CABLEGRAMS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 326, 19 December 1888, Page 4

CABLEGRAMS.

LoNDON, l ,December 12. At a meeting of the P. and O. Company Mr T. Sutherland, chairman, stated that during the year the homeward Australian business had increased by £20,000 and the outward business by £80,000. On the other hand, the India and China business had shown a loss. London, December 13. Mr Goschen delivered a political address last night at Birmingham, where he was received with considerable enthusiasm. He said that whatever money was necessary for the improvement of the nary must be given without stint. The huge possessions of the nation, scattered as they were all over the world, must be protected at any cost. I In the House of Commons yesterday, the 1 Bight Hon. Morley strongly condemned the Soudan campaign as a repetition of Gladstone's mistake. Before the TlMes-Parnell Commission yesterday, Sir James Hannen, President of j the Commission, protested against the pro-f tracted nature of the proceedings, which at the present rate threatened to extend for years. Sir Charles Russell, counsel for the Irish members, agreed with the remarks of the President, and threw down a challenge to the other side to show at once that his clients were connected with the outrages. Sir R. E. Webster, counsel for the •' Times," undertook to curtail the evidence wherever possible. A Fenian named Buckle gave evidence before the Commission to-day. He deposed that he had been ordered to shoot an expelled Land Leaguer, Roche by name. The attempt failed, and the League gave him £2 10s to facilitate his flight to America. The Pall Mall Gazette, which is working up the agitation against the defendant in the recent Wiedemann breach of promise case, has threatened with an action for libel by Mr Walpole. The paper, however, is undismayed, and defies the latter to bring an action against the proprietors. Mr Gladstone will address a monster meeting at the Limehouse, London, on Saturday, and afterwards proceeds to Italy. Tho Empress Frederick is investing the late Emperor's fortune in England. The Right Hon. W.E. Gladstone, replying to a deputation from the Scottish Home Rule Association, declared that Home Rule for Scotland would be approved of if demanded by a large body of the people. A committee'or gentlemen who examined the figures supplied byMt W.L. Rees in support of his East Coast colonisation scheme exonerate him from the charge of misleading, and warmly support the proposals. Mr Rees is arranging a modified scheme by which at first 40,000 acres shall be devoted to the proposed colonists. The directors of the New Zealand Shipping Company report that an examination of the books of the Company in New Zealand shows that the colonial balance-sheets have been inaccurate. The cost of ships and steamers is over-stated by £72,000, and the depreciation of steamers is underestimated by £84,000. The report recommends the gradual extinction of the deficit, in the hope of a prosperous future. In their report to the shareholders, the Committee recommend that the rules should be remodelled, in order to permit of the transfer of the entire management to London. The House of Commons has refused to enter the report of the committee upon the Sheehy breach of privilege case on the journals of the House by a majority of 52. The Prince of Wales, Sir F. D. Bell, and Sir S. Samuel inspected to-day the buildings now being erected for the Im perial Institute, and expressed themselves satisfied with the progress made. During a discussion on naval estimates, Lord Charles Beresford said England's active fleet comprised only 30 battle ships, and if these were lost the Empire would orobablybelost. We ought to spend 620,000,000 a-year on the navy* It required at once to pub it in a really formidable condition se yon by -four vessels of various elates, the united cost of which would be sorae twenty millions. Lord George Hamilton, First Lord of the Admiralty, admitted that the navy needod increasing. The chief defect was want of sufficient guns to properly equip the vessels we had already built. Still England possessed thirty-four battle ships to France's eighteen. The Government would next session submit proposals for increasing the effectiveness of the nary, based on the requirements of the country in the event of war. The vote was passed. London, December 14.

Higgins, the well-known aeronaut, was giving an exhibition at Enfield when he accidentally dropped the parachute just as he was preparing to descend. He caught the balloon netting, and thus suspended, travelling for miles hanging in mid-air. The accident was witnessed by thousands of people, and a great panic prevailed. Certain death seemed to await the aeronaut, who, however, escaped with only a few bruises. An article in " United Ireland," ia groaily insulting to the " Times "-Parnell Commission, language of an outrageous character being used. Sir James Hannen, President of the Commission, is very indignant, and has ordered the arrest of Mr OBrien, the editor of the journal in question. Rev. George Brodrick, warder of Merton College, has been ordered to attend also for comparing Davitt to a Whitechape! murderer. Persia is seeking to satisfy Russia. Bbrlik, December 13. The assertions regarding the critical state of the Emperor's health are officially denied. Glasgow, December 15. This city is enveloped in a dense fogShipping is suspended, and many accidents have occurred. Four men walked over the quay into the Clyde, and were drowned. The fog is the thickest ever experienced here. Washington, December 14. Mr Butter worth member for Ohio, has moved in the House of Representatives, that the President be empowered to invite Canada and England to negotiate for the admission of the dominion or any of the provinces into the States. Washington, December 14. The House of Representatives has passed a Bill refunding the war taxes levied in the States, thus reducing the surplus by seventeen millions. Constantinople, December 14, Count Nelidorf demands that the Porte shall give the precise date on which she means to pay the war indemnity. He insists upon stringent orders being given that Russia ahaU receive, the priority. Turkey promises to rigorously comply with th« dtMUML i

Belgradb, December 14. The Servian radicals insist that King Milan must either submit or retire. The loyalty of the army is questioned. The result of the recent elections is regarded as a direct snub to King Milan, inasmuch as only forty royalists were returned, while five hundred radical! obtained seats.

New York, December 14. During a performance at the Opera House at Oswego, on the shores of Lake Ontario, in which Mis Langtry was taking part, a fire broke out in the Theatre. No particulars are yet to hand, but Mrs Langtry is known to be safe. I

Rome, December 14. Monsignor Persico, the Papal delegate to Ireland, has reported to the Pope that the Protestant authorities have no sympathy for th« Catholic population, and will never convince the people that such proceeding astheplan of campaign are immoral.He finds that the Pope is generallyeuspected of being under the influence of the English Tories. Agrarian outrages and boycotting, though highly immoral practices, are, Mgr. Persico thinks, inevitable in the present excited state of feelings. He concludes his report with the expression of an opinion that sooner or later it will become necessary to satisfy the political aspirationß of the people of Ireland.

Suakim, December 14. Osman Digna's letter details circumstances of the surrender of Emm Bey and the white travellers to the Mahdfcts, which ib is said took place at Lado, on October 10th. Osinan Digna also sends a letter from the ■white traveller, which is a copy of a letter given by the Khedive to Stanley, and which was intended for Emm Bey. One of Osman Digna's forts, mounted with 64-pounders, which has maintained a heavy fire has seriously damagad another of their own forte, and it it reported that Naib, a rebel leader, has been seriously wounded by a shell. Osman Digna has written to General Grenfell asserting that the Mahdi has conquered the equatorial provinces. Emm Bey resisted to the last, but at length his troops mutinied and delivered him and a white traveller (supposed to b» Stanley) into the hands of the enemy. Osman has sent proofs in support of his assertion. Prince Bismarck is afraid the intervention of the German Government in Africa would entail great sacrifices, without any adequate results. The bombardment of this place continues. The firing is now heavier.

Paris, December 13. The offices of the Panama Company here wore the scene of immense excitement yesterday, in consequence of a statement that, owing to financial pr«ssure, they had been closed. A great stir was immediately caused in speculative circles, and the offices were thronged by excit«d crowds, among whom were a large number of women. Many of them were persons who had staked all they possessed in the Company. The agitation waa finally calmed by the report that enough money had been subscribed to enable the Company to continue operations. Crowds surged around the offices of the Panama Canal Company yesterday, owing to the rumour of financial difficulties in connection with the undertaking. There was a very excited scene, and M. de Lesseps in a, speech to the crowd tearfully appealed to Frenchmen to save the enterprise. M. Floquet, who has been consulting experts with reference to the Panama Canal scheme, announced in the Chamber of Deputies to-day that should the Panama Loan fail, the Government will guarantee the necesbary amount to carry the undertaking to a successful issue. The Boulanger divorce suit has been abandoned. The French press regard the eagerness with which the Russian loan has been taken up as equivalent to a declaration of an alliance with Russia. A big gun exploded abroad a French ironclad and six of the crew were killed.

Chicago, December 13. It is now alleged that the dynamiting at Schurfeldt's distillery was because the proprietors declined to join the whisky truat. The adjoining property wai seriously damaged by the explosion, but the conflagration which ensued was confined to the distillery. No arrtsts have been made.

Vienna, December 13, An Australian expedition under th« leadership of Herr yon Doubner is being organised for the purpose of relieving Emm Bey and discovering Stanley.

Massowah, December 13. News has been received that Ras Alaloula, j,he Abyssinian Commander, has inflicted a Bevere 8 evere defeat on the rebellious Derriihes o f Galabat and Menelk.

Sydney, December 14. Bailors are so scarce in Newcastle that oriunping is becoming notoriously common. It is unsafe for labourers to be found drunk in the streets, as they run the risk of finding themselves shipped off to a foreign port before they become sober. Light showers have fallen in the south of this colony. The weather is generally dull in Victoria, South Australia, and Queensland. The crops of oats and barley seem beyond hope, and potatoes are very poor. Some of the crops in the northern districts are holding out "well ; others are past recovery. Feed is very scarce, and the prospects of stock are very bad. An exciting debate took place in the Legislative Assembly last night relative to the propriety of leasing the trams. Mr Haynes stated that Mr Huntlty, an auctioneer, had offered him £1,000 aad 1,500 shares in a company which purposes leasing the trams if he would vote in farour of leasing. If r Wall said he was informed tkafc shares had been reserved for other members who would vote similarly. j On the motion of the Premier, Mr Huntley, who was present, was summoned to the bar of the House. He said Mr Haynes's statement was a fabrication. The debate was proceeded with, and on division the proposals for leasing were negatived by 56 to 28. Mrs Collins, condemned to death for the murder of her husband, will be executed on January Bth. Light raine have fallen in the district south of Jervis Bay, extending inland some distance, otherwise it is fine in tkis colony. It is raining at Adelaide, but the weather reports show that ib is generally fine elsewhere. Bishop Barry has resigned, owing to the illness of his wife. H.M.s. Opal has arrived from the Islands. The Opal and the French war vessel Fabert punishtd the aativti far the

massacre of some of the crew of the Helena. Their villages and plantations were destroyed. The Opal proceeds to Auckland. The tram way.decision is causing much excitement, and the press expresses the opinion that owing to the gross scanl dais which have occurred and the corruption which is alleged, the Government ought immediately to hold an inquiry. It is not improbable that a dissolution of the Assembly will take place on this question, or that Ministers will resign their seats.

Melbourne, December 14. The Chinese residents here protest against the Restriction Bill as an outrage against the feelings and interests of the Chinese, and unworthy of a cirilised community. Rain was falling throughout the greater part of Victoria yesterday afternoon. The match between the Australian eleven and 18 of Sandhurst was drawn in favour of the Australians. Crops in the Wilcannia district are turning out badly. It is expected the wheat in the Gun bower and West Cohura districts will be very good, superior to last year's grain. The average yield, however, will noc be more than four bushels.

BijisjiA^E, December 13. The steamer Eurimbla, which struck on a reef at Burnett Heads, while bound from Brisbane to Rockamplon, has been floated off the rock and safely beached. The weather is abnormally hot, and the thermometer registers 122 in the shade. A heavy thunderstorm, accompanied by rain, occurred to-night, extending far inland. Light showers have fallen at Wilcannia. Terrible heat is being experienced in the Croydon district. Three deaths have occurred within fourteen hours from this cause. The iteamer Eurimbla, 1,055 tons, belonging to the Australian United Steam Navigation Company, bound to Rockhampton from Brisbane, struck heavily on a reef at Burnett Heads. The passengers were got ashore in safety. The vessel's forehold is now full of water