LATEST BRITISH AND FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

Kumara Times, Issue 2629, 9 February 1885, Page 2

LATEST BRITISH AND FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

[REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.] My Electric Telegraph—Copyright. THE CAPTURE of KHARTOUM. PRESS TELEGRAMS STOPPED. WOLSELEY TO HAVE COMPLETE DISCRETION. CABINET PROMISES CONCERNING GORDON, IF LIVING. TRIBES ON BOTH BANKS or NILE HOSTILE TO BEITISH. ARRIVAL OF BRITISH CONVOY AT GUBAT. FOUR PORTUGUESE WAR VESSELS AT MOUTH OF CONGO. NEW GUINEA ANNEXATION QUESTION. RECORDS OF THE GERMAN " WHITE BOOK." (Received February 7, 7.51 p.m.) London, February 6, No details have come to hand regarding the capture of Khartoum, Press telegrams from Sondau having been stopped. The Cabinet have given Wolseiey complete discretion, promising him every assistance he may demand, stating that England will strive to save Gordon, if living. Woleseley telegraphs to the Horse Guards that he is sending a messenger to ascertain the fate of Gordon. Wolseiey also states that the Shukri Yah tribes have joined the Mahdi, therefore both banks of the Nile are now hostile.

The telegram further announces that that a British convoy lias reached Gubat, on the road to Aletcuiueh.

Information has been received that four Portuguese vessels have occupied the mouth of the Congo river.

February 7. Arrived the steamer Coptic, from Wellington, December 30.

(Received February 9, 1.50 a.m.) Berlin, February 7. The White Book on the New Guinea question issued shows that in August last Bismarck accepted a proposal from Lord Granville that a commission be appointed to define the respective spheres of Germany and England in the South Seas. In September Eng. land notified the resolution of the colonies to proclaim protection over all the New Guinea coast, except the north, aud those were claimed by Holland. In October, Granville, owing to German objections agreed to British protect ion being restricted to the south coast and adjacent islands. Bismarck regarded this dispatch as a promise to restrict protection to the south, and as an implied assurance that German annexation in the north would not conflict with English interests. In January last Sir Edward Malet, British Ambassador, expressed surprise that the German flag had ben hoisted in the north before the commission had met,' and announced that England had, in consequence, decided to proclaim protection over the coast from the East Cape to the Huon Gulf. Bismarck's latest dispatch considers that a violation of Granville's October promise, and formally protests against the British action.

[SPECIAL TO PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

London, February 2. The steamer Amain, 1702 tons, owned by Messrs Sloman and Co., Hamburg, at Aden, ran into and sank the steamer Nederland En Orange, 1514 tons, of Amsterdam.

The New South Wales Government are, through Sir Raul Samuel, AgentGeneral, parleying with Lord Derby in regard to the amount of the British contribution for maintaining the protectorate over New Guinea.

Sir John Coode is about to visit Freemantle in connection with the harbor works there.

The National Mortgage and Agency Company of New Zealand, Limited, have received a telegram from London advising the sailing of the Tainui from Plymouth on the Ist insfc. Her first port of call is Port Chalmers, and final port of departure Lyttelton. February 4. Obituary—Mr James Winter, of Melbourne, from inflammation of the lungs. England is likely to contribute to the cost of annexation in New Guinea but has delayed making any statement as to the amount, pending the adjustof boundaries.

The shipment of frozen meat ex R.M.S. Kaikoura is realising 4-J- per ft. Lord Sherbrooke, whose wife died in the early part of November, has remarried.