EUROPEAN.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 83, 3 January 1885, Page 3

EUROPEAN.

London, December 22. — An agreement has been signed between the representatives of England and Spain in connection with the negotiations for a fresh commercial treaty. Under the agreement Spain is to grant England " the most favoured nation " treatment, when the British House of Commons has agreed to extend to Spanish wines containing 30 degrees proof spirit the shilling per gallon scale duty now levied on wines of 26 degrees proof spirit. The New Zealand Shipping Co.'s Royal mail steamer Aorangi, the first vessel undor contract with the New Zealand Government, sailed from Plymouth at 3 p.m. on the 20th for New Zealand. Further investigation has shown that the j box found in the debris of the firo at tho parcels office, Windsor railway station , merely contained fishing winchos, and was not, as first supposed, an infornal machine. London, December 22.— The frozen meat ex steamer Elderslie is in excellent condition. The Trust and Agency Company of Australia has authorised the issue of 25,000 additional shares. Mr Michael Davitt has started on a visit to Australia.

London, December 23. Despatches from Berlin give official confirmation of the German annexation of the northern portion of Now Guinea and the islands of New Britain, Noav Ireland, New Hanover, and the Admiralty Group. It is understood that parleying will be initiated with England, with a view to the cession of the New Hebrides to France. The German Govornment gave Lord Derby a pledge that they would not annex the northern portion of New Guinea. Mr Murray Smith, Agent-General for Victoria, is inquiring whether the English Government intend to recognise such annexation. The English Government have not annexed D'Bntrecasteaux Island. The "Times" states that the hesitation shown by Lord Derby in dealing with the questions relating to the Pacific deserves the severest censure. The territory annexed in New Guinea by German}' will extend northwards from Huon Gulf on the eastern coast. London, December 26. — A Spanish African Society has acquired fifteen square miles on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa. The territory extends some distance inland fvoni a point opposite Corisco. The Democratic section in the United States Senate will endorse the action of America in reference to the construction of the Nicaragua Canal. It is understood that the European Powers have shelved the proposals recently submitted by the British Cabinet for the settlement of the afl'airs of Egypt. It is reported that France will occupy the New Hebrides shortly. The Brttish protectorate in New Guinea will probably be extended as far as Cape Nelson, on the eastern coa^b. London, December 2S.— The "Temps" states that unless the Convention is cancelled Germany will annex the New Hebrides. The New Zealand loan is not received with favour. London, December 27.— Consols remain at99g. New Zealand securities remain at last quotations. The total reserves in notes and bullion in the Bank of England is €11,500,000, a decrease during the week of £1,000,000. The proportion of reserve to liabilities has fallen to 3S per cent The bank rate of discount remains at 5 per cent., and the market rate at 4 per cent. The markets for colonial produce arc unchanged. London, December 28.— A colonial trading firms' company is projected here ' w ith a capital of £100,000. The shipment of fro/en meat ex the steamer Potoi-i is being sold at o\d per lb, London, December 2S. — Piince ßismarck has urged that the question of Egyptian ii nance should be taken into consideration at the present Conference. London, December 29. — Arrived : Orient P. M.S. Garronne, from Melbourne, November 15. The German Press display an angry tone with regard to the annexation of St. Lucia by the British, the only ground for which was the purchase by a traveler of 100,000 acres of land there. In consequence of the bad state of the market, the issuing of the New Zealand loan will probably be deferred and the amount reduced to a million. The business of the new Oriental Bank is in a prosperous condition, the deposits already amounting to £200,000. The English Government will annex the Louisdale Archipelago at the south-eastern extremity of New Guinea. A British syndicate is projecting a company with a capital of five millions for the construction of cruisers. The foreign press admit the truth of the assertion made by the " Daily News " that Prince Bismarck was intriguing for the downfall of Gladstone. It is expected that Germany will annex Samoa and Tonga. France is willing to exchange the island of Itapa for the iSew Hebrides Group. Berlin, December 22.— Three of the anarchists accused of attempting to destroy the Germania statue at Nicderwald have been found guilty and sentenced to death, and twx^havo been condemned to ten years' penal servitude.

Cuno, December 24. Intelligence has been received from Dongola to the effect that 64 of the whaleboats conveying troops to the front have arrived at Korti, on the Nile, near Ambukol, where the concentration of troops is rapidl/ proceeding. The Mudir of Dongola telegraphs that a Bedouin from Amderman, a village near Khartoum, which place he left on the 9th inst., has arrived, and reports that the Mahdi has sent seven corps to reinforce his armies at Berber against the approach of the British troops under Lord Wolseley on that town.

Cairo, December 27. A report is to hand that a large force of the Mahdi's followers is entrenched at a point only two days' march from Merawi, to which place General Wol&eley is now despatching troop« from Korti. A detachment of >ix hundred strong of the South Staffordshire Kegiment leaved Korti to morrow for Merawi. TolejrmmH to hand fiom the front report fKat a detachment of artillery has reached Koiti, and that preparations are proceeding forth*} advance of all the troops that have arrived there on Meraweh, an important position on the Nile, about 30 miles to the northward of Korti.

Cairo, December 28. A messenger who left Khartoum a fortnight ago report & that intense distress prevails among the followers of the Mahdi. Many are famished and dying, and large numbers are dcf citing their leaders.

Cape Tows, Decem?jcr 26. kews to hand from 'St. Lucia, a town on tbQfoa coal of Northern Zululand, stater?

that the British flag has been hoisted there, and a proclamation issued announcing the assumption by Great Britain of the ownership of that district.

Madrid, December 27. An earthquake of a serious character has been experienced in Andalusia. The shock wa3 felt over the greater part of the province, and caused immense damage in several towns, and many deaths. A shock of earthquake has also been felt here, butit was slight, and caused but little damage.

LATER, Later intelligence from the province of Andalusia shows that the loss of life by the earthquake has been very heavy. A hundred and fifty poisons were killed at AJbu* gueros, and forty at Arenasdelrey.

Madrid, December 2S. I Further'Jshocks of earthquako of great i severity havo been experienced in the southern districts during the past two days, and especially in Malaga and Granada. Three hundred persona lost their lives at Albania, and tho town is in ruins. At Periana thirty wore killed, and many at Albumulas. Several towns and villages have suffered severe damage, and the cathedrals at Granada and Soville aro injured. A gonoral panic prevails, and the inhabitants have left the towns and encamped in the open country. It is believed that altogether fully a thousand persons have perished.

Madrid, December 29. Reliable details to hand show that at Albuinas alone fully 900 lives have been lost by the recent earthquake. Tho town of Poriana has boon entirely destroyed by a landslip caused by the earthquake.