EUROPEAN.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 80, 13 December 1884, Page 3

EUROPEAN.

London, December 4. — The Australian squadron will be augmented shortly by H.M. sloop Garnet, 6 guns, 1,130 tons, at present lying at Malta, where her furnace plates are undergoing repairs. The Orient steamers will now call at Naples, they having ceased to visit there in September last on account of the outbreak of cholera. The Chinese troops are claiming repeated successes over the French troops in Tonquin. Mr Joshua Ives, the recently-appointed Professor of Music to the Adelaide University, sails on Ist of January. In consequence of the Australian station being made an Admiral station, Commodore Erskine will be selected for an early command. The trial of the captain and mate of the yacht Mignonette for the murder of the boy Parker was concluded to-day before a special Court. The judges decided that prisoners were guilty of murder. Sentence will be passed on them on Monday next. London, December 5. — In the House of Commons last evening, in reply to a question, the Hon. Evelyn Ashley stated that the Cape colonists would not be called upon to bear any portion of the expense of the expedition to Bechuanaland. The Colonial Under-Secretary also stated that the Imperial Government would not assent to the settlement of Bechuanaland as effected by the Cape Government. London, December s.— Twelve Chinese men of- war have been ordered to the Island of Formosa, to take part in the operations against the French there. The Franchise Bill was under consideration in the House of Lords yesterday, and passed through committee. In the House of Commons last night the Redistribution of Seats Bill was read a second time. Parliament will reassemble, after the Christmas recess, on February 19. London, December 5. — Several members of the crew of the ship Berengaria, which went ashore on the coast of Essex, and a passenger named Grey, have been rescued. The captain, second mate, pilot, and eight of the crew are still reported as missing. Two hundred thousand salmon ova will be forwarded to Tasmania in January. The new Oriental Bank proposes to issue 80,000 £25 special shares. On receiving £150,000, the liquidator of the old bank will assign the assets. London, December 6.— The parleying which has been proceeding between the representatives of England and Spain has resulted in the latter giving a pledge to Bupport the Anglo-Spanish Commercial Convention. London, December 6. — The Franchise Bill is again under consideration in the House of Lords to-day, and passed through all stages. The House has now adjourned. A committee of the French Chamber has recommended a heavy increase of the duties on flour and corn. A movement is on foot to organise a powerful free- trade society. Prime New Zealand frozen mutton is now selling at s^d to s£d per lb. The rumour that New South "Wales has ordered several gunboats is without foundation. London, December 7. — TheJFrench Senate has rejected the amendment by the Chamber of Deputies that the Senate should be elected by universal suffrage. London, December 2. — The proposal of the German Colonial Society that the Government shall subsidise a service of mail steamers between Germany and the capitals of the Australian colonies has been referred to a committee of the Reichstag for inquiry and report. Prince Bismarck objects to the proposal on the grounds that the scheme is one of a purely commercial character. It is rumoured that Sir VV. F. Drummond Jervois is shortly to replace Lord Augustus Loftus as Governor of New South Wales. The Investigation Committee of the Consolidated Telephone Company reaffirm that Sir Julius Vegel, one of the directors, enriched himself by means of the Company, and have endorsed the advice of counsel that a lawsuit should be instituted to recover the enormous profits made by him.

London, December 8. News has been received here of the wreck of the steamer Pockhard, near Holy head, on the north Welsh coast. The crew, numbering thirty, were drowned. The vessel was bound from Cork to Rotterdam.

London, December 9. — The Special Court to-day passed sentence of death on Captain Dudley "and the mate Stephens, of the yacht Mignonette, for the murder of the boy Parker. London, December 9. — Mr J, F. Hibbert, M.P. for Oldham, and Political Secretary at the Home Office, has been appointed financial Secretary to the Treasury, vice Mr Leonard H. Courtney, resigned. There is no truth in the report current that Sir W. D. Jervois, Governor of New Zealand, was to succeed Lord Augustus Loftus in the Governorship of New South Wales. At the Berlin Conference, it was decided that England should control the lower and France the upper portions of the Niger.

Paris, December 6. — Despatches have been received from Madagascar announcing that parleying has again commenced between the Hova leaders and Admiral Miot, commanding the French forces, but that no terms of settlement have been agreed upon.

Paris, December 7. — Despatches toiiand from Tonquin state that desultory fighting has occurred between the French forces and the Chinese troops. The French have been generally successful, and the Chinese are now retreating in consequence of the defeat inflicted upon them.

Berlin, December 4. — The deliberations of the International Conference on the Congo and Niger questions have not yet terminated. It is believed in well-informed circles that the Powers will accede to the British claim of a protectorate over the country adjacent to the river Niger.

Berlin, December 9.-— The International Conference has agreed to the freedom of the navigation on the Congo and Niger rivers. The international control, however, is to be confined to the Congo, while England will control the lower and France the upper waters of the Niger.

Bombay, December 8. — Earl Dufferin, who succeeds the Marquis of Ripon as Viceroy of India, arrived here to-day, and received a cordial welcome.

Cairo, December 4.— No intelligence has been received here to confirm the report that the Mahdi is dead, as stated by the Mudir of Dongola.

Cairo, December 6. Detachments of the 19th Hussars, Ist battalllon, South Staffordshire Regiment, have arrived at Dongola and proceeded to Debbah. A messenger from Khartoum reports that when he left the Mahdi's followers were only three hours' march distant from the city. He also states that Gordon, with the steamers, has been harassing the enemy and capturing their provisions.

Cairo, December 9. — Judgment has been given aga nst the Egyptian Government in the action brought by the French, Austrian,

and Italian members of the Caisse of Public Debt to prevent the suspension of the Sinking Fund. Cape Town, December 4. — Colonel Warren, who has been appointed to the command of the British expedition to Bechuanaland, arrivod to-day.