LATE CABLE NEWS.

Kumara Times, Issue 1111, 22 April 1880, Page 3

LATE CABLE NEWS.

Bluff, April 19. The following Cable Messages appear in the Melbourne papers brought by the s.s. Te Anau London, April 6. The Bight Hon. Mr Eorster will probably accept the office of Secetary of State for the Colonies, and the Right Hon. Mr Childers either the Chancellorship of the Exchequer or the post of First Lord of the Admiralty. The Russians are concentrating troops on the Amoor. The Chinese Ambassador is again preparing to quit St, Petersburg,

As a stop in the direction of the permanent settlement of affairs in Afghanistan, the sovereignty of the central province of Candahar has been conferred upon Sirdar Shere Ali Khan, who, since the occupation by the British, has, as native governor, administered its affairs most satisfactorily under the supervision of General Sir Donald Stewart.

April 7. Vice-Admiral Pothnau, the French Ambassador in London, shortly retires, and M. Leon Say will temporarily succeed him, and negotiate the new commercial treaty between France and England. The Right Hon. Mr Childers, speaking at Hull, said the Liberals in their policy would maintain the unity of the Empire, as they considered the connection between Great Britain and her colonies of vital importance. They also favored an equal system of local government for counties and boroughs. They desired that full justice should be done to Ireland, though not in the direction of Home Rule, but that Ireland should enjoy the same parliamentary and municipal suffrages as England.

April 8. Tbe death is reported of Thebaw, King of Burmah, whose atrocious massacres and insolent attitude to the British residents at Mandalay resulted in the breaking off of diplomatic communications between India and Burmah. The cause of death was small pox. It is considered probable that Thebaw will be succeeded by Nyoungyan, a prince who for some time past has been under British protection at Calcutta. While the King of Burmah was suffering from small pox, orders were given for the massacre of numbers of people in the hope that the sacrifice would propitiate the offended deities, and that Tbebaw’s life would be saved in this manner., No less than 700 persons were sacrificed. At Mandalay, under the excited spirit of fanaticism thus aroused, the Catholic convent established in that city was attacked. April 9. In the official inquiry before the Wreck Commissioners into the loss of the missing ship Knpwsley Hall, bound to New Zealand, the evidence showed that there was only a small quantity of dangerous cargo on board, that the ship was stable and well found, and the crew sufficient. The inquiry was adjourned sine die.

Mr Gladstone has addressed a letter to the elector of Leeds, in which, while thanking them for having elected him, be intimates his intention to represent Midlothian in the new Parliament.