EUROPEAN.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 33, 19 January 1884, Page 3

EUROPEAN.

London, January 9. — The Australian Mortgage and Agency Company (limited), in their report recommend the declaration of a dividend of 8 per cent., and state that the preliminary expenses and goodu ill have been cleared off, and a reserve fund of £20,000 established, consisting partly of profits and partly of the premium on the reserved shares issued in April last. The annual meeting is to be held on January loth. London, January 10. --The commander of the troops stationed at Khartoum telegraphs that if the retreat from that city is delayed, it will then be impossible to do bo, London, January 10.— It is believed that the Transvaal Government will reject the proposed modification of the frontier, which was proposed to be made in order that the native chiefs friendly to England may be afforded British protection. The Council of State in Madrid has decided that a treaty with England is not expedient. Up to the present time the Exhibition has been visited by 268,000 persons. Satisfactory sales have been effected, and the juries have commenced the work of allotting the awards. Forty students have been arrested at Moscow on charges of complicity in the murder of Colonel Sudaken. The homeward mails via Naples per the Orient steamship Sorata from Melbourne, December Ist, were delivered here to-day. London, January 10. — The intelligence received on the Bth instant to the effect that the Malagasus had accepted the French ultimatum and agreed to oede the northern portion of Madagascar is not yet confirmed. Later news states that France insists on the estab lishment of a French protectorate over the whole island, and as the demand is objected to by the Madagascar Government, the matter is still unsettled. London, January 10.— The Commercial Bank of Adelaide opens in London on the 14th inst. The London directors are — Messrs John Beck, H. Turton, Barr, and Smith. The Agerts-General for the colonies have been appointed Vice-Presidents of the Hygienic Exhibition. A difficulty in procuring the salmon ova has delayed the intended shipment to New Zealand. The leakage of the s.s. Duke of Westminister is increasing, and she is now exposed to a heavy storm. London, January 10. — Telegrams from Zanzibar state that the parleying between the Hovas and the French for a cessation of hostilities have failed. There is a decided recovery in colonial stocks, and money is easier. The Exchange prefer that the whole of the Victorian loan should be placed in the market at once. Mr Murray-Smith will deliver his lecture on Australia at the Colonial Institute on February 12. The Shaw, Savill, Albion Shipping Company have contracted to carry 200,000 frozen sheep during the present year. The sailing of the Victorian gunboats has been postponed until the end of this month. The latest information from Tonquin is to the effect that fighting between the Annamites and French has been renewed, and that Hunghow has been evacuated. Pasha Gordon advocates the defence of Khartoum, and the retention of the Soudan as far east as the White Nile, and north to Sennaar. The Messrs Me Arthur have admitted Mr William Joseph Webster as a partner in the firm. Tenders for the City of Auckland Loan of £100,000 were opened to-day. The total amount offered was found to be £702,000. Tenders at £102 7s 6d will receive 5 per cent, of allotment, and tenders above that amount will receive in full. The City of Auckland Municipal loan of £100,000 closed to-day. There are 247 tenders, covering six millions and eightyfive thousand pounds (sic). The loan has been placed at an average price of £102 10s. London, January 11. — John Herd and partner, of Liverpool, traders in corn on a large scale, have become insolvent, and have been arrested on charges of fraudulent dealings. Cardinal Manning, Archbishop of Westminster, is suffering from indisposition. Salvage operations are being actively pushed on board the stranded steamer Duke of Westminster. The vessel has not been floated. London, January 12, — It has transpired that the Chinese Government has virtually declared war against France, and all hopes of a peaceful settlement of the FrancoChinese difficulty have been abandoned. It is understood that the French have already formed designs for an attack in force upon Canton, and it is expected that a movement thither will shortly be made by a large naval and military force. It is. reported that an immediate advance upon Bac Ninh will be made by the French army in Tonquin. London, January 13.— The Marquis Tseng indicates that the warlike feeling is increasing in China, and he doubts now whether any offer of mediation will meet with acceptance. London, January 13. — A force of 84,000 rebels is reported to be advancing against Khartoum, the garrison of which is in a mutinous condition. The concession recently made to Spain in regard to the duties on wine will be extended to the colonies. The limit, thirty degrees spirit strength, must not be exceeded. Mr Childers will take intc consideration the proposal of the AgentsGeneral that a gliding scale of duties should be adopted. London, January 13. — The Royal Geographical Society, it is believed, is hesitating as to the propriety of acting in conjunction with the Geographical Society of Sydney in regard to the exploration of New Guinea, as it fears that the colonial Government is anxious to unduly influence the formation and objects of Mr Powell's proposed expedition in other directions than those in which co-operation is desired. The last New South Wales loan is now at If premium. Australian wheat, new crop, is offered at 445. Buyers are willing to concede 435. Mr Thomas Archer, Agent-General for Queensland, is granted three months' leave of absence, ana Mr W. Hummant is appointed Acting Agent-General. The Rev. Charles Strong is living now at Helensburgh, a watering place on the Firth of Clyde, and will probably try to obtain a Glasgow pulpit. Great inducements are being offered to Frenchmen to emigrate to New Caledonia. The Victorian loan will be advertised on Xhursday. •Hong Kong, January 10. — A force of 2,000 Chinese troops are about to be despatched to Hainan as a corps of defence for the island against any possible attack by the French Naval force now stationed on the coast of Tonquin. Hong Kong, January 11.— Liming Chang, the Viceroy of China, has arrived at Canton, and has officially notified the foreign Consuls that the approaches to Port

Canton are to be forthwith blockaded by torpedoes, but that a channel ninety feet wide will be left for the passage of vessels along the river. Hong Kong, January 13. — Latest news received here states that vigorous preparations are being made by China in view of the virtual outbreak of war with France. The Chinese Viceroy, Li Hung Chang, has issuod a proclamation from Canton, stating that a vigorous resistance will be made against tho French pretensions in Tonquin. The proclamation also announces that China is in entire friendship with other Powers. Cairo, January 12. — Intelligence is to hand from Khartoum that the military Governor has ordered 11,000 civilians to evacuate the town. The isolated position of the garrison is causing some anxiety, in consequence of the belief that an attack will bo made upon the town by the partisans of El Mahdi.