EUROPEAN ITEMS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 984, 2 July 1883, Page 2

EUROPEAN ITEMS.

[Per Rotomahana at the Bluff.] [by teleobafh.] [“ AGE ” SPECIALS.] London, June 20. A notice of motion given by Lord Lamington on Thursday last in connection with the proposed annexation of the islands in the Pacific will be discussed in the House of Lords on the 2nd July. Lord Sidmouth, in the House of Lords, has given notice of his intention to bring before the House the question of the Naval Defences in various colonies. The matter will be discussed shortly. China has definitely refused to cede the suzerain y of Amim to the French, and the latter have rejected all other pacific overtures. The Chinese Government are urging England and Germany to intercede on their behalf, but neither of these powers has yet given a definite response to the appeal. It is reported that Mr Redmond, who is now on a lecturing tour in Australia with his brother, has been nominated aa a candidate for Wexford, in piaoe of Mr Healy, who recently resigned his seat. The Cabinet has not yet decided upon whom the appointment of Minister for Scotland shall be conferred, (and settle ment of the matter has been postponed. The Pope has resolved to refer the settlement of the difficulty which has arisen between the Papal See and a section of the Irish to a special commission. In consequence of the announcement that Mr Wm. Redmond intends to offer himself as a candidate for Wexford, the Government have decided to issue a warrant, which has been for some time pending against him. In answer to a question in the House of Commons last night, the Hon Evelyn ishley stated that the Government were deliberating upon the proposed annexation of New Guinea and New Hebrides, and that their decision would be made known shortly. Mr Fawcett, Postmaster General, announced yesterday that the Government regarded the suggested extension of the system of parcels postage to the colonies as premature.

, A Bill has been introduced into the Supreme Council of Calcutta, the object of which is to protect patent inventions shown in the Exhibition.

The prices for Australian hops are low, in consequence of the good prospects of growing English crops. Several shipments remain in the market unsold.

A letter appears in the Daily NetVk this morning, strongly urging the establishment of a new line ofjjAustralian mail steamers. The route proposed by the writer is from Liverpool to Canada direct, thence overland to the West Coast of America, and from there to Sydney. Acting under instructions from the French Government, Admiral Pierre has ordered the confiscation of the Custom house and contents which were seized by the French troops at Tamatave. The Government of Reunion, on the Island of Bourbon, in the Indian Ocea have despatched a force of volunteers to Madagascar to the assistance of the French troops. Great alarm has been occasioned at St Petersburg bv the publication of an in ; flammatory Nihilist manifesto. In this the authors state that they still retain their hostile designs towards the ruling powers, and are only awaiting to put them into execution.

In the House of Commons last night Sif Michael Hicks-Beach directed the attention of the House to the negotiations which were proceeding in connection with the proposed duplicates of the Suez Canal. He urged upon the Government the expediency of accepting the terms offered by Comte de Lesseps. The Standard this morning states that operations connected with the construction of a second channel will be commenced at once.

In consequence of a rumor that the French intend to make a sudden descent upon .Mauritius without giving any warning to the English Government, the authorities in Mauritius are actively en-j gaged in preparations for resisting an attack.

The Committee appointed to report upon the advisability of constructing a tunnel under the English Channel concluded taking evidence yesterday. Lord Wolseley was examined, and gave his opinion that the scheme, if ca'iried out, would jeopardise the interests of England, and he expressed himself entirely opposed to the proposition. The mem-; bera of the Committee held a lengthy deliberation, but were unable to come to any conclusion, the votes being equally divided. * ! It has been ascertained that the cause of Bishop Oolenso’a death was fever. Mr Blyth, Agent General for South' Australia, intends to visit Marseilles' shortly, for the purpose of organising a| scheme for the immigration of laborers; from that portion of France to South Aus-: tralia by the ivlessageries Maritimea Company’s steamers. Alderman Cotton,'member for Londori, urges upon the Government the necessity: for instituting an enquiry into the circum-. stances connected with the supposed murder of a Government surveyor and party; ,at Berrnagui some years ago. Atrial was made yesterday of the Pal- : liser projectile, but the invention proved to be failure. r It has been ascertained that at the wool sales which have just terminated, half the' wool sold was purchased by foreigners. Dr Croke, Archbishop of Cashel, continues to ignore the mandate of the Pope in connection with the suppression of Irish outrages In an address recently delivered! at Limerick, he emphatically declared that the agitation must be continued till the Irish obtained complete redress of their grievances. Mr Healy, who recently resigned his seat in the Souse of Commons tor Wexf .rd, is offering himself as a candidate for the Monaghan seat, which electorate was vacated by Mr Givan on his being appointed Crown solicitor for Ireland. The Irish National league is actively supporting Mr Healy’s candidature, and it has transpired that the funds of the league are being freely used to secure his return. The Quean has subscribed LSO towards the fund being 'raised for the relief of sufferers by the late panic in the Victoria Hall at Sunderland.

The Malagasy envoys, having concluded their negotiations with M. Ferry, the French Premier, have left Paris. The French Government accorded them a safe conduct back to Tamatave. The result of their mission has not transpired, but it is believed that a peaceable solution of the difficulty between the French and Madagascar will be effected. The present attitude of China in relation to the Anamese war is peaceable. Marquis Tseng, the Chinese Ambassador at Paris, who recently waited on M. Ferry with a view to a settlement of the Anamese question, has arrived in London.