Cablegram.

Otago Witness, Issue 1421, 15 February 1879, Page 17

Cablegram.

(Reuter's Special to the Press Association. ) London, February 4th. The corrected list of the new French Ministry are as follows :— Le Pere, Agriculture and Commerce ; Leon Say, Finance ; Waddington, President and Foreign Affairs ; Marcere, Interior and Public Worship ; Admiral Jourquiberg, Colonies and Marine ; Freycuite, Public Works j Greechy, Interior and War ; Fery, Education. February sth. Lord Augustus Loftus has been appointed Governor of New South Wales. The President of the French sent a message to the Chambers which expressed devotion to parliamentary affairs. February 6th. In consequence of the plague, three weeks' quarantine is ordered at Malta against arrivals from Southern Russia, and increasingly rigorous measures are being taken against the advance of the plague on the frontiers of Germany, Austria, and Turkey, and into the ports of Italy. The English Ambassador at St. Petersburg has been recalled. Earl Dufferin is appointed his successor. The proportion of the Bank of England reserve to the liabilities is 39 per cent. Total reserve in bullion and notes, £13,937,500. Consols, 9(3g. February 7th. The Marquis of Hartington, leader of the Opposition, in a speech delivered at Liverpool, said the verdict of the country on the foreign policy of the Government would be the principal question for the next general election. A skirmish took place on the 12th January between British troops and Zulus. The British loss was trifling. The Zulus are retreating to the interior. February Bth. The Marquis of Hartington, at Liverpool yesterday, explained the programme of the Liberal party to be the extension ol the franchise to the county, to reorganise the seats, local government, religious equality, and a large reduction of taxes. The Board of Trade returns show the imports of the past month to amount to 26| millions, showing a decrease of 4J millions. The exports for the past month amounted to 14 3-16 millions, showing a decrease of 1 7-32 millions. The Dock labourers and sailors at Liverpool have struck. The steamer Kerangi is a total wreck. Captain Everard, the mate, and four of the c ew arrived at Gabo (?). "Wheat and flour are sixpence lower. New Zealand securities are unchanged. February 9th. A column of British troops has occupied Tuerisk, Cabul. It is considered unlikely that any further operations will take place in the direction of Delatzilze. February Bth. A strike of the engineers has commenced — 2000 men and 18 London firm 3 being affected. February 10th. The Admiralty reported that the Thunderer gun missed fire, and the gun was re-loaded and both charges fired. (Special to Press Association.) London, February 4th. Consols, 96|. February sth. The Sirdars are leaving Cabul, and fighting for the succession. Turkey has ceded Khotona to Persia. _ Astrakhan, where the plague is raging, is completely isolated, and surrounded by a military cordon. The headquarters of the Union Bank of Cornwall are at Beltston and Palmouth. February 3 th. Money is in moderate demand. The Bank minimum is unchanged. The Bank reserve acquires fresh strength week by week, Consols are 96^. The market for Australian securities is very steady. The corn market is weak, with a downward tendency. M. Gravy's address to the Chambers reviewed the crisis, and pronounced in favour of peace and the Republic. Thirty thousand wharf labourers are on strike at Liverpool, and riots are occurring. Money is easy. Railway stocks have risen. Australian wheat ex store, 45s to 48s. Singapore, February 8 th. The barque Kate Waters, from Sydney, was seized and scuttled, and the officers murdered, by the Chinese crew, on vthe voyage from Hongkong to Foochow. The mutineers have been captured. INTERCOLONIAL. (Per Reuter's Agency.) Melbourne, February 7th. At the bush' fire in the Colac district, five persons were burnt to death, and three others are hopelessly injured. (Reuter's Special to Press Association.) Sydney, 6th February. Applications for space in the Exhibition are pouring in on all sides. The space applied lot by the other Colonies far exceeds the amount available. February Bth. The Grand Lodge of England has disallowed the application for a charter by the New South Wales Grand Lodge. The verdict in 'the Glen Innes shooting case was " Justifiable homicide." Lady Robinson lays the foundation -stone of the Exhibition Building on Thursday. February 10th. Advices from New Caledonia state that the natives are completely pacified. An early resumption of operations at the nickel mines is probable. February 12th. The Assembly last night declared the seat fcr Orange vacant, owing to Mr Coombea having accepted the position of Executive Commissioner for the Colony at the Paris Exhibition. This was held to be an office of profit under the Crown. Melbourne, February 6th. Sir B. O'Loughlin, the Acting Premier, stated in a speech yesterday, that he hoped the Prince of Wales would open the Melbourne Exhibition. The work of. clearing the site haa beea commenced, ,

There is much uneasiness in commercial circles, and further failures are expected. Dr Crooke is improving. There is no truth in the report that he endeavoured to poison himself. February 11th. The Hobart Town Cup was won by Mr Laughlin's Lord Harry easily. M'Donald and Co, of Geelong, have failed. Liabilities, £81,000; assets, £67,000. Bush fires have interrupted the Adelaide line. February 12th. f Crooke, in evidence to-day, attributed hia illness to an overdose of chloroform. A tornado passed over Camperdown yesterday, doing great damage. Brisbane, February 7th. Heavy rains have prevailed throughout the Colony. February 10th. At the Volunteer sham-fight on Saturday, GOO were under arms. Colonel Scratchley inspected, and expressed himself satisfied with the evolutions. Mr Grisley Luken has been appointed Executive Commissioner to the Sydney .Exhibition. Cooktown, February 7th. The blacks are proving troublesome. They speared Captain Sykes j Hortby, his companion, escaped to the boats, pursued by the blacks. February 11th. The French war-ship Allier has arrived here with troops for New Caledonia. (Special to Press Association.) Sydney, February 6 th. Mr Patrick Jennings has presented £1000 to the Sydney University Organ Fund. The Hon Mr De Salis has given notice of motion in the Council, in favour o£ bounties to the extent of £5000, to encourage exportation of wheat and me it. Bush fires at Adeloag threaten the Webbs' station. The ceremony of the unveiling of Cook's Statue is likely to be an imposing affair. The Friendly Societies have consented to take part, and the day will be proclaimed a public holiday. A blackfellow, Tommy M'Pherson, outlawed for the murder of a countryman, was shot by the police near Glenines yesterday, after a desperate resistance. He threw a tomahawk at the police, and attempted to fire when shot down. The Australia left San Francisco a day late. February 7th. Lord Loftus is appointed Governor. Three men have been committed for trial in connection with the recent fatal pugilistic encounter at Windsor. February 11th.' The French man-of-war Allier arrived at Cosktown with troops, having 150 men sick from fever. It is proposed to land them, and fumigate the vessel. Some larrikins brutally assaulted a respectable artisan yesternight. In the libel action "The Vagabond "v. Thompson, claim £2000 for defamation of character, a verdict for one shilling damages was given. February 12tb. Page, the absconding secretary to a building society in Melbourne, wa& arrested here charged with embezzlement. He was found hidden in the chain locker of a steamer from Brisbane. Melbourne, February 6 th. Crooks illness is intemperate, not suicidal. He took an overdose of chloral and morphia, but is now out of danger. Terrible fires are raging in Gippaland, Cape Otway, Ballarat, and. Sandhurst districts. Immense damage is done, the town being with difficulty saved. Melbourne is enveloped in a dense smoke like that of Black Thursday. The heat is intense. February 7th. Sir Charles Sladen addressed his constituents at Portland yesterday, and characterised the Council Reform Bill as truly liberal. February Bth. A bush fire eight miles from Colac, rushed towards a homestead and destroyed it. The parents and five children were surrounded by the fire, and struggled towards a waterdam. A tree fell and killed one child and desperately injured the father. The mother and two children were burnt to death, February 10th. Turnbull, the victim of the Colac fire, is dead. The Victoria has been Bent to the wreck of the Kernangi. Terrific fires are raging at the Colac forest, and fears for the safety of the township are entertained. The Minister of Lands is not at present to press the payment of rent by selectors who have suffered through rust in the crops. Brisbane, February 6th. George Stephens perished of thirst in the scrub ; Warago, his mate, was saved by a passing traveller, after suffering terribly. He even tried to alleviate thrrst by sucking packets of Epsom salts. February 7tb. Mr M'llwraith, the Premier, has been reelected. Mr Macrossan, the Minister of Works, will be opposed by Mr Morgan, a local lawyer. Mr Poring has been appointed acting Attorney-General. Colonel Scratchley reviewed 600 Volunteers. Adelaide, February 10th. In the Moonta mine there is a further reduction owing to copper depression. In the Kopundawork has been suspended. Wheat : Dull, and falling. Settlers unable to sell. Country flour sold at £10 Ga per ton. The Gawler strikers are still out. A parcel of wheat sold at 43 7 id. It is rumoured that 60,000 bushels were sold at a price reserved. , Cooktown, February 12bb. The French troops have disembarked. Three men caught beating Rees, a butcher, to death, have been arrested. THE KELLY GANG. (Per Reuter's Agency.) Sydney, February 11th. The Kelly gang have entered New South Wales. They surrounded and imprisoned the police of Geraldinej in that Colony, and took their arms, ammunition, horses, and saddles. I They then robbed the Bank of New South

Wale 3of L2OOO, and destroyed the Bank's documents. February 12fch. Troopers have been despatched from Wagga Wagga in pursuit of the Kelly s. The telegraph \vire3 were cut at Tirana, where it is believed the Kellys have passed. (Special to Press Association.) Sydney, February 11th. The Kelly gang visited Geraldine township, 50 miles from Deniliquin, on Monday, and confined the police to the lock-up, stuck up the Bank of New South Wales and took about L2OOO from it, tore down the telegraph line, and threatened the operator if he attempted to restore communication. These things were done with the coolest audacity. The Kellys, in police uniform, paraded the streets and bailed up the hotel, but harmed no one. Another correspondent says the Kellys, at Garaldine, on Saturday at midnight, bailed up the police and confined them to the lock-up. On Monday they robbed the bank of L2OOO, cut the telegraph wires, imprisoned the operators, took all the police horses and arms, and left at 9 at night. The Kellys traversed Urana on Friday incognito. Later. Nothing further has been heard of the Kellyß. It is supposed they have returned to Victoria.