EUROPEAN.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 77, 22 November 1884, Page 3

EUROPEAN.

London, November 13.— 1n the House of Lords ycstorday, in reply to a question, the Earl of Northbrook, First Lord of the Admiralty, stated that he would on Tuesday next announce the plans which it was proposed to adopt with the view of increasing the strength and efficiency of the Imperial navy. The cargo of frozen mutton ex Aorangi, from New Zealand, was placed on the market in good condition, realising 6^d per lb, The ship Diva has arrived in the British Channel, from Timaru, July 16th, and reports having been in collision with a quantity of ice in the South Pacific. Considerable damage Mas sustained by the vessel, and 45 tons of cargo had to be jettisoned. The English Government are still hesitating about introducing the Federation Enabling Bill. The Queensland gunboat Gayundah sails on Thursday next.

London, November 14. — In the House of Commons yesterday the credit votes asked by the Government on account of the army and navy, and for military operations in Egypt and South Africa, were passed. The Royal Society will not support the claims of Dr. Davy, of Malmsbury, Victoria, as the inventor of the electric telegraph. The claims of Dr. Davy were brought under the notice of the English Government by the Royal Society of Victoria through the Premier of that colony. The Bank of South Australia has been registered as a limited liability company, The Now Oriental Banking Company are considering a scheme for undertaking to pay the liabilities of the old bank. London, November 6.— The German Council of Ministers have approved of Prince Bismarck's proposals fora subsidised line of mail steamers trading between Germany and the principal Australian ports. The attempt to float a Land Paatoral Company in London to work the extensive properties near Mount Remarkable, South Australia, has so far not proved a success. The capital asked for is L 500,000, but this amount has only been partially subscribed, and it is uncertain how the shares will be allotted. It is probable that either the Right Hon. Mr Lefevure (member for Reading) or MiLeonard Courtenay (member for Li>keard) will be selected to fill the vacancy in the Ministry caused by Mr Fawcett's death. Earl Dun raven has withdrawn the motion of which he had given notice in the House of Lords for an inquiry into the causes of the existing trade depression in England. Lord Granville assured the noble Earl that the reports as to depression and distress had been greatly exaggerated. The "Pall Mall Gazette" this evening expresses an opinion that the activity displayed by Victoria on the question of federation of the Australian colonies is due to the desire to promote a protective policy throughout the colonies, and secure an ascendancy at the proposed Federal Council. The Orient Steam Navigation Company have decided to declare no dividend for the past half-year. Mr Gladstone yesterday laid the foundation stone of the nev^ National Library Club, and in the course of his remarks said that some drastic measures were necessary to repress the obstruction of the Irish members of the House of Commons. The Tichborne claimant, who was released on the 20th ult., still asserts that William Cresswell, who is confined in Parramatta Lunatic Asylum, New South Wales, is Arthur Orton. The Eight Hon. Mr Dodson, who has been raised to the peerage, has selected the title of Baron Monk Brieton. Sir F. Dillon Bill is preparing a written narrative of the negotiations which have taken place between the Agents-General of the Australasian colonies and Earl Derby with respect to the establishment of a British protectorate over New Guinea and other islands of the Pacific. Personally Sir F. D. Bell is favourable to an agreement beingentered into between England, France, and Germany on the Pacific question. Mr Reed has been unsuccessful in his attempt to float the Adelaide Wharf Company in London. Earl Derby has decided to present some of his famous red dec from Knowsley Park, Prescott, Lancashire, to Melbourne Hunt Club. London, Nov. 14.— The vote for the arming and defence of coaling stations has been largely increased. Lord Carnarvon stated that Melbourne and Sydney were in a position of confident security. The Right Hon. G. J. S. Lofevre has been appointed Postmaster-General. London, November 15. — The frozen meat, ex ship Dunedin, is selling at 6^d per pound. The reluctance displayed by the Bank of England to issue sufficient hundred-pound scrips of the New South Wales 3£ per cent, loan has impeded business. Dr. Taylor, a celebrated scientist, will deliver a series of lectures in Australia in April next. At the wool sales good cross-breds are firm. Inferior and faulty wools are weak. Forty-one thousand bales have been catalogued, and three thousand two hundred withdrawn. Prices remain unchanged. Parleying is proceeding between the Powers in reference to the long occupation of Egypt by the British. The arrival of wheat cargoes have increased, and a few continental sales have taken place at 325, ex warehouse 365. London, November i 6. —Cargoes of frozen meat on board the ship Lyttolton from Ticton, and steamship Florida from Wellington have arrived in fair condition. The cargo ex Dunedin, from Oamaru, has also been landed in good order. It is announced that Russia has decided to annex Khivaf in Central Asia, in consequence of the Khan's misrule. London, lGth November. — The income tax has been increased by one penny in the pound. The "Times" in an article favours the scheme of the new Oriental Bank for the purpose of realising on the assets of the old one. P.iince Bismarck's organ urges the French Government to annoy Australia by the wholesale shipment of convicts to New Caledonia. London, November 17.— Thefloatingof the Willawae Pastoral Company has been postponed for twelve months, and the deposits on shares have been returned to the applicants. At the statutory meeting of the shareholders of the new Oriental Bank Company there was a large attendance. Nearly onehalf of the capital has been subscribed, and thirty-one thousand thiee hundred shares have been allotted, of which number twenty thousand go to Australia. Henry Forbes, leader of the expedition organi&ed under the auspices of the Royal Geographical Society, for the purpose of exploring the Owen Stanley Ranges, in the south-eastern end of New Guinea, will sail about Clniestmas and will land h'rse at Red■scar Bay, near Port Moresby.

The several Agents-General interview Lord Derby on Tuesday next respecting tht recidiviste question. The confei'ence on Imperial federation has re-assembled. Several speeches have been made and resolutions passed with c view to promoting the objects of the meeting. London, November 17.— From the Ist ol January next, the Greenwich observatory will alter the reading of time by the clock so that the hours will be read up to 24 o'clock. Fred J. Archer, the well-known jockey, is about to visit Australia. The objects of the International Congress sitting at Berlin are the free navigation of the River Congo and Niger, and also to define a process of annexation in West Africa. Sir E. B. Malet is insisting that England should supervise the navigation of the Niger. In the House of Commons to-day, the Secretary of War announced tnat Lurd Wolseley's plan is to assemble a force of two thousand troops, comprising cavalry and camel corps, at Debbah, and ride across the desert of Bayrdah to Khartoum ; that is, if the tribes residing along the projected route will permit the passage of troops. {•{London, Novembor 18.— At a meeting of Tories yesterday, resolutions were passed agreeing to a compromise on the franchise question. In the House of Lords last night the Franchise Bill was read a second time without division, and their Lordships then adjourned until to-day. The « Standard " states that Mr Gladstone has given a written pledge to introduce the Re-distribution Bill immediately and unconditionally. In consequence of that the Lords have decided to proceed with the Franchise Bill. Paris. November 12. — The mortality from the cholera continues to increase, and the number of deaths yesterday amounted to 107. There are now also 271 patients in the hospitals suffering from the epidemic in a malignant form. Paris, November 13.— Eighty-one deaths from cholera occurred yestorday. Paris, November 15. — Seventy-fivo deaths occurred to-day from cholera. Paris, Nov. 16.— The mortality from cholera is lessening. Only 56 deaths occurred to-day. HoNUKONw, November 15 — Tamsui, Formosa, has been occupied by the Fiench forces. Caiko, November 13.— Telegrams arc to hand from Paris announcing that the French Government have received despatches from the Soudan that General Gordon was shot at and killed while proceeding from Khartoum to Berbor. No confirmatory intelligence has reached Sir Evelyn Baring, and he discredits the statement contained in the Paris telegrams. A telegram has been received from the Mudir of Dongola stating that a force of 12,000 of the Mahdi's troops, under his fighting chief, is now marching upon Dongola. Cairo, November 15. Lord Wolseley telegraphs from Donfola that a letter from General Gordon as arrived at Debbah to-day, but the contents have not yet transpired.

LATER. The letter from General Gordon, received by Lord Wolseley at Debbah, dated Khartoum, November 4, confirms the news of the massacre of Colonel Stewart, and Messrs Power and Herbin, by the rebels at Wady-el-Ohomah. General Gordon expresses delight at hearing of the advance of the British expedition, and hopes to be able to held out until its arrival. He states that he continues, with steamers, to harass the enemy whenever they approach Khartoum, and adds that the Mahdi is only a day's journey distant from that city.

("Age" Specials.) London, November 3. Ax oflicial denial has been given to the report published in this morning's papers to the effect that Her Majesty had received a telegram from the Khedive confirming the news of the capture of General Gordon by the rebels.

Gordon's Defiance to the Mahdl. A telegram published this morning states that the rebels around Khartoum sent a summons to General Gordon calling upon him to surrender. To this he replied at once that he would not surrender if he were menaced for ten years. The report that General Wolseley has entered into negotiations with the Mahdi for the peaceful evacuation of Khartoum by General Gordon and the garrison is denied in this evening's papers.

Difficulties of the Relief Expedition. As the relief expedition proceeds up the Nile to Khartoum, the difficulty of the navigation greatly increases. Latest advices declare that the boats used by the expedition are not unsuitable, but overaden.