CABLEGRAMS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 5938, 19 February 1881, Page 2

CABLEGRAMS.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

(Reuters Special.)

: London,. February 16th. ; The news that Mr Parnell has paid visits to M. Rocheforte and Victor Hu*o created a feeling of disgust amongst Irish Catholics. :: ..,-. ■■

"Consols, 99g, .' '■/V.,\ - v .' Adelaide wheat (ex .warehouse), 493. Five per cent. New Zealand 10-40 loan: 104£; 5 per cent. New Zealand 1889 i° o a°' 109J; 4^ per cent. New Zealand 1879-1904 loan, 98. V ; At the.wool sale to-day 10,300 bales were offered. There was a good demand; an<l a good attendance of Home buyers. !_' „' : February 17th'iThe Speaker of the House of Commons has adopted further Btringent rules' lor the suppression of disorder, in the House, which, has caused indignation to the Radical and Irish members. , ;

;The reserve in notes and bullion in the Bank of England is. £16,625,000. "The Bank of England rate of discount has today been reduced to 3 per cent. \ The market rate now stands at 2| per cent. - ■': ;At the wool sale to-day 8300 bales were offered.. iThe.vtone. of the sale was quiet, and prices, suffered a further decline, greasy being now Id lower compared with last sales. ■:■■■■■■;

;The Homeward Australian mails, via Sue 2 and Brindisi, were delivered here to-day. -'; •- --■■■■:. .-;-'•■.•".; '•::•■,.•;:;-■..-..■.

: j St. Petersbueo, February 17th. : News, has been received from Central Asia that the Russian Commander, General Skobeloff, has. issued' a proclamation to the Tekke-Turcomans that if they submit they will be granted a complete amnesty^ . ■ i; \ ' ■''-•■ .'-

i New York, February 16th. ; ;.; jA number of Dutch-Americans residing here and in other parts' of the States are agitating with a view to sending assistance to the Boers. in their efforts to obtain their indepence in the Transvaal.

; Capetown-, February 16th. ; News comes to hand from Natal that the telegraph wires between Newcastle and Durban have been cut by the Boers in several places. No communication, therefore, has lately been received from Sir George Colley at Ingogo.

; February 17th. Telegraphic communication between Durban and Newcastle had been restored, and news has now been received that the reinforcements for General Colley are rapidly advancing to the front. A corps under Sir Evelyn Wood has already crossed the Ingogo River, and is expected shortly to reach Generd Colley's camp.

INTERCOLONIAL. (Rexjtee's Special.)

i .. Adelaide, February 18th. ■; The Hon. William Morgan, Chief Secretary and Premier of South Australia, has issued an address containing an outline of the policy, of the Government. He calls attention to the necessity for the reform of the constitution of the Legislative Council, and says that a bill will be introduced . for th c purpose. If a measure is twice rejected in the Council the Government,will be empowered to declare one half of the seats in the Upper House vacant at the time of the next dissolution. The present time is considered favourable for the introduction of a Reform Bill, though there is no. conflict with the two Chambers. The Government have further resolved to increase the number of electorates to 26 for each House, each electorate to - return two members. Referring to his recent visit to Sydney to attend the sittings of the 'Intercolonial Conference,- Mr, Morgan says he is quite convinced that the chief object of his Government should be to assimilate the tariff, of .South Australia with that of New ' South Wales^ and adds that he is; prepared to pursue a policy of reciprocity and'mutual.concession; Revisionof the tariff, he'adds, is necessary to readjust the incidence of taxation. To relieve the farmera, artizans, anVl labourers remission of taxes to the extent' of £6000 will be proposed in orcler to. secure uniformity with the tariff /of Naw South Walpsy and; the duty oh cornsacks, woolpacks, and implements will be reduced, the idea that the Colony can produce the raw material being erronous, and very little less than madness. In- order to ..enable reform of the. system of- taxation a .tax-, of one halfpenny in the pound on property valued at pver : £300 will be proposed. -Jfr Morgan also discusses the questioiiof a railway to Port: Darwin, and says he'believes capitalists, will be prepared to cooperate for the construction of a line on the alternate block system, and* the Go-' : yernment ;will ask for ; authority, to, negotiate with that object. He advocates the extension of railways to meet New South Wales lines, thus shortening, the r distance by 300,- miles, as compared with? that via Melbourne, and concluded- -by Baying that the policy of the Government is i£6- strengthen": the union with New. South Wales. . :;; :■ -; .; 'I

! Melbournb,-February 18th. ! . Mr Murray, Smith has virtually assumed the leadership of the Opposition, in the Legislative Assembly. .\':■.■■■:

; The ship Hereford, which was successfully floated yesterday at Cape Patton, has been safely towed to Queenscliff.