CABLE NEWS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 67, 15 February 1884, Page 2

CABLE NEWS.

[Per Electric Telegraph —Copyright.] [Reuter’s Telegrams.] (Received Feb. 14, 8.10 p m.) London, Feb. 13. The first series of the year’s colonial wool auctions opened yesterday in the presence of a large number of Home and foreign buyers, to whom a catalogue of 9,200 bales was submitted. Fair competition was experienced for the various lots offered, but the closing prices of the last auctions were barely maintained. The quantity of wool to be offered during the sales is limited to 400,000 bales. The series will close on March 19th. It is reported by telegram from Capetown that Cetewayo died from the effects of poison and that a post mortem examination has been ordered. Mr. Charles Bradlaugh, the junior member for Northampton, has resigned his seat in the House of Commons and announced his intention of presenting himself for reelection. The cargo of frozen mutton on board the s.s. Tongariro from New Zealand, comprising 12,000 carcases, has been examined and found to be in excellent condition. The wool-sales have opened with a fair attendance of buyers. The market rates are id. to |d. below the closing prices of the last London sales. Inferior to medium show the greatest decline. Australian wools, at the Antwerp sales, are |d. below the closing rates of the last London sales. In the House of Lords this afternoon, a discussion took place upon the situation of affairs in Egypt, and regarding the rebellion in the Soudan, when the motion of the Marquis of Salisbury, condemning the Egyptian policy of the Government, was adopted by a majority of 100 votes. During the course of the debate, Lord Granville announed that Admiral Hewitt had been ordered to relieve the besieged Egyptian garrison at Tokar, if it could possibly be done. With reference to the Egyptian policy of the Government, the Foreign Secretary stated that there was no intention of annexing Egypt, and that the Government only proposed to continue its occupation by British troops, to retain the command of the country as at present existing until its pacification has been completed and its stability restored. In view, however, of the present serious aspect of affairs in Egypt, the Government had appointed a diplomatic agent of the first rank as the British representative at the Egyptian Court and to learn of and recommend efficient officers to the Egyptian Government for appointment to leading civil and military positions, in Egypt or its dependencies. The appointment has been conferred on Sir Evelyn Baring, the present Consul-General and Minister-Pleni-potentiary in Egypt. In the House of Commons to-day the motion of Sir Stafford Northcote that the recent disasters to the Egyptian arms in the Soudan are the result of the wavering policy of the Government in Egypt, came up for discussion. The Premier’s statement was similar to that delivered by Earl Granville in the

House of Lords, but Mr. Gladstone also announced that Lord Wolseley had instructed General Stevenson by telegraph to send Colonel Graham with a portion of the British garrison at Cairo to relieve Tokar, Mr. Gladstone also stated that telegrams had been received from Gordon Pasha reporting that he had been welcomed on all sides during his journey through the Soudan by the inhabitants. It has transpired that, under instructions from the Government, Mr. Murray-Smith, Agent-General of Victoria, has offered to place at the disposal of the Imperial authorities, for service in the Red Sea in the present crisis, the Victorian gunboats Victoria, Albert, and Ch’ld -..5, now bound for Melbourne. Hong Kong, Feb. 13. The statement that anti-Christian riots had occurred in Chinese territory as reported yesterday is incorrect. The massacre of Christians and the destruction of the mission stations took place within the borders of Tonquin. Cairo, Feb. 12. The Ist Batallion Royal Highlanders (42nd foot), the Ist Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps (60th foot), the Ist Battalion Gordon Highlanders (75th foot), and the 19th Hussars, now stationed in this city, have been ordered to proceed to Souakim, and the British Regiments now at Alexandria will come here to take the place of those corps. The troops from Alexandria will be replaced by a strong detachment of sailors from the vessels of the Mediterranean Squadron. News is to hand from Berber that MajorGeneral Gordon proceeded from that place on a journey to Khartoum, travelling slowly and taking every opportunity of having interviews with Arab chiefs, with a view to pacifying various tribes with whom he came in contact. A telegram has been received from Bouakim, stating that messages have been sent from that town to the beleaguered garrison at Tokar, urging it to withstand the seige as long as possible, and promising speedy relief.