NEWS BY CABLE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 844, 4 May 1888, Page 25

NEWS BY CABLE.

By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.

ENGLISH.

(PER press association.)

London, April 25. At the wool sales to-day prices were unchanged. A superb collection of pictures has been obtained for exhibition at the Melbourne Exhibition, and it is said to be the finest collection ot English art ever despatched abroad. It includes pictures by Turner, Landseer, Roberts, Starsfield, Hook, James, Halsemello, Lawson, Coll, Millais, Hunt, Eirth, Revere, Linnoll, Hardy, Leighton, Tadema, Graham, Leslie, and Broughton ; new works specially painted by Macwhirteen, Pettie, Marks, Holl, and Agnew. The picture “Shadow of Death” has been lent for exhibition, and the Duke of Westminster will forward a couple of paintings by Turner. The difficulty of resisting the exorbitant demands of rhe shippers and insurance companies somewhat imperilled the collection, but that has now been overcome. The Prince of Wales will inspect the collection before its being shipped. • London, April 26.

In the House of Commons the County Government Bill, introduced by the Parnellite Party, was rejected on a division by 282 to 195. Lord Randolph Churchill spoke in support of the measure and Mr Chamberlain supported the Government. The Australian cricket team will open their matches against Warwickshire on the 10th.

New Zealand four per cents are quoted at 9S. At the wool sales to-day 12,000 bales were offered. Since the opening of the series 270,000 bales- have been catalogued, of which number 14,000 •have been withdrawn.

tween Messrs Haynes and Fletcher have resulted in the former taking proceedings against Mr Fletcher for assault, and damages have been fixed at LSOOO. The defendant has now acknowledged the offence, and has paid L 5 into Court, which he alleges is the full amount for which he is indebted. London, April 20.

An Australian wheat cargo of 4000 quarters of April shipment has been sold for 33s 6d.

Jake Kilrain offers to present Lees, of Australia, with LIOO if the latter will box him for LIOOO, the former use 3oz and Lee loz gloves. The shipping ring admit the grievances complained of by shippers, but state that at present they are unable to comply with the demands of the latter, owing to the contracts under which the ling are already bound and must fulfil. The weekly returns of the Bank of England, published to-day', show the total reserve in notes and bullion to be £13,100,000, and the proportion of receipts to liabilities 41 per cent. The total quantity of wheat and flour afloat for the United Kingdom is 2,140,000 quarters, and for the Continent 490,000. At the wool sales to-day 11,000 bales were catalogued. The series will close on the 7th of May. London, April 27. Sir William F. D. Jervois is among the 15 candidates selected by ballot for Fellowship of the Royal Society'. The Times considers that the Queensland and New Zealand loans, after the experience of New South Wales, must bo immensely successful. The tax on bottled wines has been agreed to by a large majority. Mr Gladstone opposed the proposal, urging that the imposition of such a heavy duty would prove a great impediment to the Australian .wine trade. Mr Goschen, in reply, said that the colonies would not suffer in the slightest degree from the tax. It is officially announced that his Holiness the Pope has condemned boycotting and the Plan of Campaign as unlawful means to break the contracts made by the Land Courts,and because the money available for the purposes of the Plan of Campaign was collected by extortionate methods. The Earl of Dunraven, in moving the second reading of the Reform Bill in the House of Lords, said that the direct representation of the colonies in the House of Lords was nob practicable, and he questioned whether tho colonies would approve their 4gentsGeneral sitting in the House of Lords. Lord Salisbury opposed the motion, ancTurged that it should bo withdrawn. He announced that the Government were preparing a measure providing for the creation of life peerages with power to expel “ black sheep.” The Bill has accordingly been withdrawn

f Bank of New Zealand shares have suffered a further decline* and are now quoted at £l4. • [This message was evidently sent before the fact of a dividend being declared was known in London.— Ed. N.Z.M.] . Lees, the Australian pugilist, is willing to accept Kilrain’s offer for a fight, providing the latter will bring himself down to equal weight. Kilrain has, however, declined. April 28. The Pope’s condemnation of boycotting and tho Plan of Campaign has caused intense excitement both iu England and Ireland.

London, April 2S. Tho decision of His Holiness the Pope that Catholics should not take part in the Plan of Campaign has caused a tremendous shock to the Irish priests. The Freeman’s Journal urges the Irish people to a policy of patience, and asserts that the Plan ot Campaign, which is outside of the League, has been condemned. The frozen meat by the steamer Elderslio has arrived in excellent condition, and is selling at 4d.

The Bank of New Zealand shares have risen in value, and are now quoted at £ 16.

The police authorities distrust the story of Carroll, who confessed that he was guilty of the Eltham murder. Sheepskins.—Sales opened strougly, but declined at close, with a tendency inibuyers’ favor. 3600 were sold. At tho wool sales 12,000 bales were disposed of. Baden Powell is mentioned as a likely gentleman who will succeed one of the Australian Governors. The wire gun made at the Elswick factory burst while being tested. Morgan has been served with an injunction to restrain the removal of gold from the Mawddack mine in North Wales. Her Majesty the Queen has returned to Windsor The Auscralian cricketers play Thornton’s team at Norbury on the 7th inst. Wheat. —An Australian cargo of 5000 quarters of April and May shipment has been sold at 33s 6d. The German Lloyd Steamship Company have lost during the past year L 87,000, chiefly owing.to branch lines or disasters to their vessels. Tallow, mutton, 26s to 26s 6d ; beef, 24s to 24s 6d. The stock available is 9000 casks. German beetroot sugar is quoted at I3s 6d. Kauri gum market is quiet. London, April 29. It is asserted that H.M S. Orlando, under orders for the Australian station, has been delayed, wanting guns. Sir Andrew Walker, Bart., formerly Mayor of Liverpool, Las given L 300,000 for the erection of a cathedral at Liverpool. Mr Pritchard Morgan has been restrained under an injunction from removing gold from Gwynfynwdd, near Dolgelly, North Wales, without permission from the Crown. The Irish landowners are asking Parliament to advance another L-5,000,000 under Lord Ashbourne’s Act. The Court of Appeal has decided that the income derived by colonists residing iu England from their possessions beyond England are exempt from taxation if not remitted to England. Kauri gum (selected transparent sorts) is quoted at Lll 5s 6d ; scraped sorts, L 3 5s ; chips, L2 16s. Westgarth’s circular condemns the conditions attached to the last New South Wales loan, having reference to the variation in the rate of interest and the terms of redemption. The article contends that the Colony sustains a loss owing to the lower price consequently realised, and asserts, further, that 34 per cent are generally less negotiable than 4 per cents. London, April 30. A collision occurred off the Needles, Isle of Wight, yesterday, between the ships Moto and Smyrna. The latter was bound for Sydney with a general cargo. T{ie weather was thick, and the iMoto struck the Smyrna amidships. The Smyrna sank rapidly. A boat put off from the Moto and picked up fifteen of the Smyrna’s crew, whilst three others jumped on the Moto’s bows. Twelve persons were drowned, including Captain Taylor and the pilot. The Smyrna carried no passengers. None of the Moto’s crew were injured, and she sustained little damage. Obituary —Mr F. W. Chess'on, Secretary of the Aborigines Protection Society. London, April 30. The Kev Charles Spurgeon declines

to accept the compromise offered by the Baptist Uniofl. Australian wheat —CargG of 1000 quarters nearly due has been sold at 32s 9d. At the wool sales prices are firmly maintained. The present series close on the sth inst. A tremendous panic has occurred on the tin market, owing to the French syndicate ceasing to buy. The price of tin has dropped by over LSO per ton, and present quotations do not exceed LlO5 per ton. Cork, April 30. The tradesmen in Cork are boycotting Monsignor Persico, the Papal delegate. London,- May 1. Information has been received of the election of Pane Kruger to the Presidency Transvaal. Rio de Janiero, April 30. Sailed —Rimutaka, for Plymouth, with passengers all well, and cargo of frozen meat in excellent condition. SPECIAL. (per press association.) London, April 25. Sir Graham Berry, A gent-General for Victoria, iB urging upon Lord Knutsford the necessity of Imperial assent being given to the Marino Beard Bill passed by, the Victorian Legislature, which provides for the exclusion of foreign cruisers from Port Phillip. • Lord Knutsford, Secretary for State for the Colonies, in the course of a private conversation said-that the proposals of the Australian Government for excluding the Chinese from Australia would probably seriously complicate the relations existing between England and China, and he thought that it was unlikely the Imperial Government would interfere iu the matter.

London, April 26. Mr Gladstone supported the Irish County Government Bill, asserting that Irishmen were quite capable of discharging all civil duties rendered necessary under the Act. London, April 26.

Lord Randolph Churchill, in speaking to the motion for the second reading of the Parnellite County Government Bill, said that the nonfulfilment of the promises made by the Unionist party to support a scheme for the local government of‘lreland was endangering the position of the party. Lord Randolph also vigorously attacked the Government, and strongly reproached them for breaking faith with Ireland. Upon a division being called for, Lord Randolph walked out of the chamber. Speaking at the Lord Mayor’s banquet at Guildhall, Baron de Worms expressed the opinion that the Bounties Conference would be successful iu securing the repeal of the sugar bounties iu all the countries iu terested.

Bank of New Zealand shares have dropped to £ls 10s, in consequence of rumorß to the effect that no dividend would be declared at the halfyearly.meeting. The Standard, referring to this rumor states that affairs in New Zealand are going from bad to worse. ' Reports have been received from the Brazilian Government denying the rumors that natives there had been poisoned. Lord Knutsford, Secretary of State for. the Colonies, considers that the colonies must have been mistaken in their former reports to the. Colonial Office when they referred to the Chinese as useful laborers. He states that the proposals of the Australian Governments on the Chinese question have been laid before the Marquis of Salisbury, and that it is probable they will shortly be submitted to the Cabinet for consideration. Mr James Rankin, M.P. for Leominster, intends to bring before the House of Commons a proposal providing for the emigration of children in tho industrial schools to Australia. London, April 29. Colonel Hope, reporting on heavy guns, says they are liable to burst every time, owing to the ignorance which prevails regarding the method of loading and firing them. London, April 30. New Zealand 5 per cents, £lO5 ; 4 per cents, £9B 10s. New Zealand flour, ex store, 22s 6d. During the present wool auctions 256,800 '"'bales have been catalogued, of which 240,000 wore sold. Mr Phillips, a Home Ruler has been elected for Lanarkshire (Mid) iu place of Mr Stephen Mason, who resigned. The defeated candidates were Mr Bonsfield, a Conservative, and Mr Hardie, a labor candidate.

The Blew Zealand Loan and Mer-

i cantile Agency Company (Limited) ( have received the following telegram from their London office, dated the 24th instant:—Wool—The sales progress firmly. For superior greasy merino and coarse crossbred the market is firmer. Other descriptions are unchanged. The total catalogue to date is 192,000 bales, and the total quantity withdrawn ie 13,000 bales. New Zealand hemp —Medium is worth £27 10s per ton.

CONTINENTAL-

(PER P'PvESS ASSOCIATION.) BtTOEsarest, April 25'-. The revolt in Roumauia lia3 bc-eo renewed, and 80,000 peasants are opposing the troops'. It m announced that Count Bulow will succeed Count Khirtrov© as, Russsian Ambassador in Roumanian Berlin, April 25. The Emperor continues to improve in health. , Her Majegty the Queen has had an interview with Prince Bismarcir, and received him most cordially. . On the appearance of Her iMajesty in public she has been met with enthusiasm. Rome, April 25. The Italian Government intend concentrating all their navy in the Mediterranean. Belgrade, April 25. King Milan of Servia has removed Colonel Sava Grovitch from his- position as head of the Government. Belgrade, April 27. King Milan has appointed M. Risiics to succeed Colonel Grovitch as Premier of the Servian Government. Constantinople, April 27. The Government of Greece,- prompted by Russia, accuse Turkey of persecuting the Greeks. St. Petersburg, April 27. It is denied here that Count KhL trovo, Russian Ambassador at LSucnarest, has been recalled. Paris, April 27. President Carnot’s tour in the southern provinces is creating some curiosity, but little enthusiasm. Berlin, April 27.

The Emperor’s physicians believe that the crisis in his illness has been, overcome. Queen Victoria to-day inspected the Prussian Guards, and left for England this evening. Belgrade, April 27. The accession of M. de Ristics to the position of Premier of Servia will, it is believed, greatly strengthen Austrian influence in that country. Vienna, April 2S. The Army Bill has been adopted. Berlin, April 28. The Emperor is slowly recovering from his present malady. Paris, April 28. General Boulanger denies that he aspires to the position of Dictatorship. Prince Bismarck declines the title of duke, as he is unable to support- the dignity. Berlin, April 29. The Emperor’s strength has much improved, and his appetite and spirits are returning. Paris, April 29. M. Carnot, speaking at Bordeaux, declared that the Government would resolutely guard public liberties. He was received with enthusiasm. A sharp Boulangeriab riot occurred at Nancy yesterday, but was put down by the military. The Chamber of Deputies has passed the Panama Lottery Loan. Rome, April 29. The action of tho Pope iu condemning the Plan of Campaign was quite spontaneous. Vienna, April 30. M. Tisza, in the course a speech, declared that there were grave reasons for tho Government asking for the passing of a Small Arms Bill. Paris, April 30. The students at Toulouse fired on a Boulangeriab mob, and a serious riot took place, which was not quelled until the military had been called out. Stamboul, April 30. It is rumored here that if Bulgaria remains obdurate to the demands of Russia, Greece will set about the liberation of Macedonia from the swav of Turkey. And that in consequence of this decision, the Turkish Minister at Athens has been recalled. Bucharest, April 30. The agrarian revolt has been quelled, and the landowners are now returning to their holdings. Rome, April 30. His Holiness the Pope has decreed that members of the League are incapable of receiving absolution, and the clergy have been instructed to refuse it.

Belgrade, May 1

A body of Montenegrins have raided xx part <Af the country, and seized a large traeb of land. Vienna, May 1. Count Wol fen stein succeeds CountKarolyi as Austrian Ambassador in London. Pams. May I. M. Haberh, an artist, au’d M. Dupuis quarrelled in consequence of the latter’s criticisms of the former’s work, and fought a duel yesterday. The latter was killed. The tin syndicate ha 3 totally col lapsed, and it :s reported that the Bociote Metaux lost £200,000 over it. Berlin, - May 1. Owin g to continual professional disputes between Professor Bergamenn and Sir I?. More 11 Mackenzie, Dr Bard el tin succeeds, the form or in attendance upon the Emperor. Constantin odle, M'av 1. The situation in Macedonia is aeri<oU3. The Porte has demanded the treeall of the Greek Consul at Monastir, on the ground that he is implicated in the Russian intrigues which are causing the present trouble. The Greek Government have refused to comply with the demand, and large bodies of Turkish troops and a quantity of war material have been dispatched to Macedonia. The Turkish A mbasaador at Athens has been summoned to Constantinople,

SPECIAL. (PER rUKSS ASSOCIATION.) Paris, April 25. M. Carnot, the President, is now engaged in making a tour of the southern provinces. Berlin, April 26. The German and Austrian press augurs that Queen Victoria’s Continental tour strengthens the chances of peace. It is considered that the Emperor’s recent improvement in health i 3 only of a temporary character. Pams, A pri! 26. M. Carnot, the President, who is ’making a tour in the southern provinces, has arrived at Limoges, the capital of the department of the Upper Vicuna. M. Carnot, replying to the address of welcome, said the present Government was able to defend the Republic against enemies both within and without France. A small number in the crowd gave cheers in honor of General Boulanger. . Berlin. April 28. The Emperor, in bidding Queen Victoria farewell, expressed the hope that when they met again it would be under belter auspices. Paris, April 29. Serious Boulangeriat demonstrations have occurred at Nancy and in this city. M. Derouiede ami many others have been arrested. Constantinople, A pril 29. The Armenians are demanding redress from the Sultan lor recent alleged violations of their religious privileges. Bucharest, April 29. The agrarian disturbances are renewed. Parts, A pril 30. M. Carnot, the President, speaking v.t Bordeaux, stated he intended to follow a policy of prudence and liberty, which would guarantee peace both at home and abroad. Staxieoul, April 80. Russia is inciting the people of Macedonia to rebellion, and a conflict between Greece and Turkey is imminent. Rome, April 30. The circular issued by his Holiness the Pope to the Irish bishops states that the question of retaining rents and boycotting was referred to the Congregation of Cardinals as to whether it was permissible, but they decided in the negative. The b;shops are directed to prudently and effectually exhort the clergy and laity not to transgress Christian charity whilst striving to remedy the distressed condition of the people. Archbishop Walsh, of Dublin, has been summoned to Rome.

THE EAST. (per press ASSOCIATION.) Cairo, April 27. A letter written by i.npton Bey in Move tali or hist from Omdurmau has reached Korosko. In 'the letter be appeals for money and clothing to enable him to escape from the Arabs, who regard him as a prisoner. AFRICAN. (PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Ma.ssowah, April 28. The Negus has re opened parleying with the Italian authorities.

Capetown, April 28. Sailed, yesterday —Tongariro, for Now Zealand; all well. SPECIAL. (PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Massowah, April 25. The Negus of Abyssinia has renewed parleying with the Italian Go. vernment for peace. AMS R.I G AM. (£er press association.) New York, May 1. Mr Fuller, of Illinois, has been appointed Chief Justice of the Supremo Court of the United States. * SPECIAL. (PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Ottawa, April 29. Instead of the estimated deficit of 300,000d015, the Canadian Budget shows a surplus of 97,G00d015,

AUSTRALIAN (PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Sydney, A pril 26. The rabbit conference will resume its sitting at Adelaide toward the end of May. The experiments which the conference has decided upon consist of three series—(lst) To test the question of communicating the to rabbits, and the possibility of the disease spreading from rabbit to rabbit, also -to ascertain the readiness with which such communication cau bo procured, and the exact channel of the communication. (2nd) To ascertain whether the disease is transmissible from infected rabbits to other domestic animals, both mammals and birds. (3rd) Whether the infecting power of the disease is weakened, as reputed, by its transmission from rabbit to rabbit. The annual stock returns for the Colony, as prepared by the RegistrarGeneral, show as follows '.—39o,ooo horses, 1,500,000 head of cattle,. 47,000,000 sheep. The wool clip for the year reached 191,500,0001b5. Sailed —Manapouri, for Auckland. Arrived Loanga, from Nelsou ; Rose M., from Kaipara; Defiance, from Mercury Bay. At Murrurundi, a man named Williams was run over by the train, and the body was mutilated to such an extent as to be beyond recognition. Cardinal Moran, who is about to visit Rome, lias been presented with a purse containing 450 sovereigns. The recent disputes which took place in the Legislative Assembly beMelbourne, April 26.

A. signalman named Couch, on the Kensington railway, was run over by the train to-day, and his body horribly mutilated.

i lavin’s backers offer to back him against Burke for £SOO a-sido. collision has taken place at the Footseray railway station, when an engine and van dashed into the centre of goods train, striking it at right angles! A number of the waggons were smashed up, and the guard, who was in the van, was severely shaken. Albany, April 26.

The vintage this year is excellent, and it is computed that tho yield will bo 140,000 gallons of wine. Brisbane, April 26. H.M.S. Lizard stranded on a reef 95 miles north of Cooktown, but nofurther particulars are to hand. Sydney, April 27.

In view of the possible danger from the introduction of the tie Brian fly from New Zealand, the Government intend to deal with the subject in a Bill which is now. being prepared, providing for the prevention of the introduction and spread of disease and pests. Arrived —Tekapo, from Oatnaru. Mr Haynes has declined to receive the amount paid into Court by Mr Fletcher, in satisfaction of his claim for damages for assault committed, and the ease will shortly be heard in tho Supremo Court. Newcastle, April 27. Arrived —Ship Jerusalem, from London ; barque Hamora, from Antofagasta, South America. The latter has been long overdue. Hobart, April 19. A seam of coal has been struck near Seymour, on the eastern coast, showing indications of a good Nad permanent field. Brisbane, April 27. Fearful weather is being experienced along the const. H.M.S. Thalia, which is expected to reach Townsville in the course of a day or two, will be ordered to proceed to the assistance of H.M.S. Lizard. No parbicularo are yet to hand.

The expulsion of the Chinese from the Croydon goldfield Was uua'uthorised by tho Govern tuGnt. Abraham Street, the confidential clerk to a well-known wholesome firm, was to day committed for trial on 20 charges of embezzling moneys, tho property of his employers. ' The amount involved is said to be several thousands. Melbourne. April 27. Arrived, yesterday—Te Anau, from the Bluff. . „ : The prospectus has been issued ol a new bank called the Royal Bank ot Australasia. The capital is L 3,600,000 At a public meeting to-day resolutions were carried Urging the Legislature to pass without delay a Bill providing for tho extension of the franchise to women. . , , A plague of rats has visited tlie Eehuca Plains, doing great oamage t.o the feed there. A passenger by bbe Oroya has been arrested on a charge of smuggling L2OO worth of jewellery ashore. _ The steamer Afghan. from Hong Kong has arrived with 300 Chinese on board, a hundred of whom sought admission to the colony under somewnat suspicious circumstances, and the authorities have refused to grant them permission to land until a searching investigation has been made into the circumstances of their arrival. Cooktown! April 27. H.M.S. Lizard, which struck a reef to the northward of here on Wednesday morning, has been floated of, apparently without sustaining any injury, and haß returned to port. Sydney, April 2S. Arrived —Wakatipu, Iron Wellington. Arrived — William Turner, from Auckland. At the Canterbury Park Races yesterday Mitralleuse won the Flying Handicap. It is estimated that the population of Australia at the end of December was 3,500,000. Buckley, a clerk engaged by the Official Assignee, has been arrestee on a charge of embezzlement, and it is alleged that the amount ot defalcations is LI 000. Newcastle, April_2b. Arrived —Camille, from Kaipara ; Annie Bow, from Timaru. Brisbane, April 28. The schooner Friendship is reported lost, with all hands, on the northern coast. A quantity of wreckage, with the Jiiame of* the vessel, - has beeu picked up on the beach. _ ' The nominations for candidates lor Parliament took place to day, when six members who have declared themselves as Oppositionists, were returned without opposition, Melbourne, April 28. The passenger by the Oroya charged with smuggling jewellery has been fined L 25, and ordered to forfeit the smuggled articles. One hundred and five of the Chinese passengers by the Afghan are booked for New Zealand. It has transpired that the naturalisation papers'held by a number of the passengers were not originally issued to them. None of the Chinese have been allowed to land. The top story of Rock’s furniture warehouse, in Collins • street, was gutted by fire last night. Extensive damage* was dono to the stock. Tho insurances amount to LIB,OOO. A sensational attempt at murder was made at Richmond last night. . A. young woman named Marcham, living apart from her husband, received a telegram brought by a cabman request to go to her mother, who, it was stated, was ill. Tho woman accompanied the cabman to her mother’s house, and while alighting, her husband, who appears to have been in waiting, fired two shots from a revolver, one of which penetrated her cheek, and the other lodged in her neck The woman was taken to the Hospital. Th© cabman and the husband made off. Tho former was afterward secured; tho husband, who had previously threatened his wife’s life, has not been captured. The telegram employed in the affair was a bogus message. At Carisbrook the Rev Mr Onegous, aged 60, has been charged with the seduction .of his servant. He denies the charge. 1 Albany, April 28.

Tho Rev Mr Connell, au Anglican clergyman, who was a passenger by the Carthage from Adelaide, committed suicide on board the steamer while suffering from melancholia. Sydney, April 30.

The report of the Chinese Commissioners, who visited Australia and other places to inquire into the wellbeing of the Chinese, has been published. The report complains bitterly oi tho outrageous treatment of tho Chinese at Manila by Spaniards, and

also by the Dutch in their possessions, and recommends the immediate establishment of a Consulate at Manila. At Singapore the Chinese outnumber the Europeans four to one, and in Sydney and the vicinity the number of Chinese ia 10,000. The report speaks in high terms of the rich natural products o£ Australia, also of the treatment, the Chinese receive. It suggests the establishment o" .a Consulate at Sydney, and also submits a plan to raise funds at the different foreign ports where Chinese congregate for the purpose of constructing warships and protecting Chinese subjects. Tho apparent unwillingness of the British Government to aid the colonies in their attempts to exclude the Chinese from Australia ha 3 givon rise to a feeling of dissatisfaction, and vigorous public action is now contemplated in all the Australian colonies. A mass meeting to consider the question is being held here this eveniug. It ia understood the Government will resist tlie landing of the Afghan’s Chinese passengers here should the steamer bo brought on to this port. Hanlan and Kemp are in active training for the race which takes place on the Parramatta River on Saturday. The race is for £SOO a-side. The betting is 6 to 4 on Hanlan. A now goldfield has been discovered at Oooma, and eight miles of country have been pegged off. M. Pasteur’s agents are engaged in the investigation of a disease known as anthrax in the Cumberland district, with a view to ascertaining whether it is identical with charbon, a disease met with in France. The microbes of the chicken cholera were to have been tested first, and the agents having now interested themselves with the other disease, it .is surmised that the microbes have been found to be dead, or that they have lost their virulence. Nothing of an official character, however, has been allowed to transpire. The Executive Committee have requested the New Zealand Government to forward full particulars of the disease in that Colony recently investigated by Professor Thomas. A sanitary commission has inspected the Chinese quarters of the city, and has condemned 60 buildings as unfit for habitation. Terrible filth waß disclosed during the inspection by the commission.

The Colonial Sugar Refining Company has declared a dividend of 7 per sUnt. The amalgamation of the Company with the New Zealand Sugar Company has been completed. The Bank of New South Wales lias declared a dividend of 15 per cent for the year. Melbourne, April 30.

Ponding tho receipt of a telegram from the New Zealand Government, no action will be taken regarding the Chinese passengers by the Afghan booked for that colony. The City Council have purchased from the Government the land where the c City Court stands. The price paid for the land was £140,000. Tho Defence Department is preparing regulations for the formation of further reserves in connection with the Volunteer force.

Tho Government has refused to allow the Chinese who arrived by th© Afghan to land in the Colony. Brisbane, May 1. A difficulty has arisen over the sculling race arranged betweenTrickett and Hanlan to be rowed on the Fitzroy River, Rockhampton, on the 3rd inst. The final deposit of Hanlan was not paid on the due date, and Trickett claims that he has forfeited his previous deposits. Hanlan objects to Trickett receiving the amount deposited,as the balance of his (Banian’s) stake was posted in time to have reached Queensland .when due, and must have been delayed in transmission. Trickett persists in his demand for the stake. Arrived—Clansman, from Auckland ; Jessie Nicoll, from Mercury Bay. t Adelaide, May 1.

A fatal tram accident occurred yesterday. A buggy containing Mr Hamblyn, his wife, and another man, were crossing the line, when it was dashed into by one of the ears. Hamblyn was killed outright, and his wife - is so severely injured that it is not expected she will recover.. The third occupant of the buggy is also seriously injured. Melbourne, May 1.

Edwards, a theatrical agent, yesterday attempted to murder a man whom he alleged wasj’on too familiar terms with his wife. Edwards drew a revolver and fired twice, but without effect. A compromise has been effected between the Government and the captain

]of the steamer Afghan by which the Matter foregoes his right to land 12 j Chinese, which he is entitled to do, on 1 the Government agreeing not to fine him LIOO per head for all in excess ot that number. Arrangements are being made for the transhipment of the Chinese passengers booked for New Zealand. The Government have prohibited the landing of all Chinese passengers j for tho future. * • By an Order-jn-Counc.il, issued to- ' day, all Chinese and Eastern ports, inI eluding Singapore and Hong Kong, are I proclaimed infected ports under tho 1 Health Act, arid tlie quarantine of every vessel with Chinese passengers is authorised. Sydney, May 1. 1 The experiments with M. Pasteur’s microbes are now being carried out. ■ A- number of rhbbits which had been inoculated with microbes on the Saturday were found alive and healthy on Monday. The experiment is not regarded as conclusive, as some of the microbes may retain their virulence. The agent of M. Pasteur will probably cultivate fresh microbes. In consequence of the sequestration 1 of the estate of Mr A. H. McCulloch, jun., M.P. for Central Cumberland, ihe seat has been declared vacant. Cardinal Moran denies the truth of the statement to the effect that ha is to succeed Archbishop Walsh, of Dublin. One thousand pounds to £BOO has been laid on Hanlan for the aquatic contest on Saturday. A Ballarat train ran off the rails on the Northern line this evening. It was completely wrecked. The fireman and driver had a very narrow escape. The Government have decided to replace thepresentTtrams by the cable system. Druitt, manager of the Commercial Bank at Tinonee, has been committed for trial on a charge of embezzling LISOO. •

Sailed —Aratapu, for Auckland