EUROPEAN ITEMS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1022, 11 December 1883, Page 2

EUROPEAN ITEMS.

London, Nov. 27. Mr Murray Smith has entered a formal protest against the adoption of the Bill which is now before the French Legislature, for the deportation of criminals to the South Pacific The news of the success of El Mahdi and his proximity with his followers to Khartoum, has caused a panic in Egypt. Mutinous feelings also pervade the Egyptian forces, and Turkish officers have refused to proceed to the Soudan with the troops which have been ordered thither. A 'Trading Company, consisting of thirty adventurers, hss been organised, and propose sailing to New Guinea under the command of Mr Kinnerly, a member of the Executive Council, Tasmania. Oa the matter being broughr under the notice of Earl Derby, his Lordship refused to sanction the expedition. the course which the company propose, to adopt in the face of this refusal has not yet transpired. Sir Dillon Bell is compiling a statement setting forth the views of Iba colonies in relation to the deportation of French criminals to the islands of the South Pacifi j. This work has been undertaken at the special request of Lord Derby. An advertisement was published in yesterday’s papers inviting tenders for a loan of LIOO.OOO for the Timaru Harbor Corporation. London, Deo. 4. The objections raised by ihe Australian colonies to the Bill now before the French Legislature for the deportation of French criminals to the islands in the South Pacific has again been brought prominently under the notice of the British Government. Earl Granville has notified that he would repeat the protest recently made by the English Government against the provisions of the Bill.