LATE CABLE NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3581, 23 March 1886, Page 3

LATE CABLE NEWS.

(By Telegraph.) (Per Bfceamer at tho Bluff .) (Special to the Melbourne "Age.") London, March 8. Tho Duke of Cambridge will preside at the farewell dinner to be given on 7th proximo to Mr Murray Smith. The Secretary of State for tho Colonies, Earl Granville, has promised to attend. March 9. Mr Howard Vincent, M.P., has mado a suggestion m the House of Commons to the effect that an Imperial Federation Council should take place m London during the holding of tho Colonial and Indian Exhibition. The Imperial Government are considering the desirability of subsidising a line of steamers between Vancouver's Island, Hong Kong and Japan. It is reported that tho Government of France have communicated with the English Government, intimatiug that they desire to annex the New Hebrides and asking to bo released from an agreement entered into between France and England, under which both nations bound themselves to rcepeet the independence of tho Islands m question. The French Government on their part promise that if acquiescence be given to this request they will not transport recidivistes to tho Islands. March 13. The Times and Standard, commenting on tho libel case Bryce v. Kusden, speak approvingly of tho verdict m plaintiff's favor. It is Btated that similar actions will be brought against Dr Hadfield, Anglican Bishop of Wellington, New Zealand, and Sir Arthur Gordon, late Governor of New Zealand. March 14. Mr Gladstone has submitted to the Cabinet his Irish Land Purchase scheme. Mr Gladstone's scheme provides that monoy shall bo advanced by the Treasury, and tho Irish Parliament which it is proposed to creato shall control the expenditure March 10. The attention of Government ha 3 been drawn to the published account of the Diamond, of the Australian Squadron, amongst the Paciilc Islands m October and November last, when, m order to punish tho natives of some of tho islands for tho murder of British settlers, villages were burnt and other property destroyed as an alternative course on Native Chiefs refusing to hand over the murderers. Government havo been urged to take action with a view of marking their disapproval of the conduct of the oflicers of the X>iazxiozid, but they" haFO decided to wait until an official report of tho cruiao is received before expressing an opinion aa to whether the action taken was censurable or not.