EUROPEAN ITEMS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 996, 16 July 1883, Page 2

EUROPEAN ITEMS.

[Pee s.s. Tara wee a at the Bluff.]

[by telegraph.]

[“ AGE ” SPECIALS.] London, July 4

The accident which occurred on Tuesday at, the launching of the steamer Daphne is attributed to the fact that the machinery was inserted before launching the vessel. Another reason assigned is that the chains by which the steamer was eased into the water worked unsatisfactorily and with unequal action. From the latest reports it appears that one hundred persons were drowned. Forty bodies have already bean recovered. Efforts'iare being made .to raise the Daphne, but so far they have not succeeded. The very latest reports show that one hundred and fifty persona lost their lives through the accident. The Agents-General of the: Australian colonies yesterday waited upon the members of the London Chamber of Commerce with reference to the action taken by the Intercolonial Postal Conference in Sydney to obtain admission to the Postal

L nion. It was resolved that the Brisbane and Wellington Chambers of Commerce should be urged to press the importance of joing the Cnion upon their respective Governments. Sir Dilion Bell, AgentGeneral for New Zealand, and Mr Archer, for Queensland, promised that the suggestion should be acted upon, and that they would do all in their power to secure comp.iance on the part of their Governments.

A reinforcement of 3,000 French troops have arrived at Hanoi to strengthen the garrison established there. Upon their arrival hostilities were at once re-com-menced, and a severe engagement took place between the forces of Franca and Anam. It resulted iu the defeat of the

Anamese, who suffered heavy loss. The French Commander then set fire to the town, which was soon completely destroyed.

M. Tricon, who was recently appointed French Minister at the Court of China, in place of M. Bouree, has made another attempt to enter into negotiations with Li Hung Chung, the Chinese Viceroy, in connection with the Anamese difficulty. The latter, however, ■ has declined • to accede to any of M. Trioon’s proposals, and has referred him to Pekin.

Sir Julius Vogel, in a, letter to the Times this morning, discusses the question of colonial defences. In the course of his remarks he advocates that the colonies should pay an annual subsidy to England in return for the protection afforded to them by war vessels belonging to the Imperial navy. At a recent meeting of the dynamite party held in New York, Sheridan, whose extradition was demanded by England some time ago, and John Walsh, one of the secretaries of the Irish Land League, delivered violent addresses. They stated that the supporters of the dynamite policy had not abandoned their intention of enforcing their demands by means of explosives, and that preparations were being made to recommence operations on a more extensive scale than formerly. The Select Committee appointed by the House of Lords to consider the proposed ship canal from the Mersey to Manchester have sent in their final report, which emphatically approves of the scheme. Arrangements are being made to give a grand representative banquet of Mr Henry Irving, the celebrated actor, prior to his departure for New York. A difficulty has arisen between the Governments of Austria and Roumania, in connection with the decision arrived at

by the Danubian Conference some months ago. The relations between the two countries are very strained. In the discussion on the proposal for federation'of the Australian colonies, the Standard this morning expresses an opinion that the scheme is utterly impracticable, and suggests that in place of federation the colonies should adopt a commercial league similar to the German Zollverein. The news that Mr Gladstone had refused to endorse the action of Queensland regarding the annexation of New Guinea has caused a general feeling of surprise, and in some quarters indignation is expressed at what is regarded as an arbitrary and somewhat tyrannical exercise of power. The leading Australians in London are especially severe in their denunciation of Mr Gladstone’s Ministry, and the Premier has received numerous letters from representative men, formally protesting against the course adopted by the Government.

It has been determined that the remains of the late Mr Spottiawoude, L.L. D., P. R. S., whose death was recently reported, shall be interred in Westminster Abbey. The bishops of the Roman Catholic churches have diawn up a protest against the proposal that the State should assist members of the poorer classes to emigrate from Ireland. They contend that the money migtt be better employed in rendering Irish people’s burdens lighter in the country of their birth. Mr Fawcett, Postmaster-General, has determined upon cancelling the contract for the conveyance of mails between Mauritius and Aden. Le Fays, a journal published in Paris, urges that in view of the refusal by the English Government to adopt a policy of annexation in the South Seas, Prance should at once place the New Hebrides under French rule, and suggests that the islands might be utilised as convict settlements for the reception of French criminals.

Mr Smith, Agent-General for Victoria, has a letter in the Times this morning, upon Queensland’s labor traffic. He seeks,to show that the reports which have been circulated as regards the cruel treatment of . Kanakas by the Queensland planters are without foundation. A disastrous flood has occurred in the river Hanoi, in Tonquin. A large por-

tion of the fortifications erected by the French were completely destroyed. Hostilities have for a time been suspended as the swollen state of the rivers prevents the French troops from following upon the Anamese, who retired inland after the recent engagement. The French Consul at Hue, the capital of the Anamese Empire, has been subjected to great indignity by the authorities there. In consequence of the inhabitants of Brindisi refusing to allow the mails per the P. and O. steamer Surat to bo landed there, the vessel proceeded to Ttieste, where the Brindisi mails were sent ashore.

Mr Parnell has despatched a to Mr W. Redmond, approving of Kis candidature for the vacant seat of Wexford.