TELEGRAMS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2610, 20 January 1894, Page 1

TELEGRAMS.

ENGLISH AND FOREIGN. London, Jan. 16. The R9V. W. Patton has assured the Marquis of Ripon that the labour contracts between Queensland planters and Kanakas are scarcely more than disguised slavery. At the Imperial Institute, the Marquis of Lome suggested the adoption of a system of inter-State insurance to reduoe the effect of banking losses. Jan. 17. Colonel Tullooh, Commandant of the Victoria Forces, in a letter to the United Service Magazine, says that if the British Navy is Bupreme, Australia will be safe frotb raiding expeditions, and the only, fear is that the military forces will be inadequate. General Cheeuey considers that the sending of an expedition to conquer Australia would be absurd and impossible. The Daily Chronicle's Rome correspondent Bays that the leaders of the Catholic Church nearest the Pope believe that an Italian revolt is certain. Obituary— Viscount Somertou. The P. and O. Company's steamer Britannic is ashore in the English Channel. No particulars are to hand. Pakis, Jan. 17. France is preparing an expedition against Madagascar. In the Chamber of Deputies, M. FJourens, the ex-Minister, said that the alliauOS With Russia was designed to promote peace, He hoped that the suspicion with which tha English looked upon the alliance would soon be allayed. The Chamber of Deputies adopted a proposal by the Socialist section to apply the 08,000,000 francs, to be saved by the conversion scheme, to reducing laud tax burdens. The Minister of Finance protested, and declined to accept the direction given by the vote, whereupon it was rescinded by a majority of 100, and the Bill passed. A quantity of dynamite, hidden in a package of ostrich feathers, exploded in the mail room on the Messageries Maritimes Company's steamer Equateur, ou her arrival at Bordeaux. The explosion resulted in the death of three sailors, and the wrecking of the vess.'l amidships. Berlin, Jan. 17. Speaking at'the opening of the Prussian Diet the Emperor William expressed regret at the growing deficits, which he said could only be obviated ly the organisation of the financial system of the Empire. Ho announced Hint last year's deticit, amounting to 25,000,000 marks, woald be covered by n, loan. fc'i". PKTKttsnutw?, Jan. IG. The Russian Government have demanded the right to access to the naval stores formerly deposited ou Poros, a small island of Greece. Rome, Jan. 17. Antonio Monzillo, formerly Minister of Agriculture, has boon extradited from London, in connection with ih& Banna Romitiiu, frauds amounting to £2/(00,000. Counsel for accused says that it is intended to make him a scapegoat for political frauds. Hono Kong, Jan. IG. One of the temples iu Ningpo hajfj beon destroyed by lire. The building was, crowded.at, tUv time, and iu the, rush

to escape, the people were jammed on the stairways. Three hundred lives were lost. The origin of thr fire was accidental. Cairo, Jan. 17. It is reported that the Khedive will pay a visit to London iu June. Constantinople, Jan. 17. Ten vessels were wrecked, by a cyclone in the Black Sea Jtad lost with all on board. Hong Kong, Jan. 18. A series of severe earthquakes have been experienced in Mongolia, and a hundred natives were engulfed. Bio db Janeiro, Jan. 17. The insurgents are again bombarding the city. A number of persons have been killed, including several Italian residents. A detachment of the rebel fleet is blockading Santos. Washington, Jan. 17. The Committee of Wayß and Means has decided to bring the reduced duties on woollen goods into force in,;Pecember. The Senate has rejected.'President Cleveland's choice of Mr Hornblower as a Judge of the Supreme Court. Jan. 17. There is considerable excitement in Florida over the prize-fight between Corbett and Mitchell. The Governor has again ordered the troops to prevent it taking place. New York, Jan. 16. The Brazilian correspondent of the New York Herald writes that before abandoning Bage, which the iusurgents have captured, their leaders ordered that all the loyalist prisoners should be beheaded. While retreating from the position the insurgents were attacked by the Government forces and lost 400 men.

AUSTRALIAN CABLK.

Sydney, Jan, 17. The conference of labour members of Parliament opened to-day, but the proceedings so far are only of a formal character. The New Sooth Wales Parliament was opened by Commission at noon to-day. The Governor’s speech contained nothing fresh, being on the lines of the Government programme alreaay indicated. Mr G. H. Reid, leader of the Opposition, moved an amendment to the Address in Reply generally condemning the Government for proroguing Parliament at a critical time. Sir G. R. Dibbs, the Premier, said that if Mr Reid’s action were endorsed it would plunge the country into chaos. Mr H. Copeland, Minister for Lands, proceeded to address the House, but Mr J. Hindle, rising to a point of order, asked the Speaker whether it was competent for a member to address the House while in a state of intoxication. A most discreditable scene followed. Mr Copeland, who was greatly excited, threatened to “ wring that d-—■ scoundrel’s neck; ” but was prevented by other members from walking across to Mr Hindle. The galleries were cleared and Mr Copeland ordered from the Chamber during the remainder of the sitting, but it was decided not to proceed with business, and the House adjourned almost immediately. Jan. 18. After the House adjourned last night Mr Copeland, who had caused a scene in the Chamber, loitered, about waiting for Mr Hindle, who wisely depififci by a back entrance. The scene was an extremely painful one. There was the Minister of the Crown, dressed in a short white duck coat, without vest, hatless, and with collar and tie awry, standing in front of the main entrance to the House, with a laughing and jeering crowd near him, some members of the crowd occasionally remarking to the police to look him up, and crying, Mlf he was a poor man you would lock him up.” Sir u. R. Dibbs and Mr Sutton vainly endeavoured to get Mr Copeland Within the precincts of the House> but a general movement of the crowd hustled the whole party into the House. As an outcome of the scene in the Legislative Assembly yesterday the Hon. Henry Copeland, Minister for Lauds, has resigned his Portfolio, and the Governor has accepted the resignation) Ah extensive swindle has been successfully carried out on the National Bank of Australasia, A man presented a cheque signed “ Walhawala Station Company,” for £ISOO, and obtained gold for it. Subsequently he paid a cheque similarly signed for £4OOO into the City Bank, but the National Bank discovered the fraud and stopped collection of the £4OOO cheque. It is believed that the swindler was formerly employed in a clerical capacity on the Walhawala Station, and having stolen signed cheques filled them in himself. The police have found no trace of the man. Melbourne, Jan. 17. Obituary—Milner Stephen, faith healer. Perth, Jan. 18. Particulars of the tornado at Raebourne show that at least 22 lives were lost, several homesteads wrecked, and a number of Chinamen killed. The schooner Annie sank in Foam Passage, and a man named Dickson, with his wife and child, and fourteen coloured men were drowned. Most of the pearl shell fleet were driven ashore at Cossack, and twelve luggers are missing. Twenty inches of rain fell.