SEIZURE OF CHINESE ISLANDS BY FRANCE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3884, 31 December 1883, Page 3

SEIZURE OF CHINESE ISLANDS BY FRANCE.

THE RIOTS IN NEWFOUNDLAND. REPORT OF THE WESTERN PACIFIC COMMISSION. DELIVERY OF 'FRISCO NOVEMBER MAILS IN LONDON. DEATH OF SIR JOHN DARVALL. DESPERATE FIGHTING AT CAPTURE OF SONTAY. (Received December 29, 2.10 p.m.) LONDON. December 28. It is now stated to be probable that the Islands of Hainau, Formosa, and Chusan, situated off the Chinese coast, and forming part of the Empire, will be seized by France as a guarantee for the payment by China of the French war expenses in Tonquin. Latest intelligence from Newfoundland states that twenty-eight persons were seriously wounded in the riot which occurred at Harbour Grace between the Orangemen and Catholics. As a renewal of the disturbances is feared, the authorities have asked the Imperial Government to despatch some troops and a gunboat to the scene of the rioting.

(Received December 31, 0.50 a.m.) December 29

The report of the Western Pacific Commission was published to-day. The report condemns the supervision of the labor traffic by colonial agents, and urges that agents should be appointed by the Crown. It recommends that the labor tro__ should be more closely watched by the naval authorities in Australia, and that Resident Deputy Commissioners should be appointed to the various Islands. The report is opposed to tho control of the Polynesian and New Guinea races being vested in the Colonial Governments.

Mr Speight, tho newly appointed Chairman of the Victorian Railway Board, has sailed for Australia.

The homeward mails via San Francisco from Auckland on November 8, were delivered here to-day. Obituary. — Sir John Bayly Darvall, K.C.M.G., formerly Attorney-Gcncral_and a member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales.