HOME AND FOREIGN CABLE NEWS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XX, Issue 6224, 5 April 1895, Page 2

HOME AND FOREIGN CABLE NEWS.

;By Electric Telegraph—Copyright,) (per united press association.) Received April 4, at 10.25 a.m.] London, April 4. At the annual meeting of the Bank of Australasia, Mr Allan G. IT. Gibbs, Chairman, said the decrease in the profits •was due to stagnation in trade and a reduction in the amount of advances by the hank. He hoped that a revival of prosperity in the colonies would enable the institution to renew increased dividends. The report of the North British and New Zealand Investment Company shows a profit of L3OOO, of which LIOOO Is placed to the reserve fund, and L276is carried forward, the remainder boing available for payment of a dividend, which the directors recommend to bo at tho rate of 3| per cent. Washington, April 3, The Republicans in the Western States swept the board at the spring elections, For their corrupt administration in Chicago, they were wholly defeated. Stockholm, April 4,

King Oscar refuses to accept the resignation of the Norwegian Minister, anil declines to resume negotiations with the majority, owing to the latter's rejection of previous conditions. Received April 5, at 10.45 a.m.

London, April I Harding and Sullivan will row for tho championship of England, on the Thames, on September 9th. In cross-examination, Wilde admitted that he was acquainted with young men named Taylor, Parker, and Atkins, Taylor had introduced him to five young men on separate occasions, to whom wit' ness had given money, but he waa not aware any of them were gentlemen's servants. He said he derived pleasure from being in the company of bright, j happy people. Witness had frequent]/ been in Taylor's room. He was awi that both Taylor and Parker had ids been arrested, bub continued their fried ship. Once he took Atkins and a youll named Price to Paris and introduced then to another youth named Ernest Scarp, who became acquainted with Lord Douglas, When making the voyage to Australia, Wilde said he had made presents to Scarp and Mabor because he liked them. Letters read in Court proved that the Marquis oi Queensbery was endeavoring to stop his son visiting Wilde, and that tho son wired back to his father that Wilde was a funn little man. The Marquis subsequently called at Wilde's house, wherea furiousscenetook place. The latter denied the charge! levelled against him and showed the Marquis the door. Witness wrote to the Marquis complaining that his wife eH' couraged his son's visits. Wilde's friend' ship with Lady Queensbery and sons remained. unbroken. Certain letters fro® the youths already named showed tlst the writers were poverty-sticken, some imploring assistance or employment. At an influential gathering of tho Bl' metallic League the Hon. A. J. Balfour, in a jubilant speech, referred to theiO' proved prospects of bimetallism.