EUROPEAN ITEMS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1039, 2 January 1884, Page 2

EUROPEAN ITEMS.

■ -v = b.iLdNbotf,.Dec.:2l,U Richard Speight-, late Assistant General Manager of the Midland Kailway Company, who has been appointed Chairman of Commissioners foii the Victorian Railways. was entertained at a banquet at Derby to-day. Vernon Harcourt, Home Secretary and member for Derby presided. There was a large and representative attendance, and the banquet passed off moat successfully. Mr Murray Smith responded on behalf of the colony. During the evening Mr Speight was presented with a purse of 2000 sovereigns

The Standard considers the Australian colonies are borrowing too laigely, ana condemns the floating of recent loans. Earl Derby has announced that the purch-se of land by British-subjects from natives in Kew Guineajwill be disallowed. It, has been suggested in financial circles that Victoria, in floating her proposed L 4,000,000 loan, should place it in tbe hands of a Syndicate, who would take it at a fixed rate, and float it on 'their own term*, at what they consider the most opportune moment. Wm. Hay, lata member of the New South Wales Assembly, has a letter in this morning's Times in which he advocates adopting a system of Colonial Life Peerages. - '' : ■' f ' ‘' ’ “•'■■■ ■ The latest advices from the Porte show that Turkey is unwilling. to interfere for the suppression ’of > ‘'the : -ins'6treoti'6n< in Soudan.

The French attack of Baoniph, v which, has been deferred for somd'tihie, is how imminent, as Admiral Courbet, Oom-niandec-in-Ghief qf the French andmilitary forces in Tdnquin, is reported to be advancing; rapidly wuh his troops towards that place, • ; ; . From negotiations which have recently taken place war between Franco and China is however now regarded as very improbable. . . ‘