TELEGRAMS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1145, 26 February 1884, Page 1

TELEGRAMS.

ENGLISH AND FOREIGN. London, Feb. 21. Gordon Pasha has proclaimed the Soudan as independent of Egypt. Mr Charles Bradlaugh has addressed a letter to the Speaker of the House of Commons, announcing that he has decided not to appear again at Westminster Palace until the Law Courts decide regarding his claim to take his seat as member for Northampton. The. Victorian gunboats have arrived at Gibraltar. Feb. 22. In the House cf Commons last evening Mr Bradlaugh's latter to the Speaker, in which the former slated that he would not appear at the Bar of the House to claim his right to sit as a representative for Northampton until 1 the decision thereon had been given by the Law Courts was laid on the table. Sir Stafford Northcote, the leader of the Opposition, thereupon moved that the House should re-affirm the resolution passed on the 11th inst., excluding Mr Bradlaugh from the Chambers and precincts ot the Palace. The motion was carried by a large majority. Yielding to the demands of public opinion, as expressed by the Press and otherwise throughout Great .Britain, the Government has appointed a Royal Commission to report on the housing of the poor in London and its suburbs, and to devise means for the amelioration of their condition if such should be found necessary. The 'Lories will not oppose Mr A. W. Peel's nomination as Speaker of the House of Commons. Baron De Lesseps has been elected a member ot the French Academy. In the House of Lords Lord Gran arc! has given notice of his intention to ask Earl Granville whether the Government intend to submit the Australasian Federation Bill lo Parliament this session. A transport carrying a detachment of Hussars has got ashore at Souakim, and it is feared this will cause some delay to the expedition. The surrender of Tokar is reported. Mr J. Mayers' w and b dog Mineral Water has won the Waterloo Cup, beating Greentick. Feb. 23. Gordon Pasha's explanation is now explained to have simply meant permission to retain the system of domestic slavery in the Soudan, not to authorise slave hunting. The French Government is now offering new terms to tho authorities in Madagascar. Cairo, Feb. 21. Telegrams have been received from Khartoum reporting that Gordon Pasha is meeting with continued success in his efforts to complete the pacification of the Soudan. Arrangements have been made for an interview between MajorGeneral Gordon and ICI Mahdi, and the former will leave Khartoum at an early date for that purpose. Despatches are to hand from Souakim announcing that Colonel Graham, with the final portion of the British troops from Cairo, arrive there yesterday. The expedition tor the relief of Tokar will commence its march thither on Sunday next, 24th inst. Feb. 22 The garrison at Tokar has yielded to rebels. Telegrams to hand from Souakim announce that messsages had been received there from the Governor ot Tokar stating that being without food and finding that it was impossible to further prolong the defence of the town, which for some days previously had been closely invested by tho enemy, he had been compelled to accept the terms offered by the Arab besiegers, and had agreed to surrender the town to then. The telegrams further state that one-half of the garrison had sul mitted to the rsbel leader, but that the remainderhad become fugitives. Nothing is known as to the manner in which the non-combating inhabitants have been treated by the adherents of the Mahdi.

AUSTRALIAN CABLE

Sydney, Feb. 22. A severe gale, accompanied by torrents of ruin, passed over Northern Queensland to-day. Disastrous floods, causing immense damage to orooerty,

occuned at Cookiown, win-re twentyfour (sic) inches of rain fill within twenty four hours. The shipping along the coast also sustained severe damage from the effects nf the gale. Melbourne, Feb. 22. Mr James Service, the Premier, has received a telegram from Mr MurraySmith, Colonial Agent, reporting that the latter had an important interview with the Under Secretaiy of the Colonial Office regarding the Pi deration of the Australian colonies and Pacific Annexation. In die course of the interview, Sir Robert Uerbert announced that Her Majesty's Government had decided not to sanction any annexation of the Western Pacific Islands until the federation of the Australian colonies had been accomplished, and that it would be necessary for the various colonial Legislatures to adopt a resolution confirming the action of the delegates at the Sydney Convention before the Imperial Parliament could pass the necessary Enabling Act, which, however, would be prepared by ihe Imperial authorities, and which it was proposed to lay before Parliament during the present session, The Colonial Under-Secretary urges that steps should be taken by the colooial Governments to expedite the passage of the resolution above mentioned, and a lde 1 that a guarantee by the colonies of £IO,OOO would secure the appointment of an interim High Commissioner of the Western Pacific with enlarged powers. Feb. 23. The Age to-day publishes & telegram from its special correspondent at Gobart, stating that while the Union Company's steamship Wairarapa was racing the steamship Adelaide to the Heads, a collision occurred between the two vessels when Hearing the Swan Port licjlit. The steamship Wairarapa was struck, and her plates dented to the depth of three inches above the cook's berth, which was much damaged. It is estimated that the repairs to the Wairarapa will cost fully £IOOO. The correspondent of the Age declares that the passengers on board expressed great indignation at the occurrence.