TELEGRAMS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1563, 2 April 1887, Page 1

TELEGRAMS.

ENGLISH ANI); FOREIGN. London, March 29. Tenders for the Launceiton Muni cipal 4 per cent, loatj of £150,000 were opened to-day, »ucl fipud to amount to - n y £19,000. remains open for a week longer, at It minimum of 97. The Bank of Australasia has declared a dividend of 12£ per cent., with bonne of 15s. . Intelligence has been received from West Africa that Mr Johnston, British Consul at the Oameroons, who was kidnapped by savages, has been rescued. The Queen left London for Cannes to-day. The Board of Trade enquiry into the cause of (be collision between the ships Kapunda and Ada Melmore, which occurred off the South American Coast in January last, was concluded to-day, The certificate of the captain of the Ada Melmore was suspended. The captain of the Kapnnda was acquitted.

I News from Central Asia states that Kunder Khan, with a force of 12,000 reached within a short distance from Herat, and sent a formal demand to the inhabitants that the place should secede from Afghanistan. The Queen has commanded the attendance of all the members of her family at the coming jubilee celebration, 80ms of the delegates to the conference express disapproval of the pro gramme being narrowed down as announced, There is a growing opinion that the conference will be an empty show, barren of practical results, The members of the Order of St, Michael and Sir George now in England have been invited, through the Gazette, to a banquet in bt. James’ Palace. The Duke of Cambridge will preside, and the Princa of Wales will be present. - March 30. In the House of Commons last night, Sir Henry Holland announced that the question of the judgments of colonial Law Courts would be discussed at the conference. Her Majesty’s Government would decide regarding legislation on the subject after learning the opinion of the colonial delegates. It is stated that the contract of the Orient and the Peninsula and Oriental Companies for the carriage of the Australian mails for a term of eight years, at an annual subsidy of £160,000, bas been accepted by the Post-office authorities. The male of the Ada Melmore was severely censured by the Court of Enquiry, and Cottereil, mate of the Kapunda, was commended. The Press condemn the leniency'of the judgment. At the invitation of Sir B. Griffiths, the Australian delegates to the conference held a meeting to-day, but, owing to the absence of Sir Patrick Jennings, Mr Wisdom, and Bir W. Fitzherbert, the meeting, at the request of Sir S. Samuel, was adjourned. Though the details of the programme were not debated, such discussion as there was showed the feeling of the delegates was harmonious. The Victorian delegates instructed Mr Deakin to inform Sir H. Holland that their programme will comprise the defence of the colonies, the disposal of the New Hebrides, New Guinea, recidivistes, postal matters, cables, and the investin'nt of trust funds in colonial stocks.

A rich discovery of gold has been made on the Vakou, the great river of Alaska, recently explored by Lieutenant Schwalka. AUSTRALIAN CABLE. Melbourne, March 30. Sailed—Rotomabana, for New Zealand. The continued drought in the western district of the colony is causing much apprehension. Locusts are making havoc of the grass. March 31. A statement has been published here showing that the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company are losing at the rate of £40,000 per *nnum by the reductions made last year in the telegraphic rates between Europe and Australia, At a banquet given last night to Mr Robert Harper, Postmaster-General, Mr Derbau stated that, while he would

gladly welcome a feasible and prudent scheme for acquiring the telegraph cables, each a great undertaking as proposed by Sir J. Yogel would need to be most carefully scrutinised, lest the colonies be precipitated into a possible miitake. Mr Derham also said becould not favor a penny postage between England and the colonies. The Victorian Racing Club has decided to add £SOO more to the Melbourne Cup, making £2500 in all, besides a trophy valued at 100 guineas. The Autumn Meeting for the future will include four days’ racing. The Newmarket Handicap will be increased to £SOO. Arrived, this morning—Wairarapa. Sydney, March 30. The Deportation of Criminals Bill was introduced and read a first time in the Assembly. It contain* very stringent provisions. Foreign criminals found at large are to be deemed guilty of felony, and arrested without a warrant and sentenced to penal servitude at the Governor’s pleasure, Masters of vessels will be subject to a heavy penalty for landing criminals, innocently or otherwise, and are bound to deliver a list of all persons on board. What constitutes a foreign penal possession will be defined by the Governor-' in-Council, and gazetted on 14 days notice. March 31, Arrived—Waihora.