CABLEGRAMS.

Western Star, Issue 2012, 15 May 1895, Page 3

CABLEGRAMS.

HOME AND FOREIGN ( PBBSS ASSOCIATION THLBOBAMS.j London. The Powers do not intend to reduce their squadrons in the China seas until the peace treaty between China and Japan is finally settled. Captain Lngard has returned to Et gland. In the course of an interview he vouched for the truth of the statement that the Governor of Dahomey lod a French expedition to the IS'iger, and that two large French forces are assembled on the lower river. Captain Lugard, as representative of the British Government, has mad • a treaty with tne native chiefs at Borgn on the Mger ignoring the French claims. Oscar Wilde will be tried again on the 20th inst. Blagrove's Freehold Goldmining Company, Coromandel (Auckland), has been floated with a capital of £62,000. It is reported in New York that £3OOO rebel cavalry in Cuba routed the Spaniards. The rebels lost 700 men and the Spaniards 300. Copper has risen lis per ton, and tin, owing to the operations of a com-1 bination or " trust" has risen 10s. Wool—At the sales prices are; regular. Lord Rosebery is cruising in the, Channel under medical advice. |

The Sunday Times declares that Premier Keid, of New South Wales, is playing well up to Premier Rhodes' proposals at the Cape, and means to open a small new market in England. The Hon Campbell-Bannerman, Secretary of the War Department, has admitted that the use of .frozen meat is due to tho economy initiated in 1890, but he was not prepared to say as to the quality. The Times does not question that the French seizure of British territory in the Niger involve monstrous pretension, and thinks that the good feeling existing between London and Paris alone prevents the Niger CornCompany's troops ejecting the French.

The French religious orders are intensely excited and unable to decide on their attitude to the taxation of bishops, and are disputing it. The cardinal priests, bishops, and 150,000 monks are affected by it. Bishop Paget urges that the tax should be paid under protest, as a refusal means war against the State and a casus belU between Franco and the Vatican.

The Times' Paris correspondent states that the Powers are dismissing the Chinese indemnity, which it is believed will be fixed at 110 million sterling, and he will not bo surprised if the total loan to repair war damages and restore the Chinese finances reaches 180 millioD sterling.

The Government of British Columbia complains that the United States has not yet paid the Behring Sea award, and that the sealers are therefore practically penniless and unable to refit for the present season. At the wool sales on Friday the bidding was spirited and prices very firm. Medium greasy have recovered |d per lb on the opening decline. Foreign houses, especially Bussian, are making heavy purchases. A consignment ex Elderslie, from Australia, realised 9£d per lb. A Manchester committee of merchants and manfacturers is negotiating with, the Gulf line of steamers for the despatch, of vessels direct from Australia to Manchester, beginning in October.

The Canadian Government has invited the Hon J. G. Ward to visit Ottawa to discuss matters of general interest as between Canada and New Zealand. Mr Ward accepts the invitation conditionally on his engagements permitting it.

INTERCOLONIAL. Sydney. Five " New Australians " are passengers per the s.s. Talune. Casey states that the Paraguayan Government has offered to lend the settlers 25,000 dollars. He is hopeful that the settlers will not need to avail themselves of this loan, as funds are still coming in in Australia, and he will be able to send over £so.a month. A letter received from William Hollingworth, a New Australian settler states that the settlement obtained a loan of £6OO from the Paraguayan Government, which, has been swallowed up, and that this is just about the finish of New Australia as all the crsps have entirely failed, and there is no chance of making it go. Lane's settlement, he says, lias no money and the settlers are living entirely on beans. All the women are sick, and the letter warns others from going there. Melbourne

At the postal convention Sir Chas. Todd estimated the loss on the Port Darwin line, which tho Australian colonies would have to pay, at £SOOO, and that of the New Zealand guarantee of £8676 the sum of £IOOO would bo required. It turns out, however, that the receipts in the former case exceed the amount of the guarantee by nearly £SOOO. Some contribution however will be required to be made by Npw Zealand on account of her guarantee. The Argus on an article on the private and public debt of the Australasian colonies, estimates the amount at £315,000,000 and that the interest sent to London is nearly £18,000,000 annually. Daring last year owing to the financial crisis, £8,000,000 of paid capital invested in squatting concerns received no dividends whatever. Following up the article the financial editor apportions of this amount, £3,682,000 to New Zealand, and the balance to Australia, and goes on to say that British

investors have made far greater losses in New Zealand than in the whole of Australia. Investors, it says, were deceived in the past by the ''high flalutin'" nonsense about the " Britain of the South " and New Zoalauders, as a rule, were elated at despoiling the " Britons of the North."