SATURDAY’S CABLES

Southland Times, Issue 12772, 4 December 1893, Page 2

SATURDAY’S CABLES

British and Foreign LONDON, Deo. 1. The Rev. De Witt Talmage has accepted an offer from Mr R. S. Smyth for an Australian tour, and will leave San Francisco for the colonies about the end of May. During the arrest of some Anarchists at Paris a police detective was stabbed to death. The post office at Missel-sur-Seine, France, has been robbed of 300,000 francs. Russia is parleying with Montenegro for a naval station on the coast of that country. Austria is’alarmed. Obituary—Duke of Leinster, aged 42. _ Reports are current that- President Piexoto, of Brazil, has been assassinated, bub they lack confirmation. The Brazilian insurgents have achieved a success in the province of Rio Negro. Two days’ fighting resulted in the capture of the Republican General Isidoro and a thousand of his troop. Two thousand were killed. The Spanish troops, 15,000 strong, have commenced operations at Mellila, Morocco. The Sultan is striving to arrange terms of peace. The Bank of England reserve amounts to L 16,982,000, and the percentage of reserve to liabilities is 50’8. New South Wales 4 per cents, 104 ; three and a half’s, Victorian three and a half’s, 93J ; Queensland fours, 103 J ; three and a half’s, 92 ; New Zealand fours, 106 ; three and a half’s, 97 ; Tasmanian three and a half’s 92J ; West Australian fours, 105. Discount— Three months’ bills, per cent. New Zealand long-berried wheat, ex warehouse, 29s 4d—firmer ; Adelaide, 30s ; Victorian, 29s 6d per quarter—demand restricted. New Zealand frozen meat—Mutton, first quality, 4d ; second, 3Jd ; lamb, first, 4jrd. The hemp market is unchanged. Butter—Danish, 130 s per cwt. It is expected that colonial butter will fall four shillings on Saturday. The weather being mild the market is dull. It is expected to remain easy for about a week, then harden up till Christmas and afterwards be depen. dent on the weather. The colonial butter committee desire private advices as to the quantity coming forward. Wool—Prices are unchanged with fair competition. Sugar—German beet, 12s 3d ; Java cane, 15s 6d—quiet. Pig iron, 49s 6d per ton, f.0.b., Clyde—firm.

Australian SYDNEY, Dec 2. The Hon. E. Barton, Attorney-General, and the Hon. R. E. O’Connor, Minister of Justice, have relinquished the briefs they accepted in the case Proudfoot versus the Railway Commissioners, the reasons given being that they found the statement of defence to be that the Commissioners’ claim that the will of the late David Proudfoot was insufficiently stamped and that, therefore, the plaintiffs are not administrators and cannot prosecute. As this brings the Stamp Office, which is a Cio.vn L'epaitment, into conflict both Ministeis felt compelled to withdraw. Mr Barton, in the

House of Assembly, explained that he took the retainer more as a matter of etiquette than from any personal desire, and said the connection between the Railway Commissioners and the Government was only a shadowy one. There is much comment in the lobbies regarding the conduct of the two Ministers. Sir Henry Parkes characterises their action as glaring and not to be tolerated. Mr Lee, who has given notice of motion on the subject, declines to accept Mr Barton’s explanation, and intends to force the matter to a division.

Reports regarding the wheat harvest from the Albury district show the yield to be below last year’s average. The condition of the crops in the Wagga district is encouraging. The Sydney Daily Telegraph says the New Zealand general elections have solved two points unmistakably expressed ; the first is that decided approval has been shown by the whole colony in the course followed by the Government in the past and outlined for the future ; in the second it has been shown that the women exercised the franchise intelligently and with enthusiasm. It says with such a following Mr Seddon should occupy an impregnable position. The writer adds, “ How far he will use his chances and avail himself wisely of them will be a matter of profound interest to Australia.” MELBOURNE, Deo. 2. The woman Knorr has been found guilty of child murder. Sentence is deferred pending an application by her counsel in Chambers. The Judge summed up strongly against the prisoner. He pointed to the lack of motive to connect Thompson with the crime. A painful scene occurred when the verdict was announced. The prisoner, turning to the gallery where Thompson was sitting, said, “ God help you for your sins, Ted. God help my mother and my baby.” The further charges against Knorr and her husband were postponed. Obituary—Mr Bowman, one of the oldest members of the Assembly. HOBART, Deo. 2. The general elections have been fixed for the 19th inst. The decrease in revenue for the year is L 90,570. BRISBANE, Dec. 2.

The revenue for the month shows an increase of L 14.000 compared with the corresponding period of last year.