LATE CABLE NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XL, Issue 3196, 23 December 1884, Page 2

LATE CABLE NEWS.

(By Telegraph.) (Per 6.3. Wniraraps at the Bluff.) [Special to the Melbourne " Age."] London, Deo. 8. Major John Adam Fergusson, formerly Deputy-Assistant Adjutant-General of tho South Australian Forces, will embark at Adelaide m the Orient steamer Liguria, which sails on Wednesday. It is probable that Major Fergusson will succeed Colonel Downes m command of the South Australian forces. Earl Dufferin, who has been appointed Viceroy of India m succession to tho Marquis of Kipon, has arrived at Bombay. Mr Bradlaugk has applied for a new trial of th 6 action brought againet him by Government for illegally voting m the House of Commons, ho not having taken the oath, Tho ai plication was refused, but the execution penalty claimed was 6tayed pending an appeal to a higher Court. Prince Albert Victor, eldest eon of the Prince of Wales, will come of age next year, bnt it has been decided not to ask Parliament for any special allowance for him until his marriage. Dec. 10. Henry Fowler, Member for Wolverhampton, ha 9 succeeded Mr Hibbort as Political Secretary of the Home Department, Mr Hibbert having been appointed Financial Secretary to tho Treasury. Tho death is announced of the Bight Hon. Joseph Warder Henley, who on two occasions was President of the Board of Trade. Speaking at tho Royal Colonial Institute last night, Earl Dunraven said that tho establishment of a system of Imperial freetrade was an impossibility. He advocated, however, the adoption of differential duties m favor of the colonies. Dec. 11. An important discovery has been made by Franco for the destruction of phylloxera. It consists m a preparation of arsenic. The German Government have effected the purchaso of a block of territory on tho Arabian coast of the Red Sea, from the Sheika. It is said their objeot m securing this land is understood to bo for stratcgetic purposes. A Blue Book is Bhortly to bo issued by tho Gorman Gorcrnment detailing the action taken by Germany with respect to Samoa and other islands of the Pacific. Dec. 14. Despatches received from tho German Consul at Apia have been published by the German Government. Tho Consul advocates that consuls should bb appointed nnd war ships stationed at the islands of Now Britain, New Ireland and Tonga, to protect German interests and enable tho commerce of that country to compete with that of Britain. In on nrticlo on the German land claims, the Fiji Standard advocates the appointment of a mixed commission for the purpose of adjudicating the claims m question. Commenting on the present position of tho New Guinea question, the J?all Mall Gazette insists upon the necessity for Mr Gladstone's Cabinet adopting a more decided policy m reference to New Guinea. Tho London Press, discussing a proposal fora mixed commission to adjudicate upon tho conflicting claims of the British and Gorman subjects nt Angra Pequana, recently annoxed by Dr Noohtigal for Germany, deplore tho humiliation to which England has been subjected m connection with tho matter. Tho Teltgraph etnt«s that threo torpedoes which have been constructed m England to tho order of the Chinese Government, have been shipped for Australian ports, with tho object of rc-Bhipping to Shanghai, Lord Boay, who waa offored tho Governorship of Viotoria on the retirement of the Marquis of Nornianhy, is succeeded by Sir James flergmou, Governor of Bombay

The Australian Federal Cou»cil Enablin Bill, which has been amended by the In perial Government, will be despatched to tr. Premiers of the various Australian Colonit on Friday next. The amendments made ai the empowering of any colony to retire froi the Council, the enlargement of the powei originally proposed relative to the relations c Australasia with the Islands of the Pacific an the prevention of the influx of criminals. Th proposal that tbe Council shall have legislativ authority over the fisheries of the Australa sian waters beyond territorial limits, remain inoperative unless specially sanctioned by th Imperial Government. It is suggested as a amendment that some provision shall bemad dealing with financial questions affecting th whole of the colonies.