THE PANAMA CANAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1830, 18 December 1888, Page 1

THE PANAMA CANAL.

Paris, December 13. Crowds surged ajround the offices of the Panama Canal*Company yesterday, owing to the rumor of financial difficulties in connection with the 'undertaking'. There was a very excited scene, iand M. de Lesseps, in a speech to the crowd, tearfully appealed to Frenchmen to sayo the enterprise. M, Floquet, who has been consulting experts with relerence to the Panama Canal scheme, announced in the Chamber of Deputies to-day that, should the Panama loan fail, the Government would gaarantee the necessary amount to carry the underfcakipg to a successful issue, Dec. 14.

M. de Lesseps was weeping with joy when he first assured the subscribers to the Panama Canal loan that it was safe and its enemies were confounded. Later it was discovered that only one-sixth of the loan had been subscribed. The crowd surging round the offices, of the company iqsisted on seeing M, de Lesßepß himself. Hi'b son announced that his father was sanguine, but, nothing remained but bankruptcy on wiqd.ro £ up the company. Thr announcemei t caused: the greatest excitement, as sixty millions sterling of public, money is invested in the affair. Dec, 15.

The Panama Interest Bill js being referred to, a hostile commif tee. i M, de Lesseps and three of his colleagues on the board have resigned, j Three liquidators have been appointed. The company suspended payment on; Friday. Latbb.

The committee of the Chamber of Deputies appointed to report: on.the Panama Cana),scheme recommend the rejection'of the '■Bill introduetj by the Government, for .rendering assistance ; and add that the Chamber had no right to legislate on such a matter. |The Government refused to withdraw] the Bill, and /were! supported - by :M. JPeytral, representatiye lor the district ofJßouches du Rhone, who I ..admi'. Ithas he was acting in the inter' .; i*ae subscribers toithe loan. '' T- ..... > '~&e Government tookad 1 i; '■.»«< Bill, when the '.'.' .. by 262 toj!88. that the liability of ..... ..; aaaoia. Canal scheme is: a billion xi'ancs. Charles de LessepS: states |tbat the Panama loan/is a failure, and, that the money will, be returned; to jrives^ors.

of Canada into the United State, to the Foreign Affairs Committee. The ' House of Representatives has passed a Bill providing for a refund of war taxes to the States, thus reduciug •he surplus by.seventeen million dollarp.

AUSTRALIAN CABLE. Melbourne, December 14. Rain fell over the greater part of Victoria yesterday, afternoon. Chinese residents here are protesting against the Chinese Restriction Bill, characterising the measure as an outrage on their feelings and interests, and unworthy of any civilised community. The crops, in the Wimmera /district are turning out badly. It is expeclrd th'kt th« wheat in the Guntotrer and West Kihura districts will be very good, superior to last year's grain. The average yield, however, will not be more than four bushels, Sydney, December 12. Arrived—Alameda, from Auckland, Light showers have fallen in the sou'h of this oolony, The-weather is generally dnll in Victoria, South Australia, and Queensland. Sailors are so scarce in Newcastle that crimping is becoming notoriously com. mon. . It is unsafe for laborers' to be found drunk in the streets, as they run the risk of finding themselvea shipped off to a foreign port before they become sober,

An exciting debate took place in the Assembly last night on the question of leasing the city tramways. Mr John Haynes, member for Mudgee, stated.that Mr auctioneer, and one of the promoters of the company for leasing the tramways, offered him £IOOO and 1500 shares if he would vote in favor of leasing the property. Mr Wall, another member, said he had been informed that shares were reserved for other members who should vote for the proposal. On the motion of the Premier, Mr Huntley, who/was present, was summoned to the bar of the House, and on being called upon to make an explanation sw<J thp statement made by Mr Haynes was a pure fabrication. Thn debate whs thereupon resumed, and-upon a division the proposal to lease the tramways was nfigatived by 56 to 28." Dec. 15.

rJ.M.S. Opal, and the French war vesse' F li'i-t have returned from a visit to the New Hebrides,;. where tbej punished the natives concerned in the mnssaore of the boat's crew of the Queensland labor vessel Helena in October last. .Villages , and plantations at Ambryn Island, the scene of the outrage, were destroyed. The Opal leaves shortly for Auckland.

Dr Barry, Bishop of Sydney, has resigned owiug to the illheaith of Mrs Barry. ; In the Armidale district splendid raiD has fallen, but more is required. The country looks well, bat the crops of hay, potatoes and corn will yield only about a fourth the usual average. The wheat harvest has been saved. At O«rowj» graßs and water are scarce. Harvesting ia proceeding, and the yield will be much below the average. High prices for produce still prevail. Discouraging reports are received.from Carcoar district, and in several cases the yield will riot be above; one bag to the aoro. Tha rain has benefited the crops in the southern."'districts, and favorable reports are being received. A. violent thunderstorm visite'd ! Syß!ney thisevenins;, and heavy rain fell. " Brisbane, .December 14, The weather is abnormally Ihot', the thermometer registering 122 in the shade. Dec. 15. Terrible heat ia being experienced in "the Croydon "district. Three death from ■uoßtroke are reported. Hobart, Decemberl4. The crops of oats and barley seem bsyood hope, and potatoes are very poor. Some of-the crops in tile northern districts are holding but well, others are past recovery. D l eed is very scarce, ; and the prospects of stock are bad.' 1