ENGLISH AND FOREIGN CABLE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3588, 31 March 1886, Page 2

ENGLISH AND FOREIGN CABLE.

v 'Psr Electric Tklegrafh— Copyright.) (Reutek's Agency.) IReceived 10 p.m., March 30th.] THE COLONIAL EXHIBITION. London, March 29. The Indian and Colonial Exhibition, at South Kensington, will be formally opened on 4th May, by Her Majesty the Queen. A STRIKE. New York, March 29. The difficulty betweeu the railway employees and the companies having been referred to arbitration, the strike has now terminated. (Received 2.50 p.m., March 30th.) POLICY OF THE ENGLISH GOVERNMENT. London. March 29. In the House of Commons to-day Mr Gladstone announced that the Budget would be brought down on 12th April,

and the statement of the intention of the Government m regard to the land purchase scheme would be made on the 15th April. THE FRENCH IN THE PACIFIC. The Conference of the AgentsGeneral on the New Hebrides qnestion has not been productive of any decisive results. Sir Saul Samuel and Sir Dillon Bell, representing I>ew South Wales and New Zealand respectively, supported the French proposals, while Mr Murray-Smith, on the part of Victoria, advocated a compromise. The island which is proposed to be annexed to Great Britain, as a set off to the French occupation of the New Hebrides is not Raiatea, but Kopa or Oparo, an island directly on the track between Panama and Australia. (Special to the Pbess Association.) |Reooived 2.15 p.m., March 30th. i NEW CALEDONIA CONVICTS. London, March 29. It is believed that France will agree not to send convicts to New Caledonia after the lapse of seven years. PROTECTION TO MISSIONARIES. The French Government offers to guarantee protection to missionaries m the New Hebrides, and will probably surrender Ripa and Raitai if New South "Wales and New Zealand are iv favour of a compromise, but the federated colonies are opposed to such a course. Mr Murray Smith has presented a protest on behalf of Victoria. COLONIAL MARKETS. Sir Philip Cunliffe Owen is extending to the colonies a helping hand m the establishment of colonial markets. HOUSE OF LORDS DEBATES. The Agents- General will be allowed free admission to the debates m the House of Lords.