CABLE NEWS.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 20900, 7 May 1887, Page 2

CABLE NEWS.

3'WS AcM f> Z.'QRZiM/-. Per Electric Telegraph —Copyright. •PROPbSED RETIREMENT QF:i MR PARNELL. GENERAL GORDON REPORTED TO BE ALIVE. THE CRIMES BILL. SOUTH AUSTRALIAN LOAN. THE ANGLO-RUSSIAN COMMISSION.. .[Special to Press Associatioh.] London, May 1.

Mr Parnell proposes to retire from the' leadership of the Irish party on the ground of ill-health. Some excitement has been caused by a fresh report that General Gordon is not dead. It is now stated: that a British soldier who resembled Gordon was mistaken for him and killed. . <IK i.J-8 ■ . The Liberal Unionists have agreed that voting upon-the clause in. the. Crimes Bill permitting iv change of venue to England shall remain an open . question. The majority, however, approve of the clause. The Opposition are seeking to limit the operation of the Bill to three years.

A final offer has been submitted to the steamship companies of Ll7l),000 a year, for 7 years, penalties to be enforced for non-delivery of mails in time, but no premiums to be given for early delivery. The companies have not yet replied.

The Russian loan has been largely subscribed. The delegates sent from Queensland to agitate for separation of the northern portion of the colony will have an interview with Sir 11. Holland next week, Hie latter does not desire a written reply to Sir S. Griffiths’ statement.

Lords Harrowby, 1) unraven, Cirnarvon, and Granville are in favor of a subsidy being granted to a line to Hongkong via the Cana-dian-Pacific Railway. Lord Onslow stated that the company had offered a monthly service of LGO,OOO a year, but no decision had yet been come to.

Sir H. D. Wolff’s offer of evacuation of Egypt was coupled with conditions excluding other Powers, and permitting England’s return whenever she may judge it necessary.

The Standard reports that three steamers are constantly crossing the Caspian Sea with Russian troops for Persia and Afghanistan. May 2. The New Zealand Shipping Company and the Shaw, Savill aud Albion Company have jointly tendered* for a fortnightly mail service of 39 days from Plymouth to Tasmania for an annual subsidy of L 25,000 for a seven years’ service, and for a similar subsidy will convoy mails from a point in New Zealand to Plymouth round Cape Horn. They, claim the right to cancel the homeward service if the New Zealand Shipping Company’s present contract for carrying the New Zealand mails is terminated. A South Australian loan of L 350,000 at 4 per cent is announced. The minimum is fixed at LlOl, and tenders will be opened oil the 10th instant. The Canadian Government offer a subsidy of 200,000 dollars for a mail service to Australia.

The press adversely criticise the Exhibition accounts, and oppose the grant of L 25,000 to the Imperial Institute. Sir S. Griffiths has settled the form in which lie will introduce the New Guinea Bill into tire Queensland Parliament and it has been, approved by Sir IT. Holland. Mr Richardson's “ First Cloud,” depicting a marriage till, ;onc of the leading Academy pictures, has been purchased for the Melbourne Art Gallery for L27-R). Mr Graham’s seascape, “ Easterly Breeze,” has also been purchased for the same Gallery for L 1.850. It is considered certain that the South Australian loan will be safely floated.

May 3. The Emperor of Brazil is recovering from his recent illness. Lord Rosebery has entertained the Conference delegates at a banquet. . The Earl of Carnarvon, refer; ring to the increase of French annexation in the Pacific, suggested that England .and France should delimit the spheres and influence of each country among-the Islands'

(Reuter’s Telegrams) , -r, " G 1 St. Petersburg, May 1. An official meeting of the AngloRussian Commission for the deiim.ration of tne Kiisso-Afghan ii’ontier was held to-day, and adjourned l until Tuesday next, without any decision being arrived at. It is probable that Tuesday's sitting will be a final one.