CABLEGRAMS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 391, 7 August 1889, Page 5

CABLEGRAMS.

London, July 31. Lord Randolph Churchill, speaking at Birmingham, said that generous concessions should be made with the view of popularising local government, and greater decentralisation should be made. - The Chief Secretary or Ireland ought to welcome the overures from the prominent Nationalists. If local bodies offered adequate secur ity, Great Britain would advance a hundred millions to pay the landlords. He promised to stand for Birmingham at the next election if requested to do SO. Baron de Worms has announced in the House of Commons that the Government will endeavour this session to affirm the principle of autonomy for the more settled portion of Western Australia, even if the question of the disposal of Crown lands is held over for further consideration. It is rumoured that Viscount Chelsea, eldest son of the Earl of Cadogau, Lord Privy Seal, has been affianced to the Princess Victoria, second daughter of the Prince of Wales. Mr Parnell has expended of the sum subscribed for the defence of those accused by the " Times," leaving a balance of about the same amount. The market rate ot discount is If per cent. ; the bank rate is 2^- per cent. New Zealand frozen meat is neglected at present. Mutton is quoted at s£d.

London, August 2. Seven hundred adults died at Bokhara, a kingdom of Independent Tartary, Central Asia, in the space of three days, from intense heat. Lord Salisbury informed Lord Rosebery in the House of Lords that it was inexpedient for the Government to summon a colonial conference for the discussion of Federation. He considered that unless the Cabinet were prepared to make a direct recommendation, intervention of the Government might lead to misapprehension. Loid Rosebery replied that Canada and Australia cannot summon a conference with the object of drawing closer to the Empire, and that only Britain was able to take that step. He urged the Cabinet to receive a federation deputation in the autumn.

Bkrlin, August 2. The Emperor Francis Joseph o^ Austria will arrive here on the 12th inst. The Emperor of Germany has sailed for Spithead, accompanied by an escort" of ironclads.

St. Petersburg, July 30. A number of Russian warships are to be sent to Corea. There is considerable tension hi the relations with China, owing to the occupation of Deer Island by Russia. The report of an alliance between France and Russia is denied.

Paris, July 31 The following additional awards in connection with the Exhibition were made to-day : — New Zealand exhibit of minerals took first prize, and the jury also recommended it for the grand prize offered by the Government. A gold medal was awarded to the Brunner Coal Company's exhibit. Silver medals were awarded as follows : — Welcome and Keep it Dark mines (West Coast), Kapanga mine (Coromandel), Caledonian (Thames), Phoenix and Antimony Company, and also to the collection shown by Mr Gordon, Inspector of Mines. Bronze medals were awarded to the following exhibitors : — Waitaki, United Alpine Champion (Te Aroha), Saxon (Thames), and Fiery Cross first, and Clark second. Honourable Mentions : William Tell and Reuben Parr mines, Mr Thomas Morrin (Auckland), United mine and Professor Black. It is expected that the grand prize for wines will be taken by Victoria.

Cairo, July 31. The Dervishes are slowly mo ring northward, and there is an uneasy feeling in this city. Sydmey, July 31. The trading steamer Lubeck has arrived from Samoa. She reports that matters are quiet, and the only item of news relates to the wreck of the Auckland cutter Lancashire Lass, of which advices were previously to hand. She was lost at Pagopago, but the crew were saved. In order to extend the railway system, the Minister of Public Works has submitted a scheme for the approval of the Government to construct light railways in remote districts, to act as feeders for the main lines. A Noumea paper, received by the mail, contains a splenetic article con- 1 demning the appointment of Mr Rorrrilly as British Consul to the New Hebrides. It accuses England of being an indefatigable enemy to commerce in the Pacific, and only intent on supporting the missionaries who are engaged in a propaganda against the French. It declares Mr Romilly's appointment is a violation of the Anglo-French treaty regaiding the New Hebrides. A good deal of opposition is being manifested in political circles to the renewal of the contract for the San Francisco service. Mr O'Sullivan, formerly President of the Seamen's Union, has given notice of motion in the Legislative Assembly that in extending the contract the Government should debar the Union Steamship Company from

submitting to any British or foreign company, or chartering vessels not registered in an Australian port.

Sydney, August 2. The Queensland Government are in favour of the proposal to hold a conference on the question of granting constitutional government to Western Australia. Victoria opposes the proposal on the ground lhat delay in the matter would prove fatal. Sir Henry Parkes, Premier of New South Wales, on the contrary, persists that a conference would be the best method of dealing with the matter. Crawford, a prominent mining broker of Gympie, has been arrested for forgeries involving over The " Telegraph " sarcastically says that the wire-pullers have successfully worked the Government with regard to the Dunedin Exhibition. It considers it is a mere farce on the part of New South Wales to exhibit in New Zealand, and says : "We are the latter's best customers, and yet New Zealand's deliberate policy is to exclude our produce. New Zealand protects itself against New South Wales, yet a meek Government has promised to contribute to Mr Twopeny's Exhibition."

Melbournk, August 2. Major - General Edwards, who is now engaged in inquiring into the efficiency of colonial defences and military forces, argues emphatically in favour of a strong navy, the policy of Australia being, in his estimation, to bold the enemy at arm's length. First, the line of defence should be increased by seven new vessels. This would probably make the colonies secure for ten years, when it would be time enough to think of forming an Australian navy to be supported by the colonies alone. Coming to the second" line of defence — namely, coast batteries, General Edwards thinks little remains to be done, the harbour defences being complete. Concerning the third line, he is opposed to a volunteer force, strictly so-called, because the whole expense is borne by the men, in addition to giving their services. A partially paid militia, he thinks, is a good institution, and he favours the medium between a paid and unpaid force, whose mainspring shall be patriotic defence, while the men composing it are indemnified for the actual expenses they incur. The General explains that the essential object of his visit is to lay the foundation of a cooperative system of defence for the whole of the colonies.

Melbourne, August 2. The celebrations in connection with the Presbyterian Jubilee have been inaugurated in this city. Dr. Macgregor is the New Zealand representative. Mr Wra. Blacklock, United States Vice-Consul at Apia, has presented Mataafa with a gold watch and chain and other articles as an expression of gratitude on the part of the United Stales for help rendered to American sailors during the great storm. It is rumoured that the British Consul and Deputy- Commissioner at Samoa will shortly be removed. Mataafa's authority is now respected and obeyed. Both parties are busily engaged in planting food.

Beistjane, August 2. News has reached here of another lamentable tragedy in the Solomon Islands. The natives of Malayta Island assembling in force, boarded the Sydney trading schooner Suva, 19 tons, suddenly without warning. They shot the mate, Hadden, and in the fight wounded the owner, Keeling, who afterwards died. One of the seamen, Cooper, had his head hacked off. The native crew of the schooner finally repelled the boarders after a struggle, killing twelve of them. The Colonial Treasurer's financial statement shows that the receipts during the year exceed the expenditure by The deficit, which at the beginning of the year was now stands at The value of imports in the year just past was less than in the preceding twelve months, the decrease being in grain and flour. The Government have decided not to alter the tariff. The receipts for the current year are estimated at and the expenditure ;£3i 62 9>o°°- A Loan Bill, for the purpose of carrying on public works, will be introduced shortly.