CABLE NEWS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1020, 8 December 1883, Page 2

CABLE NEWS.

■ ATfcST FROM E’J O'*--:. fkk ur k r’s t klso ra ms —copyright. 1 Monetary and Commercial. London, Dec. 6 The total reserve in the Bank of England in notes and bullion is Li 2,500,000, being a decrease of L 500,000. The proportion of reserve to liabilities has fallen 1 per cent during the week, and is now 42 per cent. The bank rate of discount remains at 3 per cent. The market rate has advanced y 3, and is now Consols have declined yi, and are quoted today at New Zealand securities remain at the following quotations : Five per cent 10-40 Loan, 105 ; Five per cent. 1889 Loan, 104 ; Four and a half per cent. 1879-1904 Loan, Four per cent, inscribed stock, 101% There are no changes to report in the markets for colonial breadstuff's and tallow. The Wool Sales. At the wool sale to-day 11,900 bales were offered, and prices were firmly maintained. The withdrawals since the opening of the series amount to 12,000 bales. The Frozen Meat Tra'ie. A cargo of 3,650 frozen sheep, ex Garonne, shipped by the Australian Frozen Meat Export Company, was sold at an average of 5 J^d. London, Dec. 7. The refrigerating chamber of the steamship Fenstanton was opened yesterday, and the cargo of frozen mutton was found to be in good condition.

Federation. In the course of an address delivered last evening at Knotlingley, Yorkshire, the Right Hon. H. C. E. Childers refeired to the Intercolonial Conference now being held at Sydney, and expressed a hope that it would result in the federation of the Australasian Colonies, and in the adoption of other wise and well-regulated measures haying for their aim the extension of British influence and commerce. Serious Fire. Brussels, Deo. 6. The Belgian Parliamentary Chambers were destroyed by fire to-day. France and China. Paris, Dec. 6. It has transpired that the Chinese Government continues to adopt a firm and unyielding attitude in the negotiations which are now proceeding for the settlement of the Tonquin difficulty, and has refused either to withdraw or to modify its claims in Tonquin, and is prepared to appeal to aims rather than surrender to France the military forts in Tonquin which are now occupied by the Chinese troops. The War in Upper Egypt;. Cairo, Deo. 6. Despatches to hand from the Soudan state that the panic which arose at Khartoum, in consequence of the expectation that El Mahdi would advance and besiege the town, after having annihilated the Egyptian army and Hicks Pasha, ia now subsiding, the rebels having shown no intention of taking advantage of the weakness of the garrison to make an attack. [Received Dec. 8, 2.40 p.m.] The Fenstanton’s Cargo. London, Deo. 7. A portion of the cargo of frozen mutton, ex Fenstanton from Lyttelton, was placed in the market to-day, and realised fid per lb. Preparations for Defence. Woodlark, one of the gun vessels at the East Indian station, hasbeenordered to Souakim, on the coast of the Red See, fears being entertained that another attack may be made upon the Egyptian garrison stationed there.

Constantinople, Deo. 7In consequence of the excited and fanatical state of the native tribes in Upper Egypt the Porte has ordered several frigates to rendezvous in the Red Sea, with a view to co-operating with the Egyptian troops now operating against the rebel Arabs. A U S I H A L I A .*• . I'kEOTER’s TELEGRAMS —COPYRIGHT.] The Markets Adelaide, Yesterday. Wheat is quoted at 4s 5d to 4s 6d. There is less business doing on the spot, but good competition is experienced in up-country markets and at the out ports. Flour, town brands, Lio to Lio 10s; country do, Lg 10s to Lg 15s. Freights to London per steamer, 455, nominal. The freight market is steady, and charters are improving. Sydney, Yesterday. New Zealand wheat remains at 38 gd, and New Zealand oats at as 3d; maize, 3s ad; Sugar C6.'s No 1 pieces, pe r ton, L 34. Shipping. Sailed, this evening—Union steamship, Te Anau, for Auckland.