CABLEGRAMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1898, 19 June 1890, Page 15

CABLEGRAMS.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN. (Per Press Association.)

London, June 10.

The Globe says that the hulls of the Australian cruisers require strengthening in order to withstand the shock of the continuous quick firing guns with which they are armed.

Mr Raikes is making preparations for giving effect to the reduction to 2£d in ocean postage rates.

The Daily Chronicle insists that an inquiry should be held into the alleged ill-treatment of the blacks by German missionaries in the Northern Territory of Australia.

June 11.

The total quantity of wheat and flour afloat for the United Kingdom is 2,857,000 quarters, and for the Continent 752,000 quarters. The American visible supply is, estimated at 21,792,000 bushels

Tallow : Best mutton, 26s to 2Gs Gd ; best beef, 25s to 25s Gd.

The London Board of Directors of the Bank of New Zealand are awaiting the arrival of Mr David Hean, who is on his way home from Auckland, before they decide whether they will undertake the management of the bank's affairs. As soon as j' r Hean arrives a general meeting of shareholders will be convened. The liank of New Zealand shares (old issue) are quoted at £3 10s to £4 JOs, and new issue at £5 10s to £6 10s.

Sir Julius Pauncefote, British Ambassador to the United States, has threatened to withdraw from Washington if British sealers in the Behring Sea are seized.

M. Ribot, French Minister of Foreign Affairs, speaking in the Chamber of Deputies, said that order had not been completely established in Egypt, and it was time England fulfilled her promise and withdrew her troops from the country. He stated that the French Government would agree to the conversion scheme if the Powers were allowed to decide the best means of applying the savings effected by it.

Madame Melba was personally congratulated by the Prince of Wales ou her success. She returns to the Paris Opera House in October, and proceeds in January to Russia, where she receives £2000 for 10 nights. The ■prima donna announces her intention of visiting Australia in August, 1891.

The United States Senate is likely to pass its own Silver Bill in preference to that agreed to in the Lower House,

Referring to the abolition of the passport system in Alsace, General Yon Caprivi said that it was impossible for Germany to allow French soldiers to occupy ground which might be their future battle fields.

June 12

The directors of the National Mortgage and Agency Company of New Zealand have declared a dividend of 5 per cent, for the year.

Quotations for frozen mutton are unchanged ; New Zealand lamb, s|d ; Queensland beef, 3§d.

It is reported that the Orient Steam Navigation Company, Donald Currie and Co., and the Peninsula and Oriental Steam Navigation Company are negotiating for the purchase of the Tilbury Dock for the sum of £3,500,000.

Leading members of the Unionist party, such as Sir George Russell and Colonel Saunderson, are opposed to the scheme of Mr F. Abigail, M.L.A. of New South Wales, for a union mission to Australia.

Mr James Fonro, C.8., Chief Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, has resigned owing to friction with Mr H. Mathews, Home Secretary.

Many of the Newfoundland fishermen have hoisted the American flag on their boats and on various points of vantage in their villages, on the ground that England is powerless to protect them.

Mr O'Brien, M.P., was married in London to-day. Mr Dillon acted as best man, and the ceremony was performed by the Archbishop of Cashel. Mr Parnell and other members were present.

The Parnellites intend to present an address to Cardinal Manning on the occasion of his silver jubilee.

A commission agent named Alfred Jones, who mysteriously disappeared from Melbourne in March last, and who was thought to have been drowned, has been arrested here on a charge of fraudulent bankruptcy.

The Queen is deeply afflicted at the death of the Dowager Marchioness of Ely.

The Portuguese Chamber of Deputies adjourned last night in uproar in consequence of the Government declining to hold a secret session to discuss the negotiations with England on the Zanzibar question.

The Servian Government have repudiated the attacks made by the press on Austria,

An Egyptian conversion preferential Si per cent, loan of £29,000,000 has been issued. The minimum is fixed at 91. Switzerland is increasing her army. A train was wrecked and plundered by highwaymen in Arkansas.

June 13

Wheat : Adelaide, 38s (market weaker) ; New Zealand long-berried, 36a Gd (market weaker).

The judges declined to permit the Stan dard to interrogate Lord Hindlip as ta the history of the formation of All&opp and Co. The Committee of Inquiry on the subject reported that vendors were not guilty of fraud or deception, but at a meeting of shareholders it was resolved that the vendors ought to return half a million.

The Czare witch and the Grand Duke George will leave on a visit to the Australian colonies in October next.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company have declared a dividend of 10 per cent.

H. SI. Stanley has been engaged to give 50 lectures in the United Sates. He will be paid £13,000 for the tour.

The Newfoundland Parliament have prepaied an address to be presented to (he Queen. Sir W. Whiteway, who is to make the presentation, has left for London.

The Portuguese Chamber of Deputies has passed a vote of confidence in the Ministry.

The General Council of Medical Examination has registered the diploma of Professor Allen, of Melbourne, thus making him duly qualified to practise in the United Kingdom. Kremlen, whose sentence to death by

electricity was recently confirmed at New York, is reported to be insane.

June 14. Madame Melba will sing at a state concert on the 25th inst.

The names of Sir Evelyn Wood and General Sir Frederick Roberts are mentioned in connection with the successorship to Lord Wolseley as Adjutant-general.

Dubious rumours are afloat that General Boulanger intended exploring Africa in the French interest.

The Committee of the Norwegian Parliament has declined to recommend the payment of a subsidy in aid of Dr Nansen's Arctic expedition.

Juno 15

Irish-American capitalists propose to establish factories in Ireland at which tenants who are evicted from holdings will be employed.

France has agreed formally to recognise the Brazil Republic.

The English wheat market shows a general decline ; the Continental is dull ; the American is also declining. New Zealand wheat (on passage), 34s Gd.

At the present time 200,000 carcases of New Zealand mutton are stored in London.

June 16

Shaw, the well - known New Zealand runner, won the 120 yds hurdle race at the civil service sports.

Mr W. S. Came, M.P., the Unionist whip, is obtaining signatures to an address to Loid Hartington, protesting against the payment of compensation to publicaus.

Miss Wiedmann's action for damages against the Earl of Orford, is being heard. She is conducting her own case.

Proof sheets of Stanley's book have been stolen and hawked about for sale. The publishers to whom they were offered all declined.

The chief constable, Mr Howard, has been appointed assistant Commissioner of Police, vice Mr Pearson, dead. A majority of the metropolitan force repudiated the proffered gratuity, and have resolved to give one month's notice of their resignation unless Mr Munro is reinstated and their demands for increased pay conceded. Mr Munro writes contradicting Mr Matthews' version of his resignation.

Sir Redvers Buller has been appointed to succeed Lord Wolseley as adjutant-general. Cholera is expected to appear in Russia.

Another Englishman is missing in Canada. The news of a filibustering plot to invade Lower California is confirmed. The Mexican troops on the border are being 1 reinforced.

In the House of Commons, Mr Dillon asked that the practice of " shadowing " might be put a stop to. Mr Balfour said it would be done, provided Mr Dillon promised to abstain from intimidation. Mr Dillon said it was a brutal outrage, aud if bloodshed occurred he would not be responsible. Mr Balfour retorted that it would be well if Mr Parnell did not repent the crime, upon which a stormy scene ensued. Eventually Mr Balfour withdrew the word " crime," and substituted "boycotting and intimidation."

Messrs Dillon, O'Brien, and John Redmond go on a tour through America in August.

There are symptoms that the cholera outbreak in Spain is of the dreaded Asiatic type.

June 17.

The Prince of Wales opposes the idea of holding an International Exhibition in London, and the project will probably be abandoned.

The Government have accepted Mr Heneage's amendment declaring that the payment of compensation shall not create a vested interest in licenses.

The Princess Victoria of Prussia is betrothed to Prince Adolph, the son of the Prince of Schaumbourg, Lippe.

The Standard states that the New Zpaland Government will assist the Bank of Now Zealand to weather its difficulties, and that it is piobable the unproductive assets will he transferred to a company st.iong enough to hold and nurse them.

Berlin, June 11.

General Yon Caprivi has declared that as the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine have not advanced since their incorporation with the German Empire the passport system must continue.

Emperor William refuses to prosecute Prince Bismarck for divulging State secrets. June 1(5. General Yon Caprivi will accompany the Emperor on a visit to the Czar.

St. Prtbrsbuhg, June 17.

It is reported that the Nihilists have undermined the palace at Gatschina. Numerous arrests have been made.

Brussels, June 10.

Through an accident on the switohback railway at Antwerp, two persons were killed and seven injured.

June 16

The Independence Beige states that Stanley has accepted the Governorship of the Congo Free State.

Madrid, June IG. Cholera has broken out at Valencia, on the Mediterranean coast.

An outbreak of cholera has caused a panic at Valencia, Puebla, and Derugat. Twothirds of the population have fled.

Ninety deaths from cholera are reported already.

Astrakhan, June 11.

Terrible fires, attended with serious loss of life and great destruction to property, have occurred in the Ural district. One thousand houses were burned, 40 persons perished in the flames, and 18,000 have been rendered homeless.

Cairo, June 13.

Reports of a serious nature concerning the famine in the Soudan continue to reach here, and natives are said to be suffering terrible privations. Their only hope is in an expedition being sent to their aid.

Washington, June 12.

The Finance Committee of the Senate propose to substitute an amended Caucus Bill for the Silver Bill originally introduced into the Senate. The House of Representatives is strongly opposed to the amendments made by the committee.

New York, June 10. The Variety Theatre 8t Brooklyn has been destroyed by fire.

Fifteen racehorses and seven grooms were killed in a collision which occurred on the Wabash railway, Missouri.