LATER EUROPEAN AND ASIATIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4858, 17 October 1876, Page 2

LATER EUROPEAN AND ASIATIC NEWS.

In onr issue of the 4th inst. a telegram transmitted by cable announced the arrival at Cooktown of the R.M.S. Bowen, and gave a few items of news brought by her. The following further news is from the telegrams transmitted to the Melbourne Argus on her arrival: — EUROPEAN. The Cretan Assembly has made demands which the Porte declines to grant. An appeal to the Great Powers is imminent. The. Pope has publicly denounced the movement among certain sections of the Roman Catholic laity of Italy to secure some direct representation in the councils of their Church. He continues to admonish all Catholics to support the Turkish Empire against her insurgent subjects and enemies. The weather continues extremely hot, with heavy thunderstorms. An association has been formed composed of friends of Turks and Christians in England. It wag organised chiefly at the instance of Lady Sandford, and is intended to send pecuniary assistance to the Bulgarians. The session of the French Legislature has closed, the general result being that the Government are decidedly stronger. Both Republicans and Conservatives exhibited a tendency to forego the extreme’ demands of their party.

CHINA AND THE STRAITS SETTLEMENTS. The prolonged negotiations In regard to the state of affairs in China is having an injurious effect upon the foreign and native trade. A weary feeling exists among the Chinese, which finds relief in placards and reports of impending troubles. In Locochswoosiah there is great excitement among the natives, who have been seized with a panic, on account of a superstitious belief in various sorceries committed among them. It is rumored that several members of the Hung Fei Society have beep arrested. Ah Kiangou confessed under torture to the existence of a large confederation which was ready to rise on the first possible opportunity. Sir Thomas Wade is waiting instructions from the Foreign Office. The persecution in Leefeun still continues. In the town of Yuen Honchling a number of Christians were seized by an armed orowd and out to pieces. Others were severely wounded, and several are missing. Two days later another massacre was perpetrated at Pei Mowcbong. It is reported that agitators are traversing the provinces, exciting the populace to murder or to expel all Christians. An article in the China Overland Mail, on the political situation, says that general insecurity is felt on account of the prolonged negotiations for the settlement of the difficulty with England, which is operating most injuriously on commerce. There is tightness in the money market, and little demand for foreign goods. All branches of mercantile life are unsettled. This condition of affairs is producing ill effects. Whether, the issue of the negotiations be peace or war, the various communities will be glad to hear that something definite has been done. Peace of course is desirable, if it can be preserved without letting go the opportunity for exacting a guarantee, of good faith On the part of the Government at Pekin, but few. of the British residents would vote for peace at. any price, as it, may be too dearly pufchftssdi Heavy rains In Batman and Siam prevent the construction of telegraph lines. , ; , There is a great ory out for judges at Singapore, as all are away on leave. The American ship Charles Lary, with a cargo of tea from Hongkong, 'is ashore on sandbanks south of Cargayan Islands. The vessel is a total wreck. No lives were-lost.

A second steamer has been chartered to run between Rangoon and Penang. An ocean steamer has been put on to sail from ! Hongkong to Cooktown with passengers arid cargo. She will proceed from the latter place to Sydney, and be then offered for sale. An iron mine has been discovered in the sacred mountain of Koyaaan in Japan, and operations for raising ore are to be commenced at once. The British brig Rob Roy struck on a shoal at Paracel's Group in the China seas. The vessel was abandoned. The captain and crew were picked up by the steamer Asia.