ANNEXATION AND FEDERATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6948, 23 February 1884, Page 5

ANNEXATION AND FEDERATION.

[BY KLBCTBIC TELEGRAPH. COPYBIdHT.] [reuteb.] DECISION OF IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT. Melbourne, February 22. Mr. James Service, Premier, has received a telegram . from Mr. Murray Smith, Agent-General, reporting that the latter had had an important interview with the.Under-Secretary of the Colonial Office, regarding the federa tion of the Australian colonies and thr Pacific' annexation. In the course or the interview the Hon. E. >;■ Ashley announced that Her Majesty's Government had decided not to sanction any annexation of the Western. Pacific Islands until the federation of the Australian colonies had been accomplished, and that it would be necessary for the various colonial legislatures, to adopt resolutions confirming the action , of ; their delegates at the Sydney Convention, before the Imperial Parliament:' , could pass the necessary enabling : Act, ;:: ■which, however, would be prepared by ■ the Imperial authorities, and which it': was proposed to lay before Parliament-, during the present session. The Colo-', nial tJiider-Secretary urged that 'steps"": should be taken* by the colonial Go-. vernments to expedite the passage ot the resolution above mentioned, and added that the guarantee by the colonies of ,£IO,OOO would secure th« appointment, in the interim, of.a High Commissioner of the Western Pacific with enlarged powers.

LONDON MARKETS. London, February 22. Consols remain at 101 J. New Zealand securities are as follows : —The 5 per cent. 10-40 loan, 105 ; the 5 per cent. 1889 loan, 103J- ; the 4£ per cent. 1879-1904 loan 100, ex div.; the 4 per cent, inscribed stock, 100. Adelaide wheat, ex store, 445; NewZealand ditto, 36s to 425; Adelaide flour, ex warehouse, 31s. Australian Tallow: Average quality ; beef, 38s; mutton, 41s 6d. LONDON WOOL SALES. London, February 22. The catalogue at Monday's wool sale comprised 12,300 bales. A fair competition was experienced at , firm current prices. Foreign buyers are operating more freely. ; ♦ , COLONIAL NEWS. «,- [Received February 22, 10 p.m.} '*■■■ THE SUGAR MARKET. *' Adelaide, February 22. Under date Mauritius, February 6, Messrs. Ireland, Fraser and Oompany report of the sugar market as follows: —The market is dull, and no business is being done. The winter prospects are favourable for the coaiing season. Freights to Australia 20s per ton. There have been no clearances for New Zealand since last report. The stock of sugar now in hand is estimated at 39,000 tons.

KAURI TIMBER IN MEL- \ BOURNE. i Melbourne, February 22. Messrs. G. S. Ross and 00., of this city, report sale of kauri timber, ex ships Vision and Grasmere, at the following average prices, per 100 feet super.:—Hewn logs, 12s ; sawn flitches, 14b 6d; sawn boards, 1 inoh, 18s; ■ditto, \\ to 3 inch, 16s 6d. The market is dull. I SYDNEY MARKET. Sydney, February 22. . New Zealand wheat has fallen to 3s 4d per bushel, and New Zealand oats to 2s 9d. Maize remains at 4s, and the Sugar Company's No. 1 pieces at £3i per ton. ADELAIDE MARKET. Adelaide, February 22. Wheat is quoted to-day at 3s 11 d to 4b f.o.b. The market is quiet. Flour : Town brand, .£9 12s 6d, to £9 15s; country ditto, £8 10s to £8 12s 6d. GREAT RAIN STORM AND FLOODS IN QUEENSLAND. Brisbane, February 21. A severe gale, accompanied by torrents of rain, passed over Northern Queensland to-day. Disastrous floods, causing immense damage to property, occurred at Cooktowri, where 24 (etc) inches of rain fell within 24 hours. The shipping along the coast also" sustained severe damage from the effects of the gale. SHIPPING. Sydney, February 22. Sailed, yesterday afternoon: The s.s. Ringarooma, for Auckland.* ' Adeiaide; February 22. Arrived, last night: The Meaaageries Maritime Oo.'s steamship Salazae, from Marseilles on January 16.