NEWS BY CABLE

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2311, 3 June 1886, Page 2

NEWS BY CABLE

(BY EIiCOIB'.CTEIiEaUAPU COPYRIGHT

REOTKR'H TELKGHAMS,

VICTORIA

Melbourne, May 31, Received Juno Ist, at 11.38 p.m.— Tim first Victorian Parliament was opened to-day by Hia Excellency the Governor, Sir Henry Loch. In the course of tlie speech delivered by His Excellency on the occasion, reference whs made to the federation question, His Excellency expressing an opinion considering only three years had passed since negotiations were opened to bring about an understanding-as to the practicable extent of the confederation It must be considered satisfactory to the Federal Council that it hud been established, and he was encouraged by the.hope.that those coloniea which had hitherto held aloof would feel the influence of the natural sentiment, and strengthen the Union. Passing on to the subject of the administration of New Guinea, HisExcelloncy announced an agraemenc had been completed for the Government of that territory, and it woi'ld be submitted for the approval of tho Legislature of New; South Wales QueenJarid and Victoria, The pro' jected French occupation of the New Hebrides had called forth the strongest objections on the part, not only of the Federated Colonies, hut also from other colonies not represented in the Federal Couiicil, This feeling was prevalent throughout the country, and Victorians had unanimously supported the action of their, Government in protesting against the cession of the New Hebrides to France. Convincing proof was to be found in the fact that the Australasian communities has almost unanimously opposed tho occupation of those islands by France. His Excellency trusted that when next ho addressed Parliament ho might be able to congratulate them on the results of their united effoi'ts, and expressed a belief that the decision which was expected shoitly would uphold tbe understanding arrived at in 1878, by which the Imperial Government had refused to allow interference with those islands. Satisfactory progress had been made in the organisation of the forces and provisions for the defence of the colony. Proposals made by Admiral Tryon for strenglhening the Australian squadron, and the Joint Defence scheme was receiving careful consideration from the Government. After referring to the Indian and Colonial exhibition, and to the work of the water supply commissioners, His Excellency dealt with the subject of railways. The satisfactory progress which had been made with the Victorian lines had results exceeding past years, and the railway revenue was this year more than sufficient to pav interest upon the capital borrowed for construction of the lines. Early opportunity would be taken to recast legislation having reference to water used for irrigating mining and manufacturing purposes. Bills would be introduced to amend the local self government Act, and those Acts referring to shipping and forests. In concluding hia speech His Excellency congratulated the Parliament upon the satisfactory state of the finances of the colony, and the prosperity of the couutry. ;

Sydney, June 2.

Received Jnno 3, 1.30 a.m.—The Tekapo left Nnwcastle this morning for New Zealand,

Melbourne, June 2. The Tarawera arrived this morning from New Zealand.

London, June 2. The debate in the House of Commons on the Irish question was con tinned last night, when Sir William Nernon Harcourt, Chancellor of the Exchequer, spoke. He affirmed the country generally sanctioned the principle of the Bill, which he stated would be carried out although the present Government might be destroyed.- The Arms Extension Bill was passed yesterday by the House of Lords.

The following is the team selected to represent ths "Gentlemen in the match against the Australians which commences at Lords to-morrow:—o W. Rock (Cambridge), S. Christopherson (Kent), W. G, Grace (Gloucester), Lord Harris (Kent), W. W. Read (Surrey), W. E, Roller (Surrey), S.W. Scott (Middlesex), (}. G, Walker (Derby), C. Kemp (Kent), and G. P, Vernon (Middlesex),

Sydney, June 2nd. Holt was brought up for sentence to-day, and condemned to four years' hard labor in Darlin.'hui'st gaol, News to hand from Now . Hebrides state that heavy gales have latterly prevailed there, and caused serious damage to plantations.

London, June 1 Consols ire quoted at £IOO 10s, e dividend.