LATEST BRITISH AND FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

Kumara Times, Issue 2521, 19 July 1884, Page 2

LATEST BRITISH AND FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

[REUTER’S TELEGRAMS.] By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. > < NATIONAL BANK DIVIDEND. THE FRANCHISE QUESTION. REJECTION OF WEMYSS’S MOTION FOR COMPROMISE. ORGANIZATION OF DEMONSTRATIONS. LANGSON INDEMNITY QUESTION. THE SHIPWRECKED CREW OF THE NISBRO. MORE TROOPS FOR EGYPT. FRENCH FLEET MENACING FOOCHOW. REPORTED ANNEXATION OF BERBERA. (Received July 18, 9.38 p.ra.) London, July 17. The National Bank of New Zealand has declared a dividend for the past half year at the rate of 6 per cent, per annum, and carries forward and places in reserve £IOOO. July 18. In the House of Lords last night. Lord Wemyss’s motion for obviating the dead-lock between the Government and the House of Lords on the Franchise question came up for discussion. The motion, which proposed in effect that the Franchise Bill should be passed at once by the Upper House and that Govei’mnent should introduce a bill for the re-distribution of seats during the autumn session, was negatived on a division by a majority of fifty votes. Much excitement prevails in politicirclea at the refusal of the Lords to accept the proposed compromise, and both Liberals and Conservatives are actively engaged in organising a popular demonstration throughout the country. Notwithstanding the present denial in Paris of the statement that the

Chinese Government have refused to pay the indemnity demanded by France on account of the Langson affair, it is definitely known that the report is substantially correct, and that the Chinese have up to the present time shown no intention of accepting the terms dictated by Prance, and have hitherto declined to pay the indemnity as demanded by M. Patrenotre.

The British and Dutch Governments have agreed to take joint action with the view of obtaining the release of the crew of the steamship Nisero, who were shipwrecked and made prisoners by the Rajah of Acheen. Another battalion of infantry has been ordered to proceed to Egypt, and its departure is expected to take place immediately. (Received July 19, 11.30 a.m.)

Evening. Latest telegrams to hand state that there is but little prospect of a settlement being arrived at between France and China over the Langson embroglio.

The French fleet, under Admiral Courbet, is now menacing Foo-Chow, and will, it is expected, sieze that town unless the French demands are met.

In the House of Commons to-day Lord Edmond Fitzmaurice took occasion to deny the truth of the statement recently current that England is about to annex Berbera, a maritime station in the Somauli country, opposite Aden.