CABLE NEWS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7768, 16 February 1904, Page 5

CABLE NEWS.

(Per Press Association—Copyright) Kcceivod Feb. 16,: at-9.36 a.m.. MELBOURNE, Feb. 16.The time . f o r tendering f o r the new English mail sei'vice expired yesterday. Three tenders, were received, but the- Postmaster-General-declined to make any announcement on the subject. T-his^is; taken as an indication that tjie teii'ders are unsatisfactory. .:' ::' . \-;

Mr -Bent: has hot yet completed his Ministry. ;■ :', ■.■;■":■'• v

Mr- Irvine leaves for: a trip to England early in March.- ' 7 ■■■/..'

It is reported that McCracken's city orewery has shown a loss of £17^726 on the year's ■transactions. The' chairman sajd there had; been a general ; falling off ■in the beer trade in Victoria,' arising, doubtdoubtless, out of the unusually cold seasons and dullness, of time 9.

Received Fcb 16, 9:19 a.m.

.-■'•' . LONDON,'-Feb 15. Slack -attributes his victory at Midherts firstly to Freetrade and seconidlyto the unpopularity of the Government, in ' connection with t-he education (question.

In commenting on. the'result the Daily News, states that ttte question of the introduction of "■ Chinese, labour ■in the Transvaal ■", (aroused' a more intense feeling in the constituency than any other issue, and emphasises the fact that, owing to the terms of reference in. its ■ constitution the Johannesburg! Labour Commission excluded opinions regarding the importation of- Chinese in .the Transv a al and' restricted' itself to the needs- of the- South African' labour market' and : the' prospects - of Africa supplying them. ■

The Times, considers the result the gravest defeat that has yet 'befallen the Government in Taye-elqc-tions; and adds ;—" There were many side issues, but the result shows a certain ebb in the widespread enthusiasm Mr Chamberlain has aroused, and' indicates a phase that js quite natural:,: There is no reason to suppose it will bo permanent, and it certainly justifies' the, Uoyernment's policy iittgiying tho people tmie to think. deceived Feb. 16, at 9.5 avm, ™ w CAPETOWN, Feb. 15.• 1 Jie Progressives at the Oape secured a iinal majority of five Belarey, Botha, and Schalkourger and ten other leading Boers have issued a' " manifesto dealing with the Chinese labour .question, but it is regarded at Johannesburg... as disingenuous. lvFiey /refused to join, the Labour Commission, •• and three declined seats in the Transvaal Legislative ~ Council, but. withheld their opposition fll legislation was passtd:.

■■:• •■:.■.:.. LONDON,, Fe|b; 15. Lord. Roberts has refused the In-spector-Generalship ' under Mr. Bal-foiu-'s Defence . Council, as" he as he would be ■drawing a 'salary, would be drawing^ ;•: a/ salary during tlie imexpired period of his appointment as Conimander-in-Chief. , ■.•■• •.■-•-..■. ■ ■•••• ■.. •■