LATEST INTELLIGENCE

Wanganui Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 5498, 18 December 1884, Page 2

LATEST INTELLIGENCE

Received December 18, 0.25 a.m. SHIPPING. London, Dec 17.— Arrived, at Plymouth, P. and O. steamship Cathay, from Melbourne, Oot 23.

(special to united press association. )

London, Dec 15. — The following are the amendments proposed to be introduced into the Federation Enabling Bill:— In clause 15, which provides for the legislative authority of the Federal Council, the words " authority over her all Her Majesty's possessions in Australasia and over all British ships sailing between them" have been struck out as likely to conflict with the authority of the Colonial Legislative Chambers and the Admiralty. Any action under subsection a, b, and c, of the same clause referring reepectively to " The relations of Australasia with the islands of the Pacific, the prevention of the influx of criminals ; and fisheries in Australasia waters beyond tbe territorial line," will require to have Imperial sanction. Clause 26, providing for the apportionment among the colonies of the uecessary expenditure incurred by the Council has been recast, and a new clause has been inserted giving power to any colony to retire from the arrangement at its option.

The Hon. John Douglas, 0.M.G., exFremier of Queensland, and Mr Simon Frafter, of \ictoria, are passengers to Australia by the B.s,.£ome, The parleying which has been proceeding for pome time between Earl Granville and the Marquiß Tseng, Chinese Ambassador, in connection with the Franco-Chinese question, has been suspended.