CABLEGRAMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1762, 29 August 1885, Page 9

CABLEGRAMS.

.BRJtTIHJB hMB FtfRSIMiBL (Reuter's Telegrams.) London, August 20. Reports from the South of Europe show that the cholera epidemic is subsiding in some degree, the* niimber of deaths being on the decrease. The Guards, which for some time past have been stationed at Lunasol (Cyprus), have been ordered Home. The weekly returns of the Bank of England, published to-day, show the total reserve in notes and bullion to be £16,100,000— an increase of £700,000 during the week. The proportion of reserve to liabilities is 46 per cent. August 21. Prime New Zealand mutton averages 4gd per pound. The total quantity of wheat afloat for the United Kingdom is 1,800,000 quarters, or 40,000 quarters less than last week. Adelaide wheat lis at 345 ; New Zealand do, 28s to 345. Tallow: Best Australian beef, average price, 27s ; mutton, 29s per cwt. Best aides Australian leather average lid per Ib. Hops.— The recent unfavourable accounts of the English crops are borne out by later advices, and the forthcoming yield is expected to be both very short in quantity and of extremely inferior quality. August 22. The Orient Company's R.M.S. John Elder, en route for Australia, has been detained at Port Said, jowing to a* slight accident to her machinery. She is expected to resume her voyage in .about five days' time. The' bulk of the frozen meat of the ship Matau'ra, from Napier, has been examined, and found to be in good condition. August 23. A communication has been received by her Majesty's Government from the Khedive .of Egypt; informing them of a terrible massscre which has taken place at Berber. The populace, who were reduced to a state of starvation, rose en mease and took possession of the Treasury. The garrison endeavoured to repel the insurgents, Jand great loss of life resulted. August 25. ThCs German Government has expressed its willingness to fully consider the claims of Spain to ths Caroline Islands, with a view to an amicable settlement of the differences existing on the* subject. I New Yokk, August 22. The 1 St. Petersburg correspondent of the New York Herald confirms the statement that Russia has waived her claims to the occupancy of the Zulfikar Pass. i Paeis, August 21. j Cholera is spreading at a most alarming rate. In Marseilles and the vicinity the daily death rate is now very large. Cairo, August 21. Three regiments of the line now on duty in this' country, have received instructions to return :to England. A report is to hand announcing that the rebels have occupied El Debbeh near old Dongola, and are now advancing upon New Dongola. News js to hand that the garrison of Kassala made terms with the besieging Arabsj and the investment of the town has been discontinued. • - Caiko, August 24. Sinc ( e the evacuation of New Dongola by the British troops, the Arabs have returned in great force, and the town is now occupied by fully 4000 dervifib.es. Constantinople, August 20. ■ Sir H. Drummond Wolff arrived here to-day on' a special mission to the Sultan respecting ! Egyptian affairs. I Bombay, August 20. The, ; soi-disant priest, Father Kanovich, who was recently arrested as a Russian spy, has been sentenced to six months' imprisonment. The authorities have not succeeded in establishing his identity with the Communist Oliver Pain. \ Madrid, August 22. Th'ef action of Germany in regard to the Caroline Islands has- caused great excitement in this city, and an anti-German feeling is rapidly • growing into existence. The diplomatic tension between the two countries is so great at the present time that an o\)ou rupture is menaced. ( August 24. An immense concourse of people assembled in this city to r day. upwards of 30,000 persons being present Resolutions protesting against the action of Germany with regard to the Caroline Islands were carried amidst great enthusiasm. (Special .to Pkess Association.) • ' ' London," August 19. Mr John Ruskin, who has been suffering from cerebral disease', is now recovering. It is (expected that the hop crop will be up to the average. The Continental crop shows a surplus, and American shipments are tending to depress prices. , August 20. The .frozen meat by the steamers lonic and Aorangi is selling at 4kl per lb. On examination the cargo of meat by the Orient steamer Ligurifc was found to be iv good condition. •The Liberal and Tory Press, commenting ou the recent modification by Russia of her proposals a-egarding the occupancy of the Zulfikar Pass, generally express their distrust of them. f ' ' August 21. TheiTariff Committee of the International Telegraph Conference have approved of the revised scheme by Germany of a uniform charge for telegrams throughout Europe. The representatives are making efforts to reduce the rates to India and Australia, and their efforts promise to be successful. Sir Harry St. George Orel, K.C.M.G., has died suddenly in Germany. In 1877 he was Governor of Western Australia, but retired towards the end of j 1879. A land corporation of Western Australia, with a capital of £100,000, lias beeu registered. The wheat market is languid, and owners are storing, awaiting better times. Latest quotations are : — Ex warehouse, 35s Gd ; ex ship, 355 ; latest off-coast cargoes, 345. Forward shipments are unsaleable. The 1 German Government are protesting against Spain's sending a man-of-war to occupy Nap, one of the Caroline Islands. The German Government are making offers to investigate the Spanish claim to the Caroline Islands, and it is expected that the matter will be referred to arbitration. August 23. The German corvette Augusta, bound fov Australia, foundered at sea, and 230 of her crew were drowned. The German cqrvetto Marie has been ordered to proceed to Zanzibar. A great meeting has been held in Hydo Park to consider tile question of protecting young girls.

August 24. . A thousand dervishes arp now at Dongola. Tt is considered probable thai, Spain will retain possession of the western and Germany tho ea&tcrn portion ot tho Caroline Islamic.

The concession of the Zulfikar Pass to England by Russia has now been confirmed. London, August 25. The North German Gazette, commenting (hi thesettloment of the Zulfikar difficulty, expresses a doubfcas to whether any definite settlement of the question can be attained until after the English general elections. The Times states that the Marquis of Salisbury is thoroughly satisfied with the concessions made by Russia regarding the occupancy of the Zulfikar Pass. Mr Paruell, iv addressing a Nationalist lneetingj said that the question of national independence was only a plank in their future programme. Tho Central Queensland Meat Export Company have been awarded a gold medal, and thu Gear Moat Preserving Company, of Wellington, a silver medal, for their exhibits of preserved meats at' the Antwerp Exhibition. (Special to the Melbourne Age.) With reference to the movement for the reduction of the charges for the transmission of cabl'j messages between England and the Australian Colonies, M«- Henuiker Heaton has suggested that the Colonies should confer privately on the subject, with the view of formulating a proposal which would command their united support. Messrs Forster, Goschen, and other leading Liberals, who were invited by the Governmeut to act as members of the Royal Commission just appointed to inquire into the existing trade depression in England, declined to accept seats, the commission being afraid that the result of the inquiry would be to promote the cause of Protection in Great Britain. Mr Dodgson, of Manchester (Grand Treasurer of the Rechabites) and Mr Diamond, of Southport, have embarked on board the John Elder for the purpose of attending, as delegates from Great Britain, the Rechabite Jubilee to be held in Adelaide in September. It is announced that Sir Charles Dilke will shortly marry the widow of the late Rev. Mark Pattison. The Prince of Wales has announced his intention of visiting Sydney if he can possibly complete arrangements. The Prince, in the event of the proposal being carried out, objects, however, to the Colonies incurring any large expenditure in connection with his visit. The Egyptian medal and Soudan clasp are to be conferred upon the members of the New South Wales Contingent. It is reported that Russia has forwarded proposals to the British Government for a settlement of the disputed point as to the occupation of Zulfikar. The compromise now suggested by Russia will, it is stated, be accepted by England. The reported annexation of the Caroline Islands by Germany has been confirmed. The Spanish Government have protested against the action ,of Germany. The Spanish squadron at Manilla has been ordered to proceed to the Caroline Islands. The Telegraphic Conference sitting at Berlin has agreed to a reduction of 2s 6d per word on the present rate charged for public cable messages. Press messages are to bo sent at 2s 8d per word, or^ a quarter of the existing rates, without any guarantee being given by the cable companies as to the transmission of such messages. The reductions liavfe not been formally adopted, the conference awaiting the approval of the South Australian Government. It is probable that a large reduction, equal to 25 per cent, on the present charges for Press and private messages, will be made. The Globe credits Mr Heuniker Heaton with having secured favourable consideration for the proposal. The German annexation of the Caroline Islands is subject to the rights of Spain. It is expected that a majority of the Powers will support the protest of the latter couutry. The Daily Telegraph exhorts Colonel Stanley to anticipate the efforts of Germany to acquire territory in the Pacific. Sir H. Bulwer has been appointed Governor of Cyprus.