CABLE NEWS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 65, 15 February 1884, Page 2

CABLE NEWS.

South Australian Gunboat. Th 3 Agents-General on Australian Federation, (by klsctric telegraph -copyright.) (special to united pkksß association.) London, February 13! Commander John C. P. Walcofc, R.N., has been appointed to the command of the South Australian gunboat Protector. Copious extracts fiom the Queen?s new hook are published m all the newspapers. Mr Murray Smith's paper on Australasian Dominion, read at the Colonial Institute, dealt chiefly with the historial aspect of the question. He however, insisted strongly on the necessity of compelling France io abandon the recidivistes scheme. In the discussion which followed, Mr Murray Smith and Sir Arthur Blyth expressed themselves as hopeful of an early realisation of federation. Sir Dillon Bell and Sir Saul Samuel, however, considered that immediate federation was not likely to take place,and Sir Dillon Bell expressed regret that the Sydney Convention had not limited its action to the consideration of questions upon which united action on the part of the colonies was possible. Mr Mclntyre, Q.C., IVi.P., has condemned the omission m the Queen's Speech of nny reference to the Australasian Conference. The transit of mails by railway m Egypt will be resumed early m March.