LATEST BRITISH AND FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

Kumara Times, Issue 2352, 12 March 1884, Page 2

LATEST BRITISH AND FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

[REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.] By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. DEATH OP BLANCHARD JERROLD. RUSSO-AFGHAN FRONTIER. THE DEBATE IN" THE HOUSE OF LORDS. HALF MILLION VOTE FOR WAR EXPENSES IN SOUDAN. NEW CALEDONIA CONVICT ESCAPEES. (Received March 12, 1 a.m.) London, March 11. The death is announced of Wni. Blanchard Jerrold, author and journalist, aged 58. (Received March 12, 12.50 p.m.) March 11. A debate has taken place in. the House of Lords on the subject of Central Asia and the occupation of Merv by Russia. In the course of the I same, Earl Kirnberley, Secretary of | State for India, made a speech in which he announced that parleying was now proceeding between the English and Russian Government, with a view to definitely fix the lines of the Russo-Afghan frontier. The House of Commons has passed a vote of credit for half a million sterling to cover the expenses of the British expedition to Soudan. The Marquis of Hartington, Secretary of State for War, speaking to the motion, stated that Government deemed it essential that the Red Sea ports should be held by British forces, and added that Government would accept tho full responsibility of the policy that may be pursued by the Egyptian Government during the time the British occupation lasts. (Received March 12, 1 a.m.) Paris, March 10. It has transpired that the French Government has sent instructions to the Governor of New Caledonia to invariably demand the extradition of convict escapees from penal settlements who may take refuge in Australian territory. [special to press association.] London, March 5. Mr E. Stanley, M.P., has given notice of a motion for refusing to vote war supplies until the policy of the Government in regard to Egypt and the Soudan is fully explained to Parliament.

March 6. Ifc is rumored that the Governorship of Victoria has been offered to Donald James Mackay, Baron Reay, and that he is likely to accept ifc. A Blue Book just issued on the Recidiviste question shows that the English Government informed France that they would regard it as an unfriendly act if the number of convicts in New Caledonia was increased, and repeatedly urged that they should be sent elsewhere. The Times considers the Western Pacific Committee's scheme for ruling the Pacific but a makeshift, which it is thought promises to hinder the rash action in the direction of annexation. Mr Terry, in replying early in January, suggested that the display of colonial feeling on the question was prompted by a thirst for annexation, to which Lord Lyons replied, stating that the feeling of the colonies against the recidiviste scheme was perfectly genuine and rapidly growing stronger. M. Terry stated taat the recidivistes now being sent to New Caledonia were not many, and that they were not positive criminals, und were strictly prohibited against leaving the island. Most of the French criminals were now sent to Cayenne. He, however, refused to give any pledge that no more should be sent to New Caledonia, but said he would pay reasonable respect to the feelings of the Australian Colonies in the matter, and the Governor would be instructed to apply for the extradition of all escaped convicts. It appears that in September last the German Government formally complained to England about the alleged slave-dealing practices of Queensland and Fiji labor vessels in New Britain and New Ireland. March 9. The Republique Francais ridicules the protest of the Australian colonies against the recidivißte scheme, and says it is not worthy of being seriously discussed. Another French journal contends that the convict question is only used as a pretext to aid in obtaining the annexation of the New Hebrides. ° The farmers in Manitoba are agitating for separation from the Dominion of Canada, although they desire to remain as a British colony. Sir Henry Parkes has written to a Paris paper, pointing out that the sending of French convicts to New Caledonia is regarded as a serious inconvenience by the Australian Colonies.