CABLE NEWS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 90, 20 March 1884, Page 2

CABLE NEWS.

[Per Electric Telegraph—Copyright.] [Reuter’s Telegrams.] London, March 18. The cargo of frozen meat by the s.s. Aorangi from New Zealand, consisting of about 12,000 carcases of mutton, has arrived in good condition. The first portion was sold to-day at 5Jd per lb. The homeward mails per s.s. Orient (via Suez and Brindisi) from Melbourne, were delivered here yesterday. THE SOUDAN WAR. REWARD OF £l,OOO FOR THE REBEL LEADER’S HEAD. Cairo, March 16. Telegrams from Souakim state that Admiral Hewitt and General Graham have conferred with the leading Sheiks of the loyal tribes, and that a reward of £l,OOO has been offered for the rebel leader, Osman Digna, alive or dead. A detachment numbering one thousand British troops is about to start for Handuk, a town on the Nile midway between Assouan, on the Nubian frontier, and Khartoum. The troops will fortify a position there with a view to check any advance of the rebels in that direction. March 18. Telegraphic communication has been restored between Shendy and Khartoum. PREPARATIONS FOR RENEWING THE CONTEST. Telegrams from Souakim state that it has been ascertained that Osman Digna continues in active hostility to the British, and is endeavoring to reassemble a force of Arabs with a view to renewing the contest. ANXIETY AS TO GORDON’S SAFETY. Although telegraphic communication is open between Shendy and Berber, and from the latter place to this city, no news has been received from Gordon Pasha of later date than March 11. Some anxiety therefore prevails as to the General’s safety. The latest telegrams from Souakim state that a number of Sheiks, who are friendly towards Osman Digna, have publicly burned the proclamation issued by the Commander-in-chief in the Soudan offering a reward for Osman, alive or dead. PROCLAMATION WITHDRAWN, Admiral Hewitt, in compliance with the British Government’s request, has ordered that the proclamation be forthwith cancelled. FRANCO-CHINESE WAR. FURTHER ADVANCE OF THE FRENCH. Paris, March 17. The latest despatches from Tonquin announce that the French Commandant had given orders for an advance to be made on the enemy’s positions to the westward of Bacninh, and that two bodies of troops had made a forward movement in the direction of Hangasha and Haingiugin. DISAPPROVAL OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT. London, March 17. It is announced that the British Government have expressed their disapproval of the action of General Graham in placing a price on the head of Osman Digna.