AUSTRALIAN.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3340, 15 December 1883, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN.

By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.

[Reuter’s Agency.]

[Received Dec, 15, 1883,1.5 a.m.] Grain. Sydney, Dec. 14. Now Zealand wheat, per bushel, 3s

6d ; New Zealand oats, 2s 6d. Maize, 3s 4d ; Sugar Company’s No. 1 pieces, per ton, £34, Adelaide, Dec. 14. The wheat market is firm. To-day’s quotations 4s 4d, f.o.b. at out ports, and 4s 6d at Adelaide. Flour, town brands, £lO to £lO 5s ; country do., £9 9s to £9 15s. Freights to London, steamer, 45s nominal ; do, sailing, 35s ; freights to United Kingdom from Adelaide, Bailing, 37s to 40s ; do. from outports, 40s to 425. The freight market is firm, but charters are dull n ith little doing. (Received Deo. 14, 1883, 8.10 p.m.) A Political Question. Sydney, Dec. 14. A question has been raised here regarding the validity of the appointment of Mr G. H. Reid to a seat in the Exe. cutive Council, to which he was appointed in January last, with the port* folio of Minister of Public Instruction, It is affirmed that Mr Reid’s seat in the Legislative Assembly is jeopardised by virtue of the Constitution Act, nnder which no provison is made for the appointment in question. The French in Western Africa. Excitement of the Arabs. The Federation Question. [Special to the Peeks Association.] London, Dec. 13. All the shares placed in the English market in the Company to purchase Messrs Mason Bros.’ business at Sydney have been subscribed for. At the Colonial Institute Mr Murray Smith will read a paper on Victoria. It is reported that H.M.S. Raleigh will replace H.M.S. Nelson on the Australian station. Lord Derby, in replying to a deputation with reference to the French annexation policy in Western Africa, said the question was seriously occupying the attention of the Cabinet. He was unable to assert that France should not settle the |unoccupied or unclaimed territory on that coast. The success of El Mahdi’s troops is greatly exciting the tribes of Arabs. Mr Morley, speaking at Newcastle, said that the attitude of the Australian Colonies, with reference to the annexe, tion of islands in the Pacific,, involves a most delicate, difficult and momentous question ; and he contends that whether their request is refused or partly granted an appeal will be made to England for Federation. The New South Wales 4 per cent, inscribed loan is to be placed on the market to-morrow. The minimum is fixed at par, and tenders will be opened on Dec. 20.