CABLE NEWS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 60, 7 February 1884, Page 2

CABLE NEWS.

[Per Electric Telegraph—Copyright.] [Reuter’s Telegrams;] Calcutta, Feb. 5. The returns of the attendance at the Exhition show that up to date half-a-million persons have been admitted. As the interest in the display shows no signs of lessening, the closing will probably be postponed for a fortnight beyond the date originally fixed. The awards, which have been declared by the juries, have given general satisfaction to the exhibitors. A farewell luncheon was given to-day to Mr. Bosisto, the Victorian Commissioner to the Exhibition, and, in a speech on the occasion, he expressed his complete satisfaction with the proposed scheme for a line of direct steamers between India and Australia, and stated his belief that such a service would be likely to succeed. London, Feb, 5. The following is a forecast of the Queen’s Speech to be delivered at the opening of the Imperial Parliament to-day. The Speech states that England’s relations with foreign Powers continue friendly. It regrets that events in the Soudan have delayed the withdrawal of the British troops from Egypt, which, however, is still intended. It hopes that the measures which have recently been taken will solve the difficulty without the necessity for armed intervention, and that Colonel Gordon will shortly discover the best means for effecting the evacuation of the Soudan. The difficulty which had arisen in Madagascar baa been satisfactorily arranged with France, Hopes of a happy settlement of the Transvaal Frontier question are entertained by the Government. The disorder which has arisen in Zululand has been overcome, and that country is now in a satisfactory condition, The state of affairs in Ireland shows signs of steady improvement. The Speech announces that Bills will be introduced for dealing with the Country Franchise (in the direction of assimilating it to the Borough Franchise), London Municipal Reform, and Local Self Government and for the renewal of the Sunday Closing Regulations in Ireland, Evening,-—The fifth session of the present Parliament was opened to-day by Royal Commission. The Royal Message, as read by the Lord Chancellor, agrees with the forecast already telegraphed, except in so far as the latter refers to Egypt, On this subject the Speech states that the proposed withdrawal of the British troops from that country had been cancelled, as a measure of precaution against the possible effects of a reverse to the Egyptian arms in Egypt itself. So far as the British occupation is concerned, the aim of such occupation is, the Speech adds, unchanged.