SPECIAL CABLE NEWS.

West Coast Times, Issue 4685, 4 August 1884, Page 2

SPECIAL CABLE NEWS.

London, July 28. The prospects of the wheat crops are excellent.

The hop bligbt is extending. Hartmann, the Nihilist chief, has committed suicide, the cause being attributed to poverty. The Hon. Evelyn Ashley, in the House of Commons, stated tbat the attention of France had been directed to the fact that the duplex control over Egyptian finances bad expired. He also said he hoped that it would not be necessary for the colonies to legislate for the exclusion of the criminals and aliens.

At the forthcoming Federation Conference the Right Hod. W. H. Smith will propose, and Earl Rosebery second, a resolution to the effect that Federation is indispensable to t»>e unity of the Empire. The second resolution advocates the formation of a Society for the furtherance of Federal objects. The Egyptian Conference will probably adjourn until next year. The Essex regiment stationed at Cairo, has been ordered to proceed to Assouan.

July 29. The Admiralty will employ the Queensland gunboat to survey Northern Australian waters.

Mr Fawcett, Postmaster-General, is confident that the system of parcels post will not involve a loss to the revenue.

A political crisis is anticipated in France in connection with the revision of the Senate.

Mr Gladstone will probably prorogue Parliament on August 12.

At the meeting of the Federation Conference, Earl Rosebery suggested that a Royal Commission should be appointed to enquire into the practicability of the federation of the Empire, or to ask the colonies to suggest a scheme. He also urged that a vigilance committee of both Houses should be appointed, to watch over and ventilate colonial question?.

Lord Normanby said he rejoiced at the objects of the movement.

Sir Francis Dillon Bell and Sir Saul Samuel were present, but neither of them spoke. July 30. Writing 1 on the Federation Conference the Times states that in the main it will solve the superficial difficulty, but tbe problem is will it not dimiui-h local government of the colonies ?

Lord Wemy?s suggests that the Federation Council should comprise the leading members of the Imperial Cabinet and the Agents-General of the various colonies.

Lord Lyons strongly ur»es the colonies to be satisfied only with the abolition of therecidivisle scheme. Tbe reports received from M. Ferry are more encouraging. j

Tawhiao and his party, on their return to New Zealand, will proceed via San Francisco.

The Recidiviste Committee have reported that the press sympathy with the colonists is remarkable.

The area of cholera in France is spreading, but the disease is intense.

The Prince of Waifs has invited the Agents-General of the colouies to becoma members of the Executive Commission for tbe Colonial Exhibition, to be held in Loudon in 1886. He suggests that the colonies should contribute to a guarantee fund. The amount of such contribution is not stated, but will probably not exceed £20,000. July 31. At a large Conference of Conservative and Libeial delegates, the latter denounced the Lords for their refusal to accept the recent compromise on the Franchise question.