LATEST GENERAL CABLES.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXX, Issue 3785, 6 July 1899, Page 6

LATEST GENERAL CABLES.

(Received July 6, 1 a.m.) FRENCH CHAMBER PROROGUED. ‘ PARIS, Wednesday. The Chamber of Deputies has prorogued. PEACE CONFERENCE. AMSTERDAM, Wednesday. At the l Peace Conference, the Committee on Mediation, to widen the last cues lion on Count Muravieff’s circular—namely, mediation and arbitration—was referred, lias come to a decision. It has decided that arbitration must ho optional except in tho case of nations: which have special conventions on the subject. UNREST IN BELGIUM. BRUSSELS, Wednesday. Republican demonstrations have occurred at the sittings of the Antwerp anc Liege Provincial (or Communal) Councils. NEW HEBRIDES. SYDNEY, We^icsday. New Caledonian nows states that a petition | from Vila, 'Now Hebrides, was presented to the New Caledonian Council General asking for tho annexation of the New Hebrides to France, and during the discussion of the petition one member of the. Assembly suggested that Wallis Island should bo given in exchange for the New Hebrides. He was cried down and accused of disloyalty to his country. The Council adjourned without taking any action. [The Wallis Archipelago, north-east of Fiji, was definitely placed under the protectorate of France in 1887.] WHOLESALE POISONERS. BUD A. PESTH, Tuesday. Eighteen women have been tried in Hungary on charges of having 'poisoned their husbands and children. Nino have been acquitted, but tho others were found guilty and sentenced to long terms of imprisonment.

PLAGUE AT HONGKONG. LONDON, Tuesday. Increased mortality from the plague is reported from Hongkong. 1 OLD AGE PENSIONS. LONDON, Tuesday. Tho committee. appointed by the House of Commons to inquire into the old ago pensions question lias presented its report. It strongly favours the granting of pensions, and recommends that the cost bo equally divided between the local and Imperial funds. PHILIPPINE COMMISSION. WASHINGTON, Tuesday. Mr J. G. Schunnan, President of the United States Commission appointed by President McKinley to report upon the future administration of the Philippines-, has visited tho outlying islands of the group. Ho reports that the islanders arc friendly towards the Americans; and will submit when Aguinaldo has been, ousted from his present position. >- FORREST MINISTRY SAFE. PERTH, Wednesday. A no-confidence debate which arose in the Legislative Assembly on a motion'by Mr G. Leake, member for Albany; concluded last night, and the division resulted in a victory for the Forrest Government'.