CABLE NEWS.

Feilding Star, Volume IV, Issue 86, 22 December 1883, Page 2

CABLE NEWS.

Special to " Star." FKOZEN MEAT TEADE. THE FEENCH AT SONTAG. FUETHEE ENGAGEMENTS. ' HEAVY LOSS OF MEN. hedtee's telkgkams. London, Dpc. 20. The uunboafc Clulders, built for the Victorian Government, was tested yestcrday'at Portsmouth. The torpedo practice was excellent, and received high commendation from the naval officers present. A portion of the frozen meat ex British Queen was sold this morning at an average of 5Jd per lb. The London shareholders are Rtill anxious to secure a pledge from NewSouth Wales to refrain fro.n further borrowing for 18 months. Pahis, December 20. . The reported occupation of Sontag by French troops is denied. The latest despatches to hand state that the French captured an outpost at only after a stubborn fight, in which they lost 15 officers and 200 men, the enemy's loss being very heavy. The assault on the Sontag fortress was to take place on the 17th inst.

I Received Dec. 22. 9.50 a.m. London, December 21. Homeward mails, via Suez and Brindisi, dated Melbourne, November 8, were delivered here yesterday. Pabis, Dec. 20. Latest intelligence from Tonquin reports that Yoe Due has assumed the title of King of Annam, with the support of a large proportion of the inhabitants. His success i«, however, stronely opposed by the remainder of the Annnmese, and much excitement prevails at Hoe in consequence cf the antagonism of the two parties. Probably the preservation of peace will be undertaken by the French commander and that the capital will be occupied by a strong garrison in French troops. A vote of credit of 20,000,000 francs for tbe Tonquin expedition was passed by the Senate to-day.