NEWS BY CABLE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXII, Issue 6870, 21 April 1897, Page 1

NEWS BY CABLE.

(By Electric ph—Copyrxsb t ) (per united press association) Received April 20, at 5 p.m. St. Petersburg, April 19. Great preparations are being made for the reception of the Emperor of Austria, who arrives on a visit to the Czar on the 27th inst. The German Emperor will visit the Austrian Emperor later on. Paris, April 19. French newspapers, commenting on

the visits of the Emperors, express the fear of a renewal of a kaiserbund, or union of Emperors. Received April 20, at 9.45 p.m. London, April 19. The Egyptian expeditionary force against the dervishes in the Soudan advances to Abu Hamed, between the fourth and fifth cataracts of the Nile, in July.

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(per united press association.) Received April 20, at 5 p.m. Melbourne, April 25. The long-continued drought is playing sad havoc with the stock and crops, especially in the Riverina district. Received April 20, at 5.30 p.m. Melbourne, April 20. The Government are calling for tenders for the construction of a narrow gauge railway from Wangaratta to Whitfield, a distance of thirty miles. This is the first of a number advocated by the Railway Committee. Received April 20, at 9 45 p m. Sydney, April 20. The Governor to-day unveiled, in Hyde Park, a life-sized bronze statue of the late W. R. Dalley, the funds for which were raised by public subscription. The ceremony took place in the presence of a distinguished gathering, and speeches were made eulogising the late statesman. Melbourne, April 20. The main feature of the Druids' Easter gala is the bands' competition. Fourteen bands have entered, including Invercargill (N.Z.), one from Sydney, and one from Tasmania. The New Zealand band was greatly applauded for their selection from " Lombardi." The contest concludes to-morrow night.