SPECIAL TO MELBOURNE AGE.

Kumara Times, Issue 2614, 22 January 1885, Page 2

SPECIAL TO MELBOURNE AGE.

London, January 7. General Compenden, late French Minister of War, has resigned because he declares M. Jules Ferry, the Premier, to be merely a tool of Prince Bismarck. A German Company interested in land in New Guinea, New Britain, and New Ireland, places recently annexed by Germany, are building two steamers to trade between the various islands.

The occupation of Formosa by the French is intended to be permanent. A French expedition is intended to be shortly despatched to Peking.

January 8

Mr H. Gladstone, eldest son of the Premier, and member for East Worcestershire, in addressing a meeting at Hawarden yesterday, said that his father would shortly retire from public life.

The British Government have forwarded a very indignant protest to the German authorities on the annexation question, in which Prince Bismarck is accused of breach of faith in having directed the annexation of a portion of New Guinea.

The Foreign Office has despatched the Hon. Robert Meade, one of the Assistant Under-Secretaries in the Colonial Office, to make arrangements for the meeting of a Convention to adjudicate upon the rival claims to the islands in the Pacific.

Earl Derby repudiates the idea that the British Cabinet intends to cede the island of Heligoland, in the North Sea, to Germany, on consideration that the latter relinquishes all claims over New Guinea.

The Colonial Office and the AgentsGeneral are confident that Germany ■will in the end be compelled to abandon New Guinea.

Earl Derby will forward despatches to the Governors of the several Australian Colonies on the annexation question to-morrow, January 9th,

General satisfaction is expressed at the determination of the British Go-

vernmenfc to extend the British protectorate on the north-east coast of New Guinea to the Huon Gulf, the commencement of the German boundary.

Prince Bismarck declines to define the limits of German annexation in New Guinea and the Pacific.

January 11

In the German Reichstag yesterday, during the debate arising out of the recent annexation for Germany of the Camaroons, on the West Coastof Africa, by Herr Nachtegal, Prince Bismarck made a speech, in which he threatened to abandon his colonising policy if the question was postponed. The annexation projects of New Zealand showed the danger of delay, and Englishmen were reported to be fomenting disorders in New Guinea and the Camaroons. He further deprecated the allusions as to there being a possibility of war, and expressed the opinion that all annexation difficulties could be settled by negotiation.

January 12,

Prince Bismarck has expressed an opinion that if the Imperial Government approves of the hostility shown by the Australian colonies to the annexation of a portion of New Guinea by Germany, it will be necessary for Germany to support the policy of the Powers opposed to England on Egyptian and other questions. He has also expressed surprise at the proposal of New Zealand to break the mutual agreement entered into not to annex the Samoan islands.

[special to press association.]

London, January 15,

It is understood that the arrangement come to between England and Germany regarding Samoa and Tonga has now been finally settled, and that no attempt will be made to annex either island.

The steamer Lucinda (sic) has been repaired, and will sail in the course of a day or two for Brisbane, January 17. The Cavalry corps, under the command of Sir H. Stewart, arrived unopposed at Howeyat on Saturday last. The test case before Judge Chitty with the view of deciding the liability of tranferrors of shares in the Oriental Banking Corporation, has been decided in favor of Victoria being allowed to rank as preferential creditor. It is not considered probable that Mr Wilton, the Official Assignee, will appeal. Baruutn, the American showman, has refused the offers made him respecting “The Claimant” (Sir Roger), who has recently been discharged from gaol. The “ Anglo-Australasian,” a new newspaper, in the colonial interests, is announced.

It is believed that Portugal will insist on possessing the mouth of the Congo river.

January 18. Mr H. O. Forbes, the explorer, sails for New Guinea early in February. The heads of the Kabbabis tribes have joined Lord Wolseley. A sharp encounter has taken place with the rebels at Omdurman, during which they sank a steamer, Mr John Currie has been admitted as a partner in tbe firm of Atkins and Co., Australian merchants.

A good deal of ill-feeling is at present manifested by the Native population of Alexandria against the European residents, and it is feared that rioting will occur.

“La France ” suggests that threefourths of the New Hebrides should be annexed by France, and urges that a naval station should be established there.

A Dublin and Holyhead packet came into collision with another vessel, sinking almost immediately. Twenty-two lives were lost.

January 19. It is reported that Russia intends to convert Quelpaert, an island in the Yellow Sea, off theN.E. coast of China, into a naval station.