LATEST BRITISH AND FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

Kumara Times, Issue 2662, 1 April 1885, Page 2

LATEST BRITISH AND FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

+♦♦ [REUTER’S TELEGRAMS.] By Electric Telegraph —Copyright. — THE INDO-COLONIAL EXHIBITION OF 1886. THE PRINCE OF WALES ON ITS CHARACTER. AFGHAN FRONTIER QUESTION. RUSSIA’S REPLY TO THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT. DEPARTURE OF THE QUEEN FOR • SAVOY. AFFAIRS IN TONQUIN. THE FRENCH POLITICAL CRISIS. M. DE FREYCINET SENT FOR. SHIP ARRIVALS. (Received March 31, 2 p.m.) London, March 30. A meeting was held at Marlborough House to-day, his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales presiding, with reference to the preparations for the Indian and Colonial Exhibition in London, in 1886. His Royal Highness, in the course of his address, stated that this exhibition was essentially national and of an Imperial character; it was different entirely from its precursors, in which trade, rivalry, and profit had been the paramount feature; and be trusted to the strength and union of the empire to ensure success. The Indian and Colonial Governments had guaranteed a sum of £5 1,000, and £76,000 had been promised by English firms. Instead of tbe system hitherto pursued of jury awards, a commeraoratory medal would be presented to each exhibitor. The Times further stated that facilities would be afforded to visitors from India and the colonies for visiting the chief industrial centres of Great Britain. His Royal Highness expressed his intention to take some personally active part in the work of the commission, as he had done in the case of the Paris Exhibition, and concluded with the hope that the exhibition would convey to India and the colonies the assurance that while En»land was deeply moved by their patriotic support duriug present trials, she still retained the wish to assist in the development of their material interests. Sir Philip Cunliffe-Owen has been intrusted with executive details. (Received March 31, 9.45 p.m.) Evening. In the House of Commons to-day Lord Edmond Fitzmaurice, CinderSecretary for Foreign Affairs, in replying to a question, stated that the reply of the Russian Government to Earl Granville’s despatch of the 16th inst. was now on its way to London. The Government was unaware of the exact nature of its contents. It is understood, however, that it indicated the probability of an early meeting for the settlement of the Afghan frontier delinutation. Lord Fitzmaurice expressed a hope that the tone of the reply would be such as to allay the excitement now prevalent. Her Majesty the Queen left London to-day for Aix les Bains, in Savoy, to which place she had been recommended by her medical adviser. The mails ex Orient Royal Mail steamship Liguria, from Melbourne, February 20, via Naples, were delivered here to-day. The P. and O. Royal Mail steamship Indus arrived at Plymouth yesterday afternoon. (Received April 1, 1 a.m.) Paris, March 31. The population of this city is considerably excited over the present crisis of political affairs. The general tone of public opinion is in favour of a vigorous prosecution of military operations in Tonquin. President Grevy has summoned M. de Freycinet, and entrusted him with the task of forming a new Ministry. (Received April 1, noon.) Bombay, March 31. Abdurrahman Khan, Ameer of Afghanistan, arrived to-day at Rawul Pindee, where he was formally received by Earl Dufferin, Viceroy of India. The reception ceremony was of a very imposing nature, and numerously attended by British-Indian dignitaries. [SPECIAL TO MELBOURNE AGE.] London, March 14. The statement made in the Pall Mall Gazette on the 9th inst., that ilu> British Government, in order to pr - pitiate Bisinark, had cone (led the Huon Girf and the territory to the north of it to 0 y h;.o been firmed. £

March 18. Earl Derby has telegraphed to the Govenor of Victoria that it was never proposed that the decision that the frontier between British and German territory in New Guinea should be fixed at the Bth degree of south latitude should apply inland.