AUSTRALIAN CABLE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3621, 10 May 1886, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN CABLE.

(Pbb ELEcraio Telegraph — Copybight.) (Reuter's Agency.) [Roceived 12.30 p.m., May. Bth.l EASTERN EXTENSION TELEGRAPH COMPANY. Melbourne, May 8. Mr John Pender, Chairman of the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company, telegraphs thut all difficulties m tbe way of the reduction of rates will now be overcome, and he hopes the colonies will accept his proposals to allow noncontributing colonies to share m the i benefit. The Yictorn Government have ] taken tho question under their consideration, but their decision is not yet ' known. (Reoeived 5 p.m., May 9th.) ] DEFENCE OF THE COLONIES. Sydney, May 8. Tbe New South Wales Government • are m receipt of a memorandum from Mr Griffiths, Premier of Queensland, j upon the subject of a scheme for the combined defence of tbe colonieß. MiGriffiths states bis Government is of ] opinion that it is undesirable that ships destined for coast defence should be the ; joint property of the colonies, and considers vessels should be provided and [ equipped by the Imperial Government, : after which the colonies should con- \ tribute to tbeir maintenance m ratio , based upon population,

j (Reoeived 1.15 a.m., May 10th.) | SHIPPING. Melbourne, May 9. The s.s. Mussilia arrived this morning from London. THE HEALTH OF JUSTICE MOLES WORTH. The latest bulletin with regard to the health of Justice Molesworth, states be is very much better.