LATE CABLE NEWS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5161, 17 November 1884, Page 3

LATE CABLE NEWS.

(Per s£, Wairarapa via. the Bluff.) [Per Press Association.] AFFAIRS IN EGYPT. THE FEDERATION QUESTION. NEW VENTURES. [Argus Specials.] LONDON, Nov. 3. An official denial has been given to the report published in this morning's papers j to the effect that Her Majesty had received a telegram from the Khedive confirming the news of the capture of General Gordon by the rebels. Nov. 4. Telegrams published this morning state that the rebels around Khartoum sent a gammons to General Gordon calling upon him to surrender, To tW» he replied

at onco that he would not surrender if he were menaced for ten years. The Pall Mall Gazette of this evening expresses the opinion that the activity displayed by Victoria on the question of federation of the Australian Colonies is due to a desire to promote a protective policy throughout the Colonies., and to secure an ascendency in the proposed Federal Council. The Orient Steam Navigation Company have declared no dividend for the past half-year. Major General Scratchley embarks for Australia en route for New Guinea on Nov. 20. Nov. 5. Mr Gladstone yesterday laid the foundation stone of the new National Literary Club, and in the course of his remarks said that some drastic measures were necessary to repress the obstruction of the Irish members in the House of Commons. The Tichborne claimant, who was re- I leased on Oct. 20, still asserts that William : Cresswell, who is confined in the Parramatta Lunatic Apylum, New South Wales, is Arthur Orton. The Eight Hon Dodson, who ha 3 been raised to the Peerage, has selected the title of Baron Monk Bretton. j Sir Dillon Bell is preparing a written , narrative of the negotiations which have ! taken place between the Agents-General of ; the Australasian Colonies and Earl Derby, j with respect to the establishment of a British protectorate over New Guinea and . other islands in the Pacific. Personally, j Sir Dillon Bell is in favour of an agree- I ment being entered into between England, | France, and Germany on the Pacific j question. # | Mr Reid has been unsuccessful in his attempt to float the Adelaide Wharf Com- i pany in London. J Earl Derby has decided to present some ; of his famous red deer from Knowsley Park, Prescott, Lancashire, to the Melbourne Hunt Club. The report that General Wolseley had entered into negotiations with the Mahdi for a peaceful evacuation of Khartoum by General Gordon and the garrison is denied in this evening's papers. NOV. G. The German Council of Ministers have j approved of Prince Bismarck's proposal to j subsidise a line of mail steamers trading between Germany and the principal Australian ports. The attempt to float the Land Pastoral Company in London, to work extensive station properties near Mount Remarkable, j South Australia, has so far not proved a i success. The capital asked for was ! j6500,000, but this amount has only been j partially subscribed, and it is uncertain j how shares will be allotted. j It is probable that either the Right Hon ] Lefevro, member for Reading, or Mr j Leonard Courtney, member for Liskeard, ' will be selected to fill the vacancy in the | Ministry caused by Professor Fawcett's j death. Earl Dunraven has withdrawn a motion | of which he had given notice in the House of Lords for an inquiry into the causes of the existing trade depression in England. Lord Granville assured the noble Earl that the reports as to depression and distress had been greatly exaggerated. As the relief expedition proceeds up the Nile towards Khartoum, the difficulty of navigation greatly increases. Latest advices declare that the boats used by the expedition are not unsuitable, but art, overladen.