EUROPEAN

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 44, 5 April 1884, Page 3

EUROPEAN

London, March 27. — The French steamer Villecaen, bound from Havre to Noumea, has been totally wrecked at Jubab. The crew were rescued. Mr Murray Smith has had a long interview with Mr Waddington on the recidiviste question. News has been received that MajorGeneral Graham attacked the rebels under Osman Digna at the lough outworks at Tamaneb to-day. The enemy fled at the first approach, and their village was reduced to ashes. No casualties are reported on the British side. Majov-Gener.il Graham returns to Souakim, his campaign having ended. London, March 2S. — Mr Gladstone has not yet recovered from his recent illness, and is still confined within doors. London, March 28 —It is rumoured in Cairo that El Mahdi has occupied Khartoum. London, March 29. — A Paris message in the " Daily Telegraph" states that Earl Granville has strongly protested against the French Government allowing convicts to escape from New Caledonia. Earl Roseberry, speaking, in the House of Lords, testified to the horror and dismay with which the Australian colonists regarded the prospect of the recidivistes scheme being carried out. He said it was impossible to exaggerate the strength of the feeling entertained, and the excitement was double that which existed when England proposed to discontinue sending convicts to Australia. Lord Carnarvon said that private letters he had received confirmed Lord Roseberry 's statements, and he agreed with Lord Koseberry in urging the Government to bring diplomatic pressure to bear. It w ould be a great mistake to treat the subject as one of small importance. Earl Granville, in reply, repeated the statement that M. Ferry had assured Lord Lyons that the bulk of the recidi\ istes would be sent to Cayenne, and that only a small number of manual labourers would be sent to New Caledonia. London, March 30th. — The French Minister of Marine has informed the recidivisite committee of the Senate that the Government is .*. illing to send convicts to New Guinea, but that it is only possible to receive 2,000 of them at present. H casks that the operation of the law ill be delayed for a year. The " Pall Mall Gazette' 1 doubts whether the Australian Government seriously threaten such a step as to exclude French ships from Australian ports. Mr Gladstone's health is improving, and he is now enabled to take outdoor exercise. London, March 29. — The friction supposed to have existed on Egyptian affairs between members of the Cabinet has been reduced. The New England Shipping Company (New South Wales) is announced with a capital of a quarter of a million, one-fourth being payable at once. There is no business doing in Australian wheat cargoes. The Government, in the House of Commons, having refused to separate their local taxation and local government reform proposals, have, on a motion by Mr Alfred Pell, M.P. for South Leicestershire, been defeated by a majority of eleven in a large House. London, March 30. — The King of Abyssinia, at the head of an army of 25,000 men, has met and welcomed Admiral HeMett, who recently proceeded there on a secret mission. Major-General Graham distrusts the sincerity of the professed friendly Arabs, and is not in favour of a British advance being made on Berber, Paris, March 27. — In the Chamber of Deputies to-day, M. Ferry announced that the Government hoped a treaty would shortly be concluded with Madagascar, securing due protection to French subjects residing in Malagasy tei*ritory. M. Ferry further stated that the Government had abandoned the claim to a suzerainty over Madagascar. Cairo, March 20. Latest telegrams from Souakim state that the British troops commenced their march towards Osman Digna's camp in the Hill country, near Tamaneb, at noon. The column had arrived midway between the latter place and Souakim, when a halt was called — four hundred men being prostrated by the intense heat and the difficult nature ef the road. The advance will not be resumed until daybreak. The cavalry had several skirmis-hes with the enemy, who are closely watching the movements of the British troops, and a number of Arabs have been killed. Osman Digna's camp is said to be impassable forcavalry. The maximum strength of the rebels is estimated to be three thousand. Cairo, March 27. — Telegrams are to hand from Souakim announcing that Major-General Graham has dispersed the rebels from the neighbourhood of Tamaneb. The British troops having bivouacked last night at point midway between Souakim and Tamaneb, and resumed their march at daybreak, and advanced some distance beyond the latter town where they came up with the enemy. General Graham at once ordered the troops to open fire upon the rebels who offered no resistance but fled to the mountains. No attempt was made to follow them, but Tamaneb was burned to the ground by the British troops before returning to camp. Intelligence has been received from Berber that telegraphic communication with Shendy has been restored, but no news as to the position of the garrison there is to hand. Telegrams from Souakim state that the British troops are now returning from Tamaneb to Souakim, where the various regiments will speedily re-embark for their respective stations in England and Egypt. Latest telegrams from Souakim announce thatall the British troops have now returned to that place, and three regiments have already embarked for England. A number of Arah Sheikhs have arrived at Souakim, and others are constantly coming there, professing friendship towards the British, and declaring they have no sympathy with the Mahdi. Sydney, March 29. — Hanlan gave an exhibition of rowing at Manley this afternoon, when he pulled a race with Edwards, his trainer. Neither Trickett nor Clifford was present, as expected. Fully 8,000 persons witnessed Hanlan's performances.