NEWS BY CABLE.

New Zealand Times, Volume LIV, Issue 9881, 12 April 1893, Page 2

NEWS BY CABLE.

Bv ElbctrioTelequafu.—CoTVßlQHT. (PRESS ASSOCIATION.) GENERAL NEWS. Londox, April 10. The Rev Thomas Spurgeon has accepted the pastorate of the Tabernacle, formerly held by his father, the late Rev C. H. Spurgeon. Calcutta. April 10. It is reported that the French have occupied the Island of Khone, in the Mekong River, Cambodia, without opposition. Zanzibar, April 10. A British cruiser captured a dhow off this town, and rescued 60 child slaves. New York, April 10. An aerolite fell in St Louis, Missouri, aud destroyed a statue erected in memory of John Brown. ’ HOME RULE. Washington, April 10. The wing of the Clan-na-Gael Party which follows Devoy, owing to dissension in the society and the introduction of the Home Rule Bill, has decided to abandon revolutionary methods, and join the liiah National Federation. London, April 10. Lord Houghton, Viceroy of Ireland, has issued a proclamation restricting the importation of arms into the country. The issue of Lord Houghton's proclamation is due to numerous seizures of arms which have been made recently from passengers from America. The Government has ordered the authorities in Ireland to make a close scrutiny of all munitions of war imported into the country, and insist on the consignees making a full declaration.

(Received April 12, 12.43 a.m.) London, April 10. The return of the Opposition leaders to the House after a vigorous campaign in the provinces, has revived interest in the debate on the motion for the second reading of the Horae Rule Bill. The debate was resumed by Mr Chamberlain, who delivered a brilliant and incisive speech. DROWNED AT SEA. London, April 10. A passenger by the Ophir, named George Byng, was drowned in the Mediterranean. A DOUBLE MURDER. Washington, April 10. A sensational shooting affair is reported from Texas. A young man named Fields, who had been rejected by a girl, shot his two rivals dead with a revolver. One of the victims was engaged to the girl, and was walking along the aisle of a church when the outrage was committed. A spectator pursued and shot Fields, who is in a precarious condition from the effects of the wound. EGYPT. Paris, April 10. M. Flaurens, a member of the Chamber of Deputies, declares that the only means of settling the Egyptian difficulty is a European Conference. TWO THOUSAND CHRISTIANS IMPRISONED. London, April 10. The Standard’s Constantinople correspondent telegraphs that 2000 Christians are imprisoned in Armenia. THE PAMIRS. Calcutta, April 10. The Russians have penetrated from the Murghab River into the Wakhan district, west of the Pamirs abutting on the British political frontier. They have ordered tho Afghan commander to surrender Kalapanjah, a town on the tributary of the Oxus, and frontier fighting is feared. ENGLISH, SCOTTISH AND AUSTRALIAN BANK. London, April 10. Shares in the English, Scottish and Australian Chartered Bank are quoted at L 6 10s. In the course of an interview to day, Mr O. J. Hegan, chairman of the bank, said there was nothing in the bank’s position to cause alarm except the recent fall in shares, which was not justified. The bank’s bullion in the colonies was sufficient to meet all demands, and it was not true that the bank had applied to the Bank of England for assistance.

LOCAL OPTION. London, April 10. The supporters of Local Option, claim a victory at the meeting held in Trafalgar square, and declare that they held possession from first to last. The meeting approved the Bill, and thanked the Government for introducing it. Cheers were given for Sir Vernon Harcourt and Sir Wilfrid Lawson. The opponents of the Bill have received a temporary check. (Received April 11, 7 p.m.) COMMERCIAL BANK. London, April 10, The prevalent opinion in the city is that the scheme for the reconstruction of the Commercial Bank is too favourable to the shareholders of the institution. (Received, April 12, 12 45 a.m.) EUROPEAN NEWS. Lisbon, April 11. A lunatic has been arrested for threatening the King of Portugal with violence, while His Majesty was out driving. Paris, April 11. President Carnot has pardoned M. Turpin, who was ivnprisoned about 18 months ago for selling to an English firm the secret of the manufacture of meliniteThe Figaro accuses M. Freycinefc of imprisoning M. Turpin to prevent l.is divulging secrets, and afterwards offering to pardon him and pay him compensation if he did not make a scandal of the affair. Ten persons died from cholera at L’Orient on Sunday. ANGLO COLONIAL ITEMS. London, April 11. Sir John Lubbock, commenting on the Hon Mr Ballance’s replies to the New Plymouth harbour bondholders, expresses a hope that the council of foreign bpndholders will not be driven to oppose a stock exchange quotation of any ETevy Zealand loan which may be placed on i the market.

A leading banker states that Victoria must come to definite decision with regafd to the conversion of stock by July at the latest. He thinks jb ’would be better if the operation took place in June; and advises the extension of the 5 percents on condition that they are made redeemable at six months' notice ; otherwise, ho favours the offering of tempting terms to convert a portion into three acid a halfs. The balance, he thinks, isTikely to fetch par at 4 per cent if there is any prospect of the early recovery of the Colony.