CABLEGRAMS. EUROPEAN –

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 101, 9 May 1885, Page 3

CABLEGRAMS. EUROPEAN -

London, April 30. — The Australasian Federation Enabling Bill passed through Committee of the House of Lords to-day without amendment. EarlGranvilleandMrGladetoneannounced in both Housesof Parliament today that Government had received a telegram from Sir Peter Lumsden, stating tbere was no foundation for the report that the Russians had advanced from Penjdeh and occupied Merucbas. Sir Peter Lumsden further states in his telegram that the Afghans are still at Bala Murghab, to the south of Meruchak, on the Murghab river. The Admiralty have announced that naval pensioners and members of the Royal Naval Reserve are required to be in readiness for service on short notice. The "Daily News" denies that Point Hamilton bas been occupied by the British. Mr Childere, Chancellor of the Exchequer, delivered the Budget statement in the Honse of Commons to-day. He announced that the revenue for the past financial- year amounted to £88,050,000, and the expenditure to £89, 100,000. The revenue for the current year was estimated at £85,000,000, and the expenditure £88,750,000, exclusive of the naval and military credit of £11,000,000. The estimated deficiency at the end of this year is £14,900,000. To cover this it is proposed to increase the income tax to eightpence, the duty on spirits by two and on beer by one shilling, and eu spend the public debt sinking fund. In the House of Lords to-day, Earl Graoville, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, announced that England and Russia had come to a mutual agreement ot submit to arbitration the recent Penjdeh incident, and to conduct negotiations for the delimitation of the Afghan frontier line in London. Lord Granville added that the Oasis of Penjdeh, would, in the meanwhile, be considered neutral territory. London, May I.— Parliament has approved of the commercial treaty entered into with Spain, whereby England agrees to extend to Spanish wines containing 30 degrees proof spirit the one shilling per gallon scale at present charged on wines of 26 degrees. The ship Juno, bound to Melbourne, has been burnt at sea. A portion of the crew have been saved. The health of General Grant is improving. London, May 2. The "Daily News" to-day states that the prospects of peace are improving, and that tho Government have learned that the Czar earnestly desires peace. It further states that the Czar has expressed his willingness to submit to arbitration the question whether the despatch to him by the British Government oi March 16th has been misconstrued by him or not. Five Russian cruisers are proceeding to Batavia. The English Vice-Admiral is watching them. The port of Cronstadt has been closed to commerce. Earl Granville is somewhat confident of a peaceful solution of the difficulty being arrived at. Turkey is now more favourable to Ergland. Eleven transport steamers have been chartered by the Government to convey troops to India, in addition to which 2,000 men will embark in the regular mail steamers. London, May 2. Consols have advanced to 96. Market rate has been reduced I to 2£, and is now 1 per cent- below the bank rate. The "Daily News" to-day announces that a reply of a conciliatory nature was received by the British Cabinet from the Russian Government on Saturday, and met with favourable consideration at the hands of the Government. Lord Granville, speaking at the annual banquet at the opening of the Royal Academy Exhibition, expressed a confident hope that peace would, be maintained between England and Russia. London, May 4.— The International Inventions Exhibition, South Kensington, was formally opened today by the Prince of Wales. London, May 3.— The Loyalist^ propose to subscribe towards the cost of maintaining a Royal residence in Ireland. A Queensland two and a-half million loan is imminent. A fresh Victorian loan is also ready to be placed in the market. London, May 3. — The Queen returned to Windsor yesterday from the Continent. The Colonial Federation Enabling Bill has been finally passed by the House of Lords. London, May 4.— Arrived : Orari, from Wellington, January 10. London, May 3. At the banquet at Royal Academy, the Duke of Cambridge in his speech stated that the Australian contingent in the Soudan were performing their duty thoroughly and well. Suakim, May 3.— Lord Wolseley is expected to remain here a week. Suakim, May 3.— Lord Wolseley arrived here to-day from Dongola. London, May o. In the House of Commons to-night, Mr Gladstone announced that it had been arrangod that the work of delimitating the frontier of Afghanistan should be proceeded with in London. He also said that Generate Lumsden and {Stewart had been recalled from Afghanistan. It is reported that Lord Dufferin has resigned his position as Viceroy of India Stocks have fallen. During the course of a long and animated debate in the House of Commons to-day on tho vote of credit of £11,000,000 for military purposes, introduced by Mr Gladstone, Lord Randolph Churchill characterised the agreement with Russia in the strongest terms, as a cowardly surrender of England's rights. The vote was finally adopted by the House, Mr Gladstone consenting 'to a discussion of the policy of the Government fixed for Thursday next. In the House of Commons, Lord Randolph Churchill denounced the statement made by Lord Granville relative to the agreement between Russia and England as a base and cowardly surrender, and calculated to imperil the safety and loyalty of India. The Tories are incensed at the act of the Government, and the Liberals themselves arc somewhat dubious as to the ultimate result of the negotiations. It is considered probable that Denmark will arbitrate. The Continent is relieved at the turn affairs have taken, and there has been a general recovery of colonial securities. The English Presa generally are dissatisfied with the result. London, May 5. — The meat by the Chimborazo is in excellent condition. Suakim, May s.— General Sir Gerald Graham inspected the Australian contingent to-day on their return from the front, and expressed himself as greatly'pleased with their efficiency. Melbourne, May 4. The Government are in receipt of a telegram from the Victorian Agent-General (Mr Murray Smith) to the effect that there are indications of a slightly more peaceful nature obatmble at Home.

Melbourne, this day.— -Mr Allison D. Smith, of the New Zealand Railway Depart* raent, has been appointed Locomotive Superintendent of Victorian railways. The Government have received a telegram from the Agent- General, Mr M. sJmith, in which ho states that current opinion in London is that peace is almost fully assured. Sydney, this day.— The New South Wales revenue returns for the month ending April 30 are just published, and show an increase of nearly £400,000 compared with the receipts during the corresponding period of last year. No tidings are yet to hand of the Nightingale s missing boat. The names of its occupants have been ascertained to be Captain Short, mate Hastings, Campbell, Dempsey, and Hannaford.