TELEGRAMS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1616, 4 August 1887, Page 1

TELEGRAMS.

ENGLISH AND FOREIGN. London, July 31. Sir J. Pope Hennessy has issued a writ against The Times for libel, and claims £20,000 damages for alleged defamation of character in an article respecting his restoration to the Governorship of Mauritius. France has consented to be represented at the Sugar Bounties Conference. At the annual meeting of the Cobden Club M r Potter, the President, warned freetraders that a protection attack was impending. A hitch has occurred in completing arrangementsforthe Anglo-Australian mail contract. It ib likely that the Government will consent to charge the subsidy against general revenue. Sir Saul Samuel has been informed by Mr Cecil Raikes, Postmaster-General, that a reduction is possible on the conveyance of Australian mails by France and Italy. A reduction on Indian letters of 2|d is certain. Government have promised next' session to appoint a Select Committee to inquire into the Australian postage system. Shaw's team includes Shrewsbury, Lohmann, Eead, Ulyett, Preston, Pougher, Briggs and Pilling. No amateurs have been selected. Lillywhite will accompany the team as umpire, and the tour will include country matches. Sir Hercules Robinson has declined the Governorship of Hong Kong, which has given rise to some surprise. Arrived—Waimea, from Port Cnal- j mers; Laira, from Auckland. Aug. 1. In the House of Lords to-day Lord Salisbury, in reply to a question, stated that tbe attention of the French Government had been fully directed to the gravity of the New Hebrides question, and his Government only hoped that France would carry into practice her declared opinions there anent, which were judged to be entirely correct' His Lordship further announced that the French Government desired that negotiations regarding the Suez Canal and New Hebrides should be conducted c©ncurrently, and that England did not object to such a course, but demurred to negotiations on either subject causing delay to the other. Only one message, and that of an indefinite character, had, Lord Salisbury added, been received from the French regarding the New Hebrides since the 2nd of May last. In the House of Commons to-day Mr Smith made a statement of the intentions of Government regarding the conduct of business now before the House. He announced that the Land Transfer Bill would be dropped, together with a number of minor bills, but the Government would persevere with the Bill to facilitate the provision of allotments for small householders, and a Bill for the commutation of tithes. Aug. 2. Three hundred deaths from cholera occurred at Peshawur during the month of July. M Flourens, in a conciliatory circular, states that France will not oppose any initiative measures England may take to reopen the Egyptian Convention question. The British Commissioners to the Melbourne Centennial Exhibition will commence operations in Australia before Christmas. St. Peterbsurg, Aug. 1. The death is announced of Michael Katkoff, editor of the Moscow Gazette.