LATE CABLE NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 889, 15 March 1889, Page 17

LATE CABLE NEWS.

Bv Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.

(PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.) London, March 11.

In the House of Commons Mr Stanhope said it was possible even now to provide coaling stations with substantial mine defences in two days, aud in three days they could offer considerable resistance to hostile cruisers. London, March 12,

It is expected that The Times case before The Timea-Parnell Commission will be brought to a conclusion tomoirow. Evidence has been adduced to show that the Hibernian Bank re eeived over .£BOO,OOO lodged to the credit of the funds of the various leagues. No direct evidence was given to show how this money was disbursed, though it was made clear that Mr Parnell directed certain payments to be made. The evidence brought out the fact that the contributions from the Australian colonies and New Zealand to the funds of the leagues had been very large. In the House of Commons to-day, Sir James Fergusson, Political Secretary to the Foreign Office, admitted, in reply .to a question, that a passenger by the steamer Richmond had recently been abducted by the Herman authorities : at Samoa. He explained that Prince Bismarck had expressed his disapproval of the action of the German officials in the matter, and that Dr Knappe, the German Consul at Samoa, had been rec alled. Earl Compton, son of the Marquis of Northampton, has been elected lor the Barnsley Division (Yorkshire 1 in the House of Commons, which seat was rendered vacant by the resignation of Mr Courtney S. Kenny, who sat as a Gladstone-Liberal. ‘ Me defeated his opponent, Mr B. C. Vernon Wentworth, a Tory, by a majority of. 2551. The American baseballers opened their English tour at Kennington Oval to-day. The game was witnessed by a large assemblage, which included H.R.H. the Prince of Wales. The copper market is active, and the price has again risen. Chili bars are now quoted at LSQ per ton, Australian meat is dull, and has experienced a slight decline. New Zealand mutton has also declined a shade, and is now quoted at did for prime quality. The market rate of discount is 2-§-per cent. The Union Steam Ship, Company of New ! Zealand shares are quoted at d,h average of Li&. !v New Zealand Sfrippjng Company a shares are quoted at L 3 iQ<s.

Wheat. —The total quantity of wheat and flour afloat for the United Kingdom is 1,980,000 quarters, and for the Continent 392,000 quarters. The American visible supply of wheat is 31,750,000 bushels. An Australian off coast cargo has been sold at from 37s to 37s 6d. Flour is quoted at from 29s 6d to 30s. London, March 13. Before The Timea-Parnell Commission an attempt was made to show what the receipts of the Leagues had been, but no satisfactory estimate could be made. From the evidence adduced it is doubtful it it exceeds 4450,000 Lord G. F. Hamilton stated in the House of Commons that the Admiralty propose to spend L 280,000 during the current year on the construction of vessels for the Australian fleet. The expenditure of the remaining L 570,000 will be spread over the three following years. The Council of the Royal Academy have declined to accede to the request to open the rooms to the public during Sunday. Sydney, March 13. Arrived Balmoral Castle, from LoDdon.

Victorian and Adelaido wheat is quoted at 5s 6d nominal, New Zealand wheat, 4s 6d to ss. Several large parcels of the latter have been sold at these prices. - The country out west is getting into a very bad state again through want of water.

The wheat market is unchanged. There is now none in the market.

The Sydney branch of Cook’s Tourist Agency was opened by the Premier to-day. In the course of the proceedings it was stated that the agency had arranged to meet Lord Onslow at Adelaide and convey him, via Melbourne and Sydney, to Auckland, thence overland to Wellington. M eibouknk, March 13.

During an election meeting in the North Melbourne Town Hall last night a gang of larrikins rushed the place, and during the row that ensued a man named Berger was seriously stabbed in two places. Sailed —Manapouri, for the Bluff. A parcc-l of wheat has been sold at 5s s£d. News has been received of the death at Naples of Sir F. W. Stawell, formerly Chief J ustice of Victoria. In consequence of the publication of the wheat statistics wheat has risen to 5s 9d, aud flour i 3 being held for a higher price. Adelaide, March 13. Several shocks of earthquake are reported to have been felt in the north. Perth, March 13. Details as to the damage caused by the cyclone at King Sound, Kimberley district, on the 13th February, show that one lugger is missing with three Chinese aboard, two luggers were driven ashore and dismasted, and two became total wrecks. All hands on one of the lalter were drowned.

The Legislative Council was opened to-day. The Governor’s Speech referred to the satisfactory condition of the Colony and the perceptible improvement in trade. The Speech states that the principal work of the session would be the consideration and the passing of the Constitution Bill. Zanzibar, March 11. All the Germans captured recently by the Arabs have been ransomed. Bushire, the rob-1 lender, is now retreating from Bagamayo, where he was wounded in the lecent engagement with the Germans. He shows an inclination to parley. Paris, March 13.

The Due d’Aumale has returned to this i city, where he was warmly welcomed. He publicly expressed his gratitude to President Carnot for the permission extended to him to return from exile. ' SPJEOIAZLondon, March 13. lb has been ascertained that the reported massacre of French tourists by Indians at Yellowstone Park, was a hoax, no such tragedy having occurred.

Before The Times Parnell Commission, Coffey, au Irish reporter, confessed that he Ijed to Mr S.oames, ■ solicitor for Ti.mes,'\yhen. he professed to be revealing bj a knowledge of the complicity of tffe Land and National, Leagues with, the crimes in ;Ireland,. He. was. immediately comjmitted for contempt. At the conclusion of the case for The Times ? Sir Charles Russell, counsel

for the Parnellites, will make an application for three weeks’ adjournment.

Paris, March 13. The Government have abandoned the idea of creating a new portfolio in the Cabinet for the representation of the colonies. Washington, March 13. A proposal to abolish the Canadian Committee has been defeated in the Senate. In the course of the debate on the proposal, Senator Sherman expressed an opinion that it would be impossible to maintain peace between the two countries if the Dominion separated from the States. [Published as received.] President Harrison and the Secretary of State (Mr Blaine) have disagreed over the appointment of the American Ministers to Foreign Courts.

Belgrade, March 12

It is expected that the divorce obtained by the ex-King Milan from the ex-Queen Natalie will be annulled.