LATEST SPECIAL CABLE NEWS.

Inangahua Times, Volume X, Issue 1585, 10 August 1885, Page 2

LATEST SPECIAL CABLE NEWS.

_ Loxno v, July 21. Colonel Stanly, Colonial Secretary, is desirous of having the, Australian Federal Council Enabling Bill passed without any alteration excepting the withdrawal of the amendment enabling any colony retiring from the Couno.il to abrogate legislation previously passed. July 25. Gordon's diary of Khartoum was issued on the afternoon of the 24th. Thn London papers publish long extracts from its pages, in which the defender of Khartoum pours forth the bitterness of his soul at the part played towards him by the British Govern mant. The last words of the diary are, •• I have done my best for the honor of my country." In his last letter to his sister, Gordon writes, •• Like Clarence, I have tried to do my duty. peaking of the expedition for the relief ..of Khartoum, hes»ys. «• No one can judge of the waste of money or expense of life in the present expedition. It is utter waste. Both are simply due to the indecision of the English (Jovernnient." Referring to the Soudan policy of the Gladstone Oovermnent, Gordon describes it "as the policy of a log floating down the stream. In another passage, he say?, " Thu action of (Uu CroferuuieuL was

such as to convince him that they grudged him hi? preverse persistency in living. If h« had been killed the j Foreign Office would have thought ita j good riddance." In other passages Gndon comments sarcastically upon the reluctance of the Ministry to face the responsibility of their own acts. The Pall Mall Gazette describes the diary as the epitaph of the Liberal Government written as *»y the fingers of an invisible hand, an epitaph summed up »" the one word •' Indecision." The seals of office were formally transferred at Windsor by her Majesty the Queen ou the, afternoon of the 24th from the Literal to the new Conservative Administr ition. Mr Gladstone the same evening laid on the table of the House of Commons the correspondence which had passed, through the medium of the Queen, between himself and Lord Salisbury. The correspondence occupied three days, from the 17th to 21st June. The letters addressed to the Queen were by her sent on for consideration to the respective statesmen. Lord Salisbury asked from the. Liberal leader a pledge of co-operation on two points. Fust, tliat whenever a vote of supply was put down ou the Notice Paper the Government business should have precedence, but that if no other pro-> visions were made for meeting the expenditure over thn estimates left by Mr Childers, notes of credit already passed to meet the deticency should be met by the issue of Exchequer lands. Mr Gladstone's first reply was regarded by Lord Salisbury as too vague. On Mr Gladstone's being pressed, he declined to give the specific pledges, but replied that on the Liberal side there would l>e no disposition to embarrass th« Government or make extreme or illegitimate usage of the power of the majority. Lord Salisbury finally consented to accept office, notwithstanding Mr Gladstone's refusal to give the specific undertaking. Hardinge Gifford, Lord Chancellor, receives the peerage under the title of Lord Halsbnry. Other nominations are the Right Hon. Edward Gibson. Chancellor of Ireland, Mr Henry Chaplin boing the Political Secretary ; Mr Akei-8 Doug'ns, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster ; the Right Hon. David Robert Plunkett. First Com missioner of Works ; Mr J. H. Mac, donald. Lord Advocate. Nava! Lords of the Admiralty — Admiral Hook, Sir John Coomerl, Captain Codrington.