CABLE FLASHES.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVIX, Issue 3003, 15 December 1896, Page 2

CABLE FLASHES.

• Two. deaths have occurred in London from the ©Soots of the bubonic fever which has been raging in Hongkong and Bombay. The Cubans assert that Maceo t the Cuban insurgent loader, was killed while conferring with the Marquis Alimnada. The Federal Council will moot at Hobart on the 26th January. It is expected that the result of the International Conference on sugar duties now sitting at Paris will be to greatly reduce the cost of sugar to consumers. The United States Government does not anticipate any serious difficulty over the Venezuela boundary question. The amendments desired by Venezuela are in the nature of increased safeguards, and arc not likely to jeopardise the position. Major McKinley, the President-elect of America, favours intimate and cordial commercial relations with Canada, but refuses to pledge himself to a reciprocal treaty. The Keiobstag i« resisting the proposal to increase the subsidy to the North Gorman Lloyds Company for its Eastern Asiatic steamship service to 3,300,000 marks. • ■i he yacht Aloxa beat the Auckland-built Uira.in a 20-mllo race at Melbourne, though the latter was receiving Cmvn* allowance. Lord Brasaoy’a Helen secured the 50-guinea Challenge Trophy in a 12-mile race. A fire destroyed Clarke’s felimongery. South Hamilton, together with a largo quantity of wool. The damage is estimated at about .£SOOO. . _ There is much diversity of opinion in Capetown respecting the proposed ovation to Mr Cecil Rhodes on his return from Matabeloland. One section of the community protests against the suggested demonstration as fetish worhip of one man.'