THE FRANCO-CHINESE DIFFICULTY.—PANIC AMONG EUROPEANS IN CHINA.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3800, 19 September 1883, Page 3

THE FRANCO-CHINESE DIFFICULTY.—PANIC AMONG EUROPEANS IN CHINA.

SEVERE WEATHER IN ENGLAND

POISONING OF LABORERS IN IRE-

LAND ACCIDENTAL

THE WAR IN THE SOUDAN

LONDON". September 4. The latest intelligence from Annam is that the 1.3,000 Chinese troops who were recently reported as having crossed the frontier am now advancing on Haiphong, one of the French garrisons in Annam. During the gale which prevailed along the south coast of England on Sunday and Monday, the iron ship Lady Jocolyn, trading between London and New Zealand, suffered considerable damage. She has put into Spithead for repairs. The Renational, a political journal published in Paris, expresses a hope that the French war vessels Bruat and the D'Estrcss, which sailed from Noumea recently for the New Hebrides, will prevent Australia from annexing those islands. An investigation has been made into the poisoning of a number of laborers who were working in a field near Now Ross, County Woxford. It now appears probable that the poisoning was the result of an accident. The Marquis of Hartington has expressed his opinion that France has not satisfactorily explained the action of Admiral Pierre in detaining the captain and officers of the English war vessel Dryad at Tamatave. He thinks that further and fuller cvplanation should be insisted upon. The severe weather which has recently prevailed in England has destroyed onethird of the hop crop. September 9. The Government of Russia has decided that a series of reforms shall be introduced into Roumania. General Hides, the leader of the forces who have for some time past been engaged in the campaign against El Mahdi, the false prophet of the Soudan, is now advancing his troops with the view of recapturing El Emid, the capital town of Koraufau, Central Africa. The anti ;• European feeling which recently manifested itself amongst the Chinese residents of Canton is rapidly spreading to other towns in China. At Hong Kong the Chinese have assumed a menacing attitude towards the Europeans, and the situation is so alarming that a complete panic prevails in that town. The Englishmen of Hong Kong are loud in their expresion of indignation at the absence of the British squadron, as they consider the i presence of war vessels essential to their protection. The Times this morning , , referring to the action of Franco in relation to the New ) Hebrides, appeals to the French Govern - ■ ment to avoid a repetition of the outrages i perpetrated by Admiral Picrrio at Tamatave.

Edward Hanlan, of Toronto, tho champion sculler of the world, was impatiently awaiting a reply to his challenge to Elias Laycock, of Sydney, offering to row him for £2000 on tho Thames. The pretentious of Layeoek to compete Avith Hanlan arc generally ridiculed in England.

[Special to Press Association.]