NEWS BY CABLE.

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 9184, 5 January 1891, Page 2

NEWS BY CABLE.

By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. (PEK PRESS ASSOCIATION.) a terribltTaccident. London, January 2. A terrible accident happened at a church bazaar at Leeds. The cottonwool dresses ot 14 children who were assisting at the stalls caught fire, and before the flames were extinguished the children were severely burnt. OBITUARY. Pekin, January 2. Obituary—Prince Ch’un, father of the Emperor of China. (Received January 4, 10.30 a.m.) THE LABOR QUESTION. London, January 2. Fairplay states that the strength of the shipping federation alone prevented an immense riverside strike of all trades on January Ist. (Received January 4, 5.30 p.m.) London, January 3. Although the directors of the Scotch railway companies assert that the strike is nearly over, the Caledonian Company is still a thousand men short of their usual complement. Owing to the demands of the labour party 100,000 tons of shipping is laid up in English ports. (Received January 5, 12.50 a.m.) London, January 4. Three hundred Postal and Savings Banks’ clerks in London have been suspended, owing to their refusal to work overtime. LORD EUSTON. London, January 2. ‘ Lord Euston is seriously ill. [Lord Euston is the eldest eon ot the Duke of Grafton. He became noted some time ago for his attempt to obtain a divorce from his wife, formerly a resident of Australia, whom he married in 1871. Lord Euston was born in 1848. WESTGARTH’S CIRCULAR. London, January 2. Westgarth’s Monthly Circular considers that a continuance of economy and a cessation of heavy borrowing is essential for the maintenance of the good credit of Victoria. Referring to Queensland it states that in the event of separation being effected, it will be beset with so many difficulties in the apportionment of its debt that it would be best to continue the existing loan arrangements, and each division of the colony contribute its proportion of the interest and tho repayment of the principal. (Received January 4, 5.40 p.m.) TRUST FUNDS INVESTMENTS. London, January 3. Tho Right Hon G. J. Goschen, Chancellor of the Exchequer, has promised tho Agents-Qeneral to give steady attention to tho Trust Funds Investment Bill, which was shelved during the previous, session, owing to his not having sufficient time to consider its provisions. EUROPEAN TREATIES. London, January 2. Tho Departmental Committee of the Board of Trade will examine the various Agents-Gcnoral on the 23rd inst. as to whether their respective Governments wish to participate in the renewal of European treaties with Great Britain. H.M.S. BLONDE. London, Jahuary 2. Commander Royle has been offered the command'-of H.M. new screw cruiser Blonde, which is being equipped for Australian waters. THE POSTAL CONFERENCE. London, January 3. The German Government is desirous of an exchange of direct mails and postcards by British packets with Australia, and wishes to commence the system immediately, Mr Raikes, the PostmasterGeneral, considers it would be better for Germany to make the arrangements after the Postal Conference, to bo held in Vienna in May, and also to arrange for a revision of the postage rates with the Italian and French Governments. Vienna, January 3. The Austrian Government has invited the Australian colonies and Fiji to appoint delegates to the Postal Conference, which opens here on May 20. THE ZAMBESI TREATY. Lisbon, January 3. The Portuguese press assert that a definite treaty between Great Britain and Portugal respecting Zambesi, is on the point of conclusion. THE FRENCH LOAN. Paris, January 3. Itis officially announced that the French Conversion Loan of eight hundred and sixty-nine mil ion francs, will be issued on the 10th inst. The minimum is fixed at 90-95. (Received January 4, 5,30 p.m.) THE INDIAN WAR. TWELVE REGIMENTS ENGAGED. New York, January 3. Advices from tho districts threatened by the Indians state that the 7bh Regiment of Cavalry was surrounded in a valley near Clay Creek by a greatly superior force, and the 9th Regiment of Cavalry arrived just in time to rescue them. The United States Government hope to induce 3000 Indians at Badlands to peacefully surrender. Twelve Regiments of Infantry are now investing the disturbed districts. (Received January 5, 12,50 a.m.) COLLIERY EXPLOSION. Berlin, January 4. By an explosion in the Velejeck Colliery, Silesia, fifteen miners were killed outright and thirty others are entombed. COMMERCIAL AND SHIPPING. London, January 2. The Bank of England returns published to-day show the total reserve in notes and bullion to be L 14,802,000, being a decrease of L 92.000 as compared with the previous week. The proportion of reserve to liabilities 37 percent. Three months’ bills are quoted at 4i per cent. South Australian wheat, 38s 6d, market restricted ; Victorian do, 38s; New Zealand longberried do, 37s 3d, market quiet. New Zealand flour, superfine, 23s (id.

Canterbury mutton, 4d; Wellington do, 3|d. How Zealand beef, forequarters, 3id, hindquarters, 4d, market depressed. Melbourne, January 3. Arrived—Tarawera, from the Bluff, Brisbane, January 3.. Sailed—Killoena, for Napier. Adelaide, January 3. Arrived—Ocean Ranger, from the Bluff. Hobart, January 3. Sailed—Kenilworth, for Auckland. Newcastle, January 3. Arrived—Othello, from the Bluff. Sailed —Zephyr, for Napier. Sydney, January 3.

Arrived—Madura, from Kaipara ; Brunette, from Hokianga ; Northern Chief, from Mongonui. Sailed—H.H. ships Cordelia, Royalist and Lizard, for Hobart, en route to New Zealand.

(Received January 4, 10.30 s.m.) London, January 2. Silver is quoted at 4s BJd.