EUROPEAN.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 48, 3 May 1884, Page 3

EU ROPEAN.

London, April 24. —Hamburg and Bremenhaven will be the ports of departure for the direct line of German steamers to Australia. The extent to which the German Government will subsidise the service is four million marks annually. The exhibition in the Crystal Palace under the direction of Mr Levey, who was Executive Secretary for New South Wales at the Amsterdam Exhibition, has been opened, and is a great success. The Cabinet had a long meeting yesterday on the Egyptian question. General Lord Wolseley was present. The shareholders of the Australian Mortgage Agency Co. (Limited) have sanctioned the proposed increase of capital. The police precautions for the safety of the members of the Cabinet have been renewed. London, April 24.— A note has recently been addressed to the European Powers by the British Government, suggesting that a Conference should be held to consider the present state of Egyptian affairs. In their replies all the Powers have assented to the principle involved, and it is understood that a meeting of European Plenipotentiaries will take place at an early date. The trial of the suspects who were arrested on charges of complicity in the murder of Mrs Henry J. Smyth, and the attack on Barlow Smith and Lady Henrietta Monk, near Killucan, Westmeath, on April 22, 1882, concluded to-day, when five of the men were sentenced to ten years' penal servitude. The cargo of frozen mutton in the steamship Lußitania arrived in good condition. The Melbourne poition of the shipment realised ssd per Ib. Some of the New Zealand meat ex British Queen has realised 6d per lb. London, April 24.— Mr Childers, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, delivered his Budget statement in the House of Commons this evening. He estimated the revenue for the ensuing financial year at £85,500,000, and the expenditure at £85,250,000. It was proposed to continue the reduction of the National Debt, and £8,000,000 would be paid off during the year. In order to meet the deficiency arising from the re-coinage of worn and light coin, it was proposed to issue gold ten shilling pieces containing only nine-tenths the quantity of gold contained in the present half-sovereign. The speech also announced that it was intended to issue stock-bearing interest at the rate of 2% per cent., which would be offered to holders of all 3 per cent, consols. No increase of taxation was announced. London, April 24.— The death is ar£ nounced of Maria Taglioni, the famous dancer, aged 80 years. The English Government are expecting a further note from the French Government regarding regarding the Recidivistes question. The annual report of the Oriental Bank has been adopted. The Board of Management intend shortly to introduce new capital. A special meeting of the Egyptian Cabinet has been held to take into consideration the position of affairs. The meeting was attended by the Khedive, Riaz Pasha, and Nubar Pasha, and approved of the proposals for the immediate relief of Berber. In the House of Commons to-night the Premier made a statement regarding the situation of affairs in the Soudan. Both the country and the Government, Mr Gladstone said, recognised that they were under an obligation to secure the future safety of General Gordon, and the Ministers were fully prepared to fulfil that obligation should the occasion require it. London, April 25.-— lt is announced that Mr Childers's proposals set forth in the budget last night regarding the issue of new half sovereigns will not affect the Australian coinage. In the House of Commons last night Lord Edmund Fitzmaurice, Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, in reply to questions, stated that Government is awaiting further communication from the French Government on the subject of the recidiviste question, and that no negotiations had taken place with the German Government in reference to the transportation of French criminals to the Pacific. , The English Government desire to limit the functions of the European Conference to dealing with the finance of Egypt. The French Government desires to enlarge the scope of consideration by dealing with the whole of the Egyptian question. The French press is insisting on the right of France to be readmitted to a share in the government of Egypt. A number of Australian colonists have entertained Mr Mclntyre, of South AustraJia, at a banquet. It is believed that the garrisons at Berber and Dongola will shortly have to arrange terms of capitulation with the rebels. British expeditions will relieve Gordon Pasha at Khartoum in the autumn. London, April 25.— The severe frosts have injured the French vintage. London, April 25.— M. Ferry states that if recidivistes are sent to the Pacific special precautions will be taken to prevent their escape. The Hon. Evelyn Ashley, speaking at Sandown, said that if colonists resident in Kew Guinea and the colonies of Australia required armies and fleets to protect them from convicts, he considered that it would be the duty of England to back up the protests of Australia against the recidiyistes scheme. JLondon, April 26.— A disastrous fire occured in Queen's Road to-day, resulting in the total destruction of the premises occupied by Mr William Whitely, whose stores in W estbourne Grove were destroyed in a similar manner in November, 1880. The loss is estimated at £500,000. The Government havehadunder consideration the joint recommendation of Sir R. E. Egerton, British Consul-General at Cairo ; Nubar Pasha, President of the Egyptian Council of Ministers ; and Sir Evelyn Wood, commanding the Egyptian army, that a combined force of British and Egyptian troops should be despatched to the relief of Berber. In its reply Government has stated that the recommendation cannot be acted on at the present, and that finch expedition cannot be sent into Soudan for four months from present date. It is now impossible to either telegraph or write to Khartoum. The position of Berber is daily becoming worse, and it is seriously menaced by the rebels. The massacre of the 300 refugees from Shendy is said to be exaggerate^ Jfc is reported that the British Government intends that the Congress shall take into .consideration the feeling of anarchy which is extending not only in Cairo but throughout the country. An attempt was made to-dayto destroy the barracks at Dublin by explosion, but the infernal machine which was intended for the purpose exploded abortively, and but little Samage was done. Discoveries have been made of active plotting among the Fenians in Dublin, in .which it U believed the proiecteddestruction of thebarwelw was tonave

played an important part. Detailed plans for ato organised rising, lists "of persons in* terested, and arms liavebeen unearthed in a garden attached to a house occupied by Patrick Egan. The police effected the arrest of Egan, who was brought up at the Police Court to-day and remanded. A Press Association message says :— The documents found on the Irish conspirators indicate that Messrs Daley, Egan, and the officers of " The Irish Republic," are connected with the recent outrages in London. London, April 26. — The latest information from Cairo states that it is believed that Zebehv Pasha, formerly the slaver chief, who was appointed by Gordon Pasha as Assistant-Govenior of the Soudan, is intriguing with the followers of El Mahdi. London, April 26..— The following are the names of Lord Sheffield's team, who open a series of matches in England against the Australian Eleven (at Sheffield) on May 12, 13, and 14 '.—Grace, Greenfield, Shaw, Hide, Phillips, Shrewsbury, Barnes, Barlow', Uylett, Harrison, and Mycroft. London, April 26.— Consols have further declined to 101§. The market rate of discount is now 1% per cent., or ] J below the bank rate. New Zealand securities remain at last quotations. Colonial breadstuff's : Adelaide wheat, ex store, 435; not, 445, as telegraphed yesterday ; Adelaide flour, 28s j New Zealand wheat, ex store, 35s to 40» ; Australian tallow average quality : Beef, 36s Gd j mutton, 395. London, April 26.— The debate in the House ©f Commons on the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Bill was resumed today, when the Government agreed to withdraw the amendments to the bill as passed by the House of Lords, and to accept the vote of the House on the measure. London, April 26.— The Sydney portion of the cargo of frozen mutton, ex steanship Lusitania, has been sold at an average price of 5d per pound. London, April 27. — The Empress of Germany is reported to be in a critical state of health. London, April 27.— Earl Granville again asks M. Ferry, the French Premier, what steps France intends to take with regard to the Recidivistes question. The Saturday Review says if the French Government insists in enforcing the Recidiviste Bill it is only reasonable to suppose that England will sanction the exclusion of convicts from Australia, and that the annexation of New Guinea is indispensable. London, April 27. — In connection with the rebellion at Hayti it is said that the Government are horribly torturing those opposed to them. London, April 27. — Earl Derby is consulting with Sir F. D. Bell, the AgentGeneral for New Zealand, as to the purport of Tawhiao's visit Home, and as to the reception to which he is entitled. Mr Ashley, Undcr-Secretary for the Colonies, speaking at Sandown, said he thought that the antagonism existing between the Australian colonies will probably check the early accomplishment of federation. It is expected that the Canadian loan of £5,000,000, which will shortly be issued, will have an injurious effect upon the floating of the proposed Queensland and South Australian loans. The two cases of cholera previously announced as having appeared on board English vessels at present in the Suez Canal are now reported to be sporadic in character. The Duchess of Edinburgh has been safely delivered of a daughter. Lord Derby has agreed to concede an elective element in the Mauritius Council. Paris, April 24. The question of the projected European Congress on Egyptian affairs is being warmly discussed by the French press, and claims are again being put forward on behall of France for a share of the British influence in Egypt and in control of Egyptian finances, if not administration. Hong Kong, April 24.— -Intelligence is to hand from Pekin reporting that Prince Hung, late First Secretary, and who was recently publicly degraded by the Emperor, has since committed suicide. Caiko, April 23. Sir R. E Egebton, British Consul-General, Nubar Pasha, President of the Council of Ministers, and Sir Evelyn Wood have recommended the British Government _to despatch a combined English and Egyptian force to Berber for the purpose of relieving the beleaguered garrison.