EUROPEAN ITEMS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1081, 23 October 1883, Page 2

EUROPEAN ITEMS.

London, Oct. 10. Mr Dicey publishes another letter in The Times in reply to that of Mr Murray Smith, in relation to the refusal of the Victorian Government to allow the dia embarkation of the Irish informers. Mr Dicey replies at length to the arguments brought forward by Mr Smith in support of the Government, and asserts that l)e retains the views previously expressed by him on the subject. He repeats that the Victorian Government have placed themselves in a serious position by their action, and adds that to protect them from the consequences it will be necessary for the Imperial Government to pass an Act of indemnity. The Times discussed the subject in a leading article, and joins with Mr Dicey in condemning the Victorian Government for their rejection of the informers. It asserts that the high-handed action of Mr Service will seriously affect the Imperial Government in carrying out their Irish policy, as it will increase the difficulty of punishing crime in Ireland. The Times this morning discusses the policy of the Victorian Coalition Ministry, and expresses its warmest approbation of their determination as to the abolition of political patronage in the Government service.

A rumor is current that the German Government have formally demanded an official apology from France to Spain for insults offered to King Alfonso while in Paris. The Chinese Government refuse Jir recognise any treaties or conventions which may be entered into between France and the Blackflags in Tonquin. Usibepu, the Zulu chief, who recently defeated Cetewayo, insists that England should remove the latter chief a consider-

able distance from the scene of the late conflict. The latest advices from Madagascar show that the British residents at Tamatave are complaining bitterly of the severity practised by the French authorities of that place. A sale of Gippsland hops from the Tombo Estate has been effected at L 4 per cwt. London, Oct. 11. Lord Derby has officially directed the attention of the authoritifs of Queensland and Fiji to the statements supplied to the Age by Mr Morrison on the subject of the native labor traffic. An increase is about to bo made in the number of ships on the Australian naval station, and Commodore Erskine, who is now in command of the station, will be superseded by an admiral. A body of Austrian regular troops have had a severe engagement with some Roumanian forces. Ultimately sixty Roumanians, who were defending the disputed territory, were captured. The Temps, a Parisian journal, referring to the alleged insulting conduct of Commodore Erskine, Commander of the fleet on the Australian Naval Station, towards Captain MacLeod, at the New Hebrides, characterises his behavior as more arrogant than that of Admiral Pierre towards Captain Johnstone of the Dryad, at Tamatave.

The Imperial “ Blue Book,” issued yesterday, confirms the statement made by Lord Granville in the House of Lords some time ago to the effect that both England and France would uphold the neutrality of the New Hebrides, and that neither Power would seek to annex the territory. The revolution which originated recently among the black population at Port au Prince, the capital of Hayti, one of the largest islands in the West Indies, has assumed alarming proportions. The revolutionaries having destroyed the Government works seized on the forts. They then proceeded to fire on a British steamer which was conveying the British Consul and a number of European refugees from the island. Paris, Oot. 11. The French Government has formally intimated that they decline to make any further reparation for the insult offered to King Alfonso when recently in Paris.