LATE CABLE NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 835, 2 March 1888, Page 16

LATE CABLE NEWS.

Br Electric Telegra.ph—Copyright.

(PER press ASSOCIATION.) Sydney, February 29

The Premier has telegraphed to the Agent-General, asking him to institute an exhaustive inquiry into M. Pasteur’s method of rabbit extermination.

In the Assembly a notice of motion altering the Standing Orders to pre vent disorder in the House by scenes, &c., has been given. A motion to impose a halfpenny postal rate was negatived by 19 to 17. At present papers are posted free in thiß colony. Sailed—Aratapu, for Auckland. The report of the Select Committee appointed by Parliament to inquire into the purchase of certain property on Circular-quay, Sydney Harbor, was laid on the table of the House this afternoon. The repdrt exonerates the members of the Government of being improperly connected with the purchase of the property, and on the other hand commends their fore sight in securing the land preparatory to other purchases. The broker who was employed to negotiate the purchase of the property is blamed for his indifference to the interests of the Colony in allowing the purchase to be concluded at such a high figure, and the report concludes by stating that in the opinion of the Committee all difficulty would have been removed had the property been secured under a special Act applicable to the case instead of by private contract. The amount paid for the property in question was £29,000, and the Committee think it could have been obtained for less. The widows of the victims of the Bulii colliery accident last year, for whom a large sum of money was raised by public subscription, object to the provisions of a Bill which has been introduced in the House vesting the fund in trustees and appointing a paid secretary. Acting under the advice of tbeir friends they intend to take the necessary steps to have the Bill opposed when it comes on for the second reading, with a view to defeating its object. Mr A. J. McCulloch, junr., member for Central Cumberland in the New South Wales Assembly, has been declared a bankrupt, and has vacated his seat in the House in consequence. The Government have decided to take no notice of the statements made by Lord Augustus Loftus in respect to the references made by him to this colony at his examination in bankruptcy

Adelaide, February Q 9.

A disease similar to that discovered by Drs Butcher and Ellis has been found amongst rabbits on a run 40 miles west of the Darling district. The rabbits are dying in thousands. It is expected that the country will be cleared of them in dry weather. It is proposed to distribute the infected rabbits amongst those districts troubled with the pest, but the Government is adverse to this step until

tide. Scientific Gorffffirasion Imve considered . the: emitter, i(> -, , The Cabinet have decicTcd to izng’ose quarantine regulations to put a atdp to the influx of Chinese, which has become a serious evil in the colony, especially at Port Darwin and the Northern Territory generally. The regulations declare all Chinese ports to be infected ports under the quarantine laws, and that all Chinese passengers from China shall, upon arrival in cA’h' poftfbit,' he kept on board the vessels which b’rfn'g the® to the Colony for a period of 21 days; before they will be peifefeitted' to laud. - The regulations further pi;6'vid'o that the authorities at Hong Kong, are to be advised that a poll tax will be imposed on every Chiuese passenger landing in he Colony. The regulations are made subject to the approval of Parliament.

Tile Ag£i6tflt«iral Bureau have appointed seven ihembefsj including Mr J. D. Ciistance; the Professor of Agriculture for the coloay,as a Board tlie conservation of water. The Quarantine regulations have now been published as a proclamation in the Government Gazette, finely beside restricting passengers from ali Chinese ports, they similarly restrict those from the Malay Peninsula, Singapore, Timor, the Netherlands Dependencies and InQia. Sixty-three claims have been pegged off on the fiiby fields comprising 2520 Acres for an English arid Aiistralian syndicate: The Rothschilds and other European capitalists are said to .be iargely interested in the venture. The land was selected by a Sydney surveyor; who travelled overland from Botirke to prevent rumors of his mission reaching Adelaide and bringing rivals into the field.

Melbourne, February 29

One batch of men, arrested on a charge of being implicated in the recent outrage on women in this city, have been Committed for trial.

The Space Committee of the Centennial Exhibition have allotted all the available space at the Exhibition. Sailed, yesterday—Wairarapa, for the Bluff. *

Hobart, Eebruary 26. Great indignation is manifested at the refusal of the Government to grant a sum of money for the representation of the colony at the Melbourne Exhibition, and they have been urged to reconsider their decision iu the matter. Newcastle, February 29.

A coal seam 20ft thick has been discovered near the Curlewes Railway Station, 200 miles north of Newcastle. Brisrane, February 29.

Two mailmen have been drowned in the swollen rivers during the recent floods iu the northern part* of the Colony. One of the victims was endeavoring to take provisions to an isolated party, cut off by the floods. A family of five persona were poisoiuea at Charters Towers through eating sago which, it was discovered, was mixed with arsenic. Two of the children have since succumbed. The sago was found in an old brick camp, and was used unknowingly. It is reported that an important discovery o( platinum has been made in Queensland, but the exact locality of the discovery is being kept secret. A search party has been sent out to look for the ship Exminster and the brigantine Kate, which, it is feared have met with an accident in the recent, hurricanes off the coast, a number of buoys, &c., bearing the name “ Exminster” having been found in the vicinity of Keppel Bay. The Cabinet have decided to apply to the Home authorities to be allowed to establish a Royal mint in this city. 1 London, February 28. Consols, 102 f. The bank rate of discount is 2|- per cent. ; the market rate is 2 per cent. New Zealand inscribed stock, L 99 15s. Wheat and flour are unchanged since last quotations. Leather is lower. Best hides are quoted at 101-d to lid. Frozen meat is firmer, with an improving tendency. The quantity of wool which has arrived to date for next sales, including that which was held over from last sales, is 96,000 bales. It is probable that the additional quantity to arrive will bring up the total to 850,000 bales. 1 The Admiralty are mobilising a strong fleet, nominally for the spring manoeuvres.

The New Zealand loan has been postponed till June next. In the course of a discussion in the House of Commons on a motion tabled by Mr H. S. King, member for Hull, to the effect that Responsible Government should not be granted to Western Australia, Baron de Worms,

Political Secretary to the Colonies, said the Government did uot intend to gfa’nt responsible government over the,whole territory of Western Australia, until the present population',which was abolit 86,000’,, was largely increased, and until Parliament vJaa possessed of sufficient data to enable it to review the policy proposed by the Government in dealing with the subject. February 29.

The House of Commons has reduced the majority required to enforce the cloture to 100. ' There was little opposition'. Rio Janier6\ February 27. The Arawa sailed to’-day for Ply-* month, via Teneriffe. Pa'BTS', February 29'.

France is enforcing stringent tariff regulations against Italy, the recent parleying between the two countries having proved fruitless. St. Petersburg, February 29.

The St. Petersburg press suggests that if the Powers agree Russia should undertake, a ihivTSl demonstration against Bulgaria oft the Blatjk fcea co fist. .. There has been a panic on the Borirae to thfi heavy fall in Russian roublh ff ot6a. : ( ( Massowah, February 29. The Negus, having moved a portion of his army from Godofelassi, has come upon a force under Ras Aloula, and an attack is imminent. Two columns of Italian troops are comiflg iip from Asmara and Dixan.

SPECIAL:

Paris, February 29. The presence of the British Mediterranean fleet at Genoa liaS, greatly irritated the French, ant! some Parisian journals have openly accused Lord Salisbury of conspiring with De Crispi, the Italian Premier, and Prince Bismarck, to destroy France. London, February* 29. Scott; the Australian cricketer, sails for Melbourne oil Thursdays

In the House of Coffinions, Sir James Fergusson. Political Secretary to the Foreign Office, replying to a question put by Mr Henniker-Heaton, member for Canterbury, stated that it was intended to place additional lights fof the guidance of vessels along the Red Sea Coast; and that some of these were now in course of erection.

Count Herbert von Bismarck has arrived here. It is believed that his visit is in connection with Bulgarian matters.

The severity of the winter has had the effect of freezing the training track on the. River Isis, and the Oxford University crew is training on the Thames.

Madame Patti, the celebrated vocalist, is engaged in writing an autobiography. Obituary—James Morrison, the Positivist, and Clayton, the actor. Staaiboul, February 29.

An impression prevails in diplomatic circles here that the Porte will not reply to the Russian Note, but will temporise to gain time.

Paris, February 29. The Shah has intimated his intention of visiting the Paris Exhibition.