LATEST BRITISH AND FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

Kumara Times, Issue 2401, 13 May 1884, Page 2

LATEST BRITISH AND FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

[REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.] By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. PROPOSED BRITISH EXPEDITION INTO SOUDAN. EL MAHDI'S ORDERS TO OSMAN DIGNA. THE FRENCH TROOPS AND ANNAMESE PIRATES. A FOUR DAYS' BATTLE. THE WAR IN TONQUIN. RUMOURED TREATY OF PEACE BETWEEN FRANCE AND CHINA. BASIS OF THE TERMS OF THE TREATY. THE CONFERENCE ON EGYPTIAN AFFAIRS. DECEASE OF MIDHAT PASHA. (Received May 13, 1.10 a.m.) Cairo, May 11. The statement that the military authorities have received an order from the British Government to make preparations for the despatch of an expedition into Soudan under the command of Lord Wolseley has been ascertained to be iucorrect. Such an order, however, is expected hourly. Latest intelligence from Soudan has caused much alarm here. It is to the effect that El Mahdi has ordered Osman Digna, the leading rebel chief in Eas- | tern Soudan, to attack and capture Dongoia, and from thence to advance into Upper Egypt. Nothing is yet known regarding the force that Osman Digna has now at his command. Paris, May 11. Telegrams from Tonquin state that numerous skirmishes have of late taken place between the French troops and large forces of Anamese pirates, culminating in a battle which extended over four days, the French being ultimately victorious, and their loss considerable. It is believed that the natives suffered heavily.

London, May 12. [ In its issue this morning, the Times publishes a telegram from its special correspondent announcing that a treaty has been concluded at Tientsin between France and China for the cessation of hostilities and a settlement of the Tonquin difficulty. By the terms of the treaty it is agreed that China shall recognise the French protectorate over Tonquin and Anam, with existing frontier, and that the towns [? provinces] of Kwang-hai, Kwang-tung, and Yunnan shall be opened to international trade. It is also agreed that the French Government waive its claim to a war indemnity. It has transpired that that Porte has consented to forego its demand that the projected conference on Egyptian affairs should take place at Constantinople, and has agreed to the proposal that the delegates should meet in London. Constantinople, May 11. Intelligence has been receired here of the death of Midhat Pasha, who in 18S1 was found guilty of the murder of the late Sultan Abdul-Aziz and sentenced to exile. Per Merchant Shipping and Underwriter's Association : —London, May 11.—Arrived, the ship Hurunui, from Wellington, January 14.