Late Cable News.

Hastings Standard, Issue 469, 5 November 1897, Page 4

Late Cable News.

(Per Press Association. —Copiiri'/ht■) London, Nov. 4. Sir Harry Musgrove has announced his intention of returning to Australia to prosecute a certain Melbourne newspaper for alleged libel in connection with the tour of the baseball team, of which he was manager. The Right Hon. J Chamberlain, speaking at Glasgow, said patriotism had become a Democratic passion. Those who had given the colonies Home Rule expected that the colonies would soon declare their independence of policy and suggested the desirability of clearing them out. However, the Jubilee gathering would mean the utter discomfiture of that policy, and no English Minister would again suggest separation. The most satisfactory sign was the demand for closer union coming from the colonies and though the exact form in which this should be brought about was not now of so much importance the prospect of a really united empire was becoming a question of practical politics. Sydney, Nov. 4. Platt-Betts has lowered the Italian cyclist Lesna's record for five miles, doing the distance in 9min 45 2-sth sees. Complications has ensued at Lucknow. The assistant manager of the Dark-Wentworth mine informed the men that only a few old hands would be taken back at 7s Cd per day, and the bulk would only receive 7s. The men declined this, and there is a possibility" of the strike being resumed. Brisbane, Nov. 4. Professor Koch, the German bacteriologist, who was invited to Queensland to experiment with the tick pest, has declined, owing to hi 3 services being retained by the German Government. Melbourne, Nov. 4. The recent sanguine anticipations with reference to the wheat crops of Victoria and South Australia appear to be somewhat premature, and the recurrence of dry weather is again causing alarm. The Ago says that complaints of want of rain are general throughout the western and northwestern portions of Victoria, and in some portions of the Mallee country the failure of the wheat crop is now admitted. Timely rains during the next week or fortnight may do something to improve the conditions, but all hopes of a bountiful harvest must now be abandoned. Against that gloomy outlook it is satisfactory to have good accounts from thoGoulburn Valley and Murray districts and the north-eastern portion of the colony. The crops there are more promising than for a number of years, aud if present hopes are realised will add sensibly to the gross yield. What is most striking this year is the shortness of growth of the wheat plant, which is very noticeable throughout the west and north west districts. Hay is likely to be scarcer and dearer, and this expectation, doubtless, will induce a large area of wheat to be cut for hay instead of being harvested? The Age goes on to say that South Australia appears to be seriously threatened with another failure in the wheat harvest. On the outer line of the " Royder rainfall line " the crops have been utterley ruined owing to the absence of rain, while those within the line have made no progress during the last month. The best looking crops are at Derby, and it is stated will be cut for hay. The most favorable estimate at the present moment is an average of three bushels to the acre, which will give about 40,000 tons for exporting.