LATE CABLE NEWS

Otago Witness, Issue 1653, 28 July 1883, Page 22

LATE CABLE NEWS

The following have appeared in the Melbourne paperß : —

At the invitation of Sir Samuel Wilson a number of gentlemen holding Conservative views met recently at Hughenden Manor, when the question of the annexation of New Guinea was introduced and discussed. Sir S. Wilson, in the course of his remarks, severely denounced the action of Mr Gladstone's Government in regard to this question.

The French Chamber of Deputies are engaged in discussing a bill which proposes the construction of a railway-bridge over the English Channel. The bill provides that the starting-point of the projected bridge shall be Cape Grisnez, a point 10 miles north of Boulogne ; and that its terminus shall be at Folkestone, a seaport town in the county of Kent. | Lord Sidmouth's motion for the production of the correspondence in connection with the naval forces for the Colonies was discussed last night. In the course of the debate Earl Carnarvon expressed his opinion that the whole responsibility of initiating the system of naval defence for the Colonies rested with the Imperial Government, whose duty it was to draw up a general scheme and submit it to the various Colonial Governments. Lord Derby denied that it was the duty of the Imperial Government to take the initiative in such a scheme, and contended that as the Colonies would be mainly, benefited by a thorough system of naval defence they should make the first move in the matter, and the Imperial Govennent might then supplement their efforts. Lord Sidmouth's motion was then negatived. 9 A debate took place in the House of Commons recently upon a motion introduced by the; Hon. H. Chaplin, the object of which, was to place some restrictions upon the importation of live stock from America. The motion was carried.

Since the departure of James Carey, the informer, it has transpired that his estate is bankrupt. The efforts to raise the steamer Daphne, which sank while being launched on the river Clyde, have so far been unsuccessful. Eighty bodies have been recovered. The London Standard confirms its pre r vious Btatement that , the English Government had accepted the terms proposed by M. de Lesseps in .connection with the construction of a second Suez canal. Subject to certain modifications, England will guarantee .the interest on £8,750,0C)0 capital for the construction of the canal. Provision has also been* made for the reduction of transit dues by 2J francs per ton. A reduction will also be made by the Company in the cost .of pilotage. In consequence of the unfavourable manner in which the scheme for the construction of a second canal has been received by the mercantile community in England, it is probable that M, d* Lesseps will abandon the project. The English Government have decided to The appeal case of Ward v. The National Bank of New Zealand has been digmifised. Peterborough Cathedral, which has been considered unsafe for some time, has now been condemned as absolutely dangerous. Dr Wordsworth, Bishop of .Lincoln* h*B *&• utranced bis intention of resigning.

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