ROYAL BETROTHAL.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3735, 5 July 1883, Page 3

ROYAL BETROTHAL.

DEPARTURE OF INFORMERS FROM

IRELAND

THE CHOLERA EPIDEMIC-MANY

DEATHS,

NAMES OF PASSENGERS AND CREW DROWNED IN THE WAITARA.

DEPUTATION OF AGENTS-GENERAL

ME PACIFIC ANNEXATION.

SUSPENSION OF NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN FRANCE AND CHINA.

ASHANTEES INVITE BRITISH PRO-

TECTION

SALES OF FROZEN MEAT,

LONDON,

June 27

The woollen manufacturers in the north of France are pressing upon the Government the desirability of establishing a line of trading steamers between Havre and Australian ports. M. Cochery, Minister of Posts and Telegraphs, approves the project if the colonies unite in granting subsidies. Prince Louis of Battouburg is betrothed to the Princess Victoria Elizabeth, eldest daughter of tho Grand Duke of HesseDi'iimstadt, and grand-daughter of the Queen. Peter Carey has left Ireland for Manitoba, and it is reported that his brother, James Carey, also embarked at Qucoiisfcown on Tuesday last. Eighty deaths have occurred from cholera at Damietta, and several at Port Said. The Marseilles authorities have decided to quaranUiK' all arrivals from Egypt. The following are the names of all the person? drowned in the Waitara;—Passengers—Martin Cheek, Arthur Noble, Alice Haylor, Mary Haylor, Charles Hill, Prudence Hill," Leonard Collirison, Louisa Oliphant, Petor Bartley, John Wilkos, Isabella Wilkes, John Wilkes, junior. Crew—Mr Saundcrs, second officer ; Cotterill, apprentice; Stock, chipf stpward: Cooper and Seabrook, cooks ; Bowker, sailmaker ; Christian, Burke, Ogilvie, Smith, Hodgson, Hay, Langham, and Orainston, seamen.

June 28. The deputation of Agents-General to Lord Derby, Secretary of State for the Colonies, on the annexation question was private. The following has, however, transpired as to what took place:—The Agents-General asked Lord Derby either to annex or establish a protectorate over all the Pacific Islands extending from Samoa to New Ireland. Sir F. D. 8011, urged the great risk of some foreign Power annexing these islands. Lord Derby replied that he was unaware of any facts that would justify any such fear. Mr Murray Smith, the AgentGeneral for Victoria, dwelt strongly upon the danger and disgrace of foreign convict settlements in these islands, would convert them into a kind of Alsatia, and a constant threat to Australasia. He deemed it prudent to press for the establishment of a protectorate only, as he surmised it was hopeless to induce the Government to carry out a policy of annexation. He also read a cable message from Mr Service, Premier •of Victoria, stating that profound dissatisfaction would be created throughout the Australasian colonies if the Imperial Government refused to eutertain their requests on this matter. Sir S. Samuel, Agent-General for New South Wales, urged the importance of increasing the trade between the colonies and the islands. Mr Archer, Agent-General for Queensland, dwelt chiefly on tho New Guinea question. Sir Arthur Blyth, the Agent-General for South Australia, was silent. The Agents-General gathered from Lord Derby's observations that tho New Guinea annexation question was settled. His Lordship ivns at first very unsympathetic in his manner, but afterwards lie appeared to bo impressed with the idea that the colonies were thoroughly in earnest on the subject, and he stated that ho was perfectly sensible of the gravity of _ the question at issue. He, however, avoided committing himself to any decisive expression of opinion, and asked the AgentsGeneral to supply him with a jointstatement of their arguments, and the evidence on which they were based, for the guidance of the Cabinet in arriving at a decision. The Hon. Evelyn Ashley, M.P., Undersecretary for the Colonies," was present at the interview. June 29. Heavy falls of rain have injured the exhibits in the Victorian Court at the Amsterdam Exhibition. The Chinese Legation has been advised that, owing to the rude conduct of M. Tricon, the French Ambassador, tho Chinese Viceroy has declined to meet him any more, and the negotiations regarding Tonquin are consequently suspended. The Prince of "Wales and the Duke of Albany voted with the minority in the House*of Lords on the third reading of the Deceased Wife's Sister Bill. The Ashantees have invited British protection. To avoid being quarantined at Malta or Brindisi, the Peninsula and Oriental Company's steamers now go direct from Port Said to Plymouth. One hundred and fifteen deaths occurred in Damietta on Thursday last. June 30. The Garonne's cargo of frozen moat has been cleared at an average of .sixpence per lb., and the Lady Jooelyn's at an average of sixpence halfpenny. Tho lambs per British King were some of a very inferior class, but they ranged from threepence to sevenpunce fiirthiiiy per lb. The quarantine from Egyptian ports lias not affected the Australian mail steamers, as vessels passing through the canal without communicating with the shore are not affected.

[Age Specials.]