged. Shipments, ex warehouse, are quoted at 365, and there is no record of forward business in Australian cargoes. The divorce case, Crawford v Crawford, has created a good deal of excitement, and the impression left on the public mind is that the facts contained in the allegation have not been disproved, but that the verdict obtained was simply a legal acquittal. Mrs Crawford's admissions were supported, and complete evidence was not produced by the petitioner's counsel. Acting on the advice of his counsel, Sir Charles Dilke did not present himself for examination. The Times characterises the result of the case as extraordinary, and the Pall Mall Gazette say 3 that Sir Charles Dilke's promised refutation of the charges had not been given. The marriage had been dissolved. Hordern's Western Australia Land Company has increased its capital to £300,000. Rear-Admiral Hoskin and Admiral Erskine have been appointed Naval Lords of the Admiralty. ' r■' February 14. . The Times states that Servia is finally resolved to adopt a peaceful attitude in future. It is reported that Sir Charles Dilke will resign his seat in the Ministry. Speaking at Paddington Lord Randolph Churchill predicted a civil war would occur in Ireland if a separate Parliament was granted. The Stamdard states that the Great Powera will not allow the offensive and defensive agreement of Turkey and Bulgaria. Mr John Morley, Chief Secretary for Ireland has been re-elected by a majority of 2660. Obituary — Very Rev. Principal Tulloch, D.D., Vice-Chancellor of the University of St. Andrew's, aged 63 years. _..[.£)>. .TU^Uooh '° writipgß. injbhe British Quarterly Review have gained tor. mm a wide reputation. He also wrote several well-known works, among which may be mentioned "Leaders of the Reformation" and "Rational Theology and Christian Philosophy in the Seventeenth Century," published in 1872. He was a constant contributor to the Edinburgh Review, as well as of numerous vaulable, and interesting papers te the Contemporary Review.] February 15. The Orient Steamship Company are about to have a steamer of 6000 tons built for them on the Clyde. Teenier, the sculler, has issued a challenge to William Beach to row him for the championship of the world, and offers the latter lOOOdols for his expenses The Socialists intend to hold a meeting in Hyde Park on Sunday next. The annual meeting of the Federation League was held to-day. The report presented was of a hopeful character, and it is considered that the cause has been greatly advanced by the action of the New South Wales Government in despatching a contingent to the Soudan. Sir Alexander Gait, High Commissioner of Canada, and Mr Dodson, of Tasmania, urged the immediate projection of a scheme of federal defence. There was only a small attendance, and Lord Rosebery and Mr W. H. Smith, who were present, did not speak. February 16. The Corporation of the City of London are "arranging for the reception of the notables visiting the Indian and Colonial Exhibition. Mr Morrison has introduced a billinto the American Congress for the purpose of reducing the amount of duty on various importations. The proposed amount of reduction to be effected is 20,000,000 dollars, and will be principally on sugar. The reduction in wool will be only very slight. Mr Gladstone expresses sympathy with the movement in favor of State emigration. Sir Charles Dilke has declined to enter the Ministry because he is unwilling to risk re-election. Many letters are appearing in the daily papers demanding that the Queen's Proctor should intervene, and of the Press declares that the case looks suspicious. Mr Gladstone, on the ground of the necessity for preliminary enquiries, proposes to postpone dealing with the question of Home Rule for Ireland. The scheme for conversion of New Zealand stocks, which was announced last week, is greatly liked. It is ex;pected to save £100,000 a year. • Mr Pender states that reductions on the press cable rates cannot be arranged if non-contributing colonies are to benefit by them. As it is the Eastern Extension Company is risking loss through the opposition of Germany. February 17. A cargo of Californian wheat has been sold at Liverpool for 31s 6d. The Bills Committee of the American Congress have reported adversely on the Bill introduced by Mr Bland for the purpose of suspending silver coinage in America. Sir Saul Samuel, Agent-General for New South Wales, presided at a meeting of the Society of Arts, at which a paper on the progress of art in the colonies was read!

The new Principal for the Paramatta High School will be appointed in March. ""■" The Agents-General intend to give a banquet to Mr Murray Smith. A statement which has been published in the City Press, to the effect that the Gillies Coalition Ministry had resigned, has been corrected by Mr Murray Smith. Mr Murray Smith has protested against Sir P. Cunliffe Owen's refusal to allow the sale of colonial wines at the Indian and Colonial Exhibition, except through Messrs. Spiers and Ponds, _the well-known, caterers. . . February 18. The proposal of Mr Gladstone to postpone dealing with the Home Rule question has givsn rise to suspicion amongst the Parnellites. Lord Salisbury has made a^ statement which implies that the House of Lords would reject the proposal to grant Home Rule. [AGE SPECIALS.] London; February 3. The representations made on behalf of the Victorian Government in the case of Msjor-General Downes have been considered by the army and navy authorities. It has also been urged jointly by the Agents-General for the colonies that offiers belonging either to the British navy or army, and on the unattached list, should be permitted to draw their pensions whilst holding appointments under colonial Governments. The Imperial Government has now decided to permit British officers to accept civil positions in the colonies without forfeiting their pensions. The regulations of tne army and navy bearing on the point are to be assimilated, but the alteration will not affect Major-General Downes. •February 4. Germany has approved of " France occupying the Society Archipelago, including the island of Raiatea. > February 7. The Eastern Extension. .Chirja; and; Australian Telegraph . Compan^h'ave undertaken to reduce Iheir chafes on general cable messages to 9s 4d -per 'word," a^proportionate reduction to be made on Government and press messages. The reduction will not come into operation until Ist July.