Late Cable News.

Thames Star, Volume XVI, Issue 4992, 12 January 1885, Page 2

Late Cable News.

(Via. the Bluff, This Day.)

(Per Pekss Association.)

[' AfxE ' SrECIALS] London, December 31. A report that Earl Derby is to be replaced in the Cabinet is declared to be unfounded. January 1. It has been arranged that the Princess Beatrice shall reside with Her Majesty the Queen until her marriage with Prince Henry of Battenbu rg. Both the Pall Mall Gazette and the Morning Post protest against the cession of the New Hebrides to France. The excitement over the recent annexation in the Pacific by Germany is now subsiding, and the Press advise the Australian colonies to be moderate in any protest which they may make to the Imperial Government on the subject. It is rot expected that Prince Bismarck will recognise the action of the Boliver Government, Natal, in hoisting British flags at St. Lucia Bay, on the coast of Zululand.

Mr Murray-Smith has received a telegram from the Hon. J. Service, directing him to emphatically protest on behalf of Victoria and Tasmania against the recognition of German claims to New Guinea. The Pall Mall Gazette, in an article this evening, condemns the inaction of New South Wales re the annexation question. January 2.

The members of the Cabinet have been specially summoned, at the request of Earl Derby, to consider the whole question of Annexation in the Pacific.

The St. James' Gazette suggests that the British shall offer Heligoland to Germany in exchange for New Guinea. The Press are unanimous in condemning the action of Earl Derby, but the majority of the newspapers refer in favorable terms to the action of New South Wales over the Annexation. The Daily News says that the Hon. J. Service's despatch to the Agent.General was incautious and hasty ; the Daily Chronicle expresses the opinion that if the Australian Colonies are resolute it will be impossible for Germany to maintain her claim to a portion of New Guinea. It is reported that the honor of knighthood will shortly be conferred on James Mcßain, President of the Victorian Legislative Council. The Rev. R. J. G. Paton, ??ho for many years has been connected with the Presbyterian missions in the New Hebrides, and who is now in England, proposes to have an interview with Earl Derby, to point out some objections to the cession of the New Hebrides to France. January 4 The first issue of fifty thousand shares in the New Finance Co., projected by Reginald Brett, of Adelaide, has been advertised. Five thousand shares have been reserved for Adelaide, and £1 per share has been called up.

It has transpired that in July last Ger many forwarded to England a request to desist from annexing any territory in the Pacific where no British settlements exist.

Prince Bismarck is reported to be'favorable to the suggested exchange by the British Government of Heligoland to Germany for New Guiuea.

The Times considers weakness has been shown by the Gladstone Cabinet in its foreign and colonial policy, and suggests that the time has arrived for a chauge of the personnel of the Government. The Spectator approves of the cession of the New Hebrides to France, provided the Recidivistes Bill is withdrawn. The Standard insists that the negotia tions between the British and German Governments, with reference to Pacific annexations, should be published. January 6 The Times this morning states that the Cabinet is undecided and divided in its opinion with respect to the question of French and German annexatioa in the Pacific. The same paper states that if Parliament were sitting a vote of censure would probably be passed on Government on the annexation question, and advises Earl Derby to resign his position as Colonial Secretary. The Daily Telegraph says that the j report as to negotiations between the British and French Governments for the cession of New Hebrides is unfounded, and that Franca does not intend to inter" fere with the New Hebrides. Some rumors of an alarming nature have been circulated with respect to the Channel Squadron having been ordered to sea. The order was given after a Cabinet meeting on Saturday last. It is believed however, that the departure of the Squadron is only for ordinary mane»uverng. It is reported that M. Ferry, Freuch Premier, and Prince Bismarck, German Ambassador, are preparing a series of points of proposal for the regulation of the finances of Egypt. It is reported that Prince Henrick, second son of the Emperor of Germany, will be appointed ruler of the Congo. Earl Derby, on behalf of the Government, has telegraphed to the Australian Governments a reply to the protests recently received againsi the annexation by Germany of a portion of New Guinea. He denies that the British Government have consented to any annexation of New Guinea by Germany. Mr Blyth, Agent-General for South Australia, has, on behalf of his Government, forwarded a protest on the same subject to the Colonial Oiftee. Arthur Donaldson, S.A., of South Australia, has been awarded the prise offered by the lioyal Colonial Institute for the best essay on Canada.

January 6. The Ijonqon newspapers this morning condemn th,e Admiralty for creating a scare by despatching the Channel Squadron so wddeuly aud secretly. $ioi& the

Times and Standard regret that any such meaningleis stop* should have bei»n taken. The departure of the fleet has caused no excitement m the Continent.