EUROPEAN.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 87, 31 January 1885, Page 3

EUROPEAN.

London, January 21.— The Union Bank of Australia has declared a dividend for the past half-year at the rate of 16 per cent, per annum, and carries forward and places to the reserve £39,000. London, January 22. — Sir George Dcs Ycuux, Governor of Fiji, will return to Eng land in February, and the Hon. J. B. Thurston, C.M.G., Colonial Secretary of Fiji, who is at present on a visit to England, will return as soon as possible to administer the Government. * Particulars of the engagement between the rebels and the British troops under Colonel Sir Herbert Stewart, near Gakdul, show that when distant a quarter of a milo from the English lines, the Arabs charged in splendid line, with banners waving. Amongst those killed was the Emir of El Metenmeb. The Emir of Berber received a wound from a spear thrust. Several of the men under Colonel Burnaby, and a great many camels, were speared by the Arabs. The Arabs, having formed a square, wore charged by the Marines, who killed every Arab composing the square. Great tactical skill and bravery were shown by the Arabs. The heaviest loss of the English was six officers and fort 3* seven men killed. A Gardener gun was also disabled. The sailors in their charge on the equare lost two officers. The country in which the engagement took place was very rocky and rugged. Later information from Gakdul in refei* rence to the engagement states that the English were enticed into a difficult position when the Arabs charged the front, but were repulsed. They then furiously attacked the raar. At the onset the "heavies" broke, but quickly rallied. The guards and light infantry opened up a murderous fire on the enemy. It is intimated that the Arab loss was twelve hundred killed and wounded. Colonel Sir Herbert Stewarts horse was killed under him. The enemy have retired to El Metomnob The rebels under El Mahdi have captured Omderman. The Committee of the German Reichstag have recommended the subsidising of an African- Australian line of steamers. Mr Parnell, speaking at Cork, urged the labourers and farmers to pay no rent, and also advocated the protection of Irfsh in dustries. It is expected that the dividend in the Oriental Bank will be paid in a fortnight. It is believed that the Victorian Government claims against the Bank estate will be settled by the payment of twenty shillings in the -C without interest. If a commission is appointed to consider German and British interests in the Pacific, the Hon. J.B. Thurston, C.M.G., will probably be appointed to represent England. A third of the shares in Mr Reginald Brett's Financial Company of Adelaide have been subscribed. The prospects of the Company are encouraging. The official.telegram from Lord Wolsele}' i states that, on Saturday last, the British column under Colonel Stewart inflicted a complete defeat on 10,000 Mahdites, -who occupied the position at the Abukela Wells, between Gakdul and Metammeh. Colonel Stewart, leaving the camels and baggage at the camp, advanced in a square, the whole force being on foot. Ho outflanked the enemy, who charged bravely under a withering fire, and succeeded in penetrating the left of the square. The British troops were ad mirably steady, and maintained a hanoi-to-hand fight with the rebels, who at length were driven off completely defeated. While the fighting was proceeding on the left, the other parts of the square were firing heavily on the enemy, who were finally repulsed, leav'ng eight hundred dead and a number of wounded. The Hussars have sinceoccupied the enemy's position at Abukela, and Colonel Stewart is now advancing on Metammeh. The British loss is nine officers killed, including Colonel Burnaby ; nine wounded, including Captains Viscount St. Vincent and Earl Airlie; sixty-five men killed and eighty-five wounded. Colonel Stewart believes that his victory will dishearten the enemy, and that in the future fighting will be less obstinate on their part. London, January 23rd. — The Austrian authorities are inquiring into the advisability of establishing a trans-ocean penal settlement. London, January 23.— After further consideratior, the Cabinet have decided to accept the French counter-proposals on the basis of the parleying proceeding thereon. The Cabinet offers to guarantee the required loan for Egypt, but regrets the principle of the multiple control of the Powers in that country. London, January 23. — Consols remain at 99§. New Zealand Government securities are unchanged. Colonial Breadstuff's : Adelaide wheat, ex store, 38s ; New Zealand ditto, 30s to 36s : Adelaide flour, 265. The total quantity of wheat afloat for the United Kingdom is 2,210,000 quarters. Australian Tallow : Average quality bee c , 34s ; mutton, 34s Gd. Wool : To-day's auction prices were steady, but the demand is not active. The catalogue comprised 7,900 bales. New Zealand mutton of prime quality is quoted at 5d to s£d. London, January 24.— The "Daily News" to-day states that England intends to annex the whole southern part of New Guinea. Sir Wm. McArthur has entertained the Hon. J. B. Thurston, Colonial Secretary of Fiji, at a banquet. A sharp rise has taken place in nearly all colonial corporation stocks. Mr Thos. A. Welton, liquidator in the Oriental Bank estate, offers to [settle the Victorian claims by paying twenty shillings in the £ without interest. Intense excitement has been caused here by a daring and well-planned attempt to damage the House of Parliament and the Tower of London by dynamite explosions. Early thie afternoon the first explosion occurred, dynamite having been lodged in the first crypt under Westminster Hall. The windows of the hall were smashed by the concussion, and a large hole was made in the floor. Two policemen and some visitors who were present were seriously injured. A few minutes later a second explosion occurred, the spot being under the Strangers' Gallery, in the House of Commons. The western end of the Chamber was completely wrecked by the force of the explosion. One person who is su&pected of h^fing caused the explosion was arrested on the spot. The third explosion occurred about the same time, the scene being at the White Tower of the Tower of London. Numerous visitors were present at the timo, and four persons were severely injured. The windows in the neighbourhood were broken, and the buildings sustained considerable damage. In connection with the dynamite outrages, it has transpired that a lady informed a constable who was on duty at Westminster Hall that she had observed some men

place a parcel in the crypt, and whilo the policeman was in the act of removing itan explosion ensued. Sevoral monuments in the Hall wero considerably injured. About ono hundred visitors had quitted the House of Commons just before the oxplosion occurred. The Peers 1 Gallery and the Liberal lobby were completely wrecked. The Opposition lobby, the Strangers' Gallery, and many benches in tho House, together with Mr Gladstone's and the Speaker's scats, were injured by the explosion. At tho Tower, tho armoury roof was blown open by dynamite, which was placed on tho staircase. Five persons wero soriously injured, and thirty, including children, wero slightly injmed. A great many stands of arms wero destroyed by tho explosion. London, January 25. — The " Observer " states that England assents to the French proposals regarding settlement of Egyptian finances, with tho exception of that relating to the immediate apointment of a Financial Inquiry Committee. The Government of the Transvaal have concluded a commercial treaty with Germany. Sir Saul Samuels, Agent General for New South Wales, will preside at tho February dinner of tho Empire Club. London, January 2o. — The meat by the steamer Victory from New Zealand, is realising from s|d to s£d, Lord Derby considers that any future action taken by England in connection with annexation will much depend on the liberality of the colonies in the matter. Sir Saul Samuel is urging the necessity for a complete jurisdiction being established over New Guinea. Germany has annexed North Sierra Leone, on the west coast ot Africa. Bismarck is opposing tho stringency of the annexation rules as proposed by England to be brought before the forthcoming Conference on Pacific affairs. Tho policeman who attempted to remove the parcel of dynamite which exploded at Westminster Hall is dj'ing from tho in juries he sustained. Over a hundred apertures were made in the roof of the hall, near where the explosion occurred. The contents of the banqueting hall, Council Chambers, and tower were much damaged by water during the extinguishing of the fire caused by tho explosion. A Canadian sailor, who was suspected of complicating in the outrage, and arrested, has since been released, and an Lish American has been arrested on suspicion. The whole country is intensely indignant at the outrage. Lord YYolseley telegraphed to the Government that General Earle's column had reached Hammab and started far Berber via Abuhomed. General Earle had collected his forces at a point thirty-five miles beyond Hamdab. The absence of any nows from Colonel Stewart since the battle with tho enemy near Abukela is causing some anxiety. LATER. The Arabs report that Colonel Sir Herbert Stewart has arrived at El Metonauch.

London', January 26. — The Cape authorities havo succeeded in urre&ting the murderer of Mr Bothell, Chief of the Frontier Police in Bechuanaland. The American Government arc pressing the claims of American subjects in Fiji upon tho English Government. It is stated that the Government havo received a letter disclosing the plans of the dynamitards who effected the recent explosions, and indicating the members and their haunts. The London Prcs& strongly appeal to America to enact more vigorous measures against the dynamitards. The perpetrators of the dynamite outrage* are the subject of considerable execration in America. Great disgust is also expressed on the Continent at the outrage. M. Bayard has invited the French Senate to pa°s a. resolution expressive of sorrow with England regarding tho recent explosions. The police authorities have a clue to the person who placed the dynamite in the crypt at Westminster I lall.

London, January 26. — No confirmation has yet been received of the report that an Anglo-German Conference i? to take place on the Pacific annexation question.

London, January 20. — A cargo of seven thousand carcases of frozen mutton from New Zealand, ex steamship Victory, has been landed in good order. Lord Wolseley telegiaphs from Korti that there is no cause for anxiety as to the position of Colonel Stewart and his column. A man named Gilbert, Irish American, who was arrested on Saturday in connection with the dynamite explosion at the Tower, was examined at Bow-street Police Court to-day, and remanded for a week. The police are pui'suing an important clue to the identity of the men who were engaged in the dynamite outrages at Westminster and the Tower of London, and eight persons are now being closely watched. Loxj3ox, January 27- — The " Times " to-day states that a treaty has been concluded between France and Portugal, under which those countries agree to divide the Congo estuary, thus ignoring the decisions of the Berlin Conference on West African affairs.

London, January 27.— Mr Cashel Hoey, C.M.G., who was to have represented Victoria at the Lisbon Postal Conference, will be unable to be present. Mr Corbett will, therefore, represent Victoria instead. Lady Normanby died on Monday night. Her ladyship had been suffering severely from bronchitis and an affection of the heart. Dr. James, of London, was her medical attendant. The Marquis ot Normanby is also unwell. The " Times " statement regarding the alleged Franco-Portuguese Congo treaty is is declared to be quite unfounded, Berlin, January 23.— Latost bulletins announce a decided improvement in Emperor's health.

-Berlin, January 24. — A convention has been concluded between the Russian and German Governments providing for the mutual extradition of anarchists.

Rome, Jauuary 21. — The severe weather experienced in the north has caused heavy avalanches in Piedmont and Savoy. Several villages have been completely destroyed. ■'-Rome, January 24. — The annexation by Italy of Belulbay in the Red Sea, is said to be imminent.

Cai'e Town, January 21 — Herr Kruger recently delivered a speech to the Goshenite Boers, in which he stated that the Transvaal Government were determined to pursue severe measures to repress the disorder in Bechdanaland. In reply, the Goshenite leaders protested that they were anxious to live at peace with the natives.

Cairo, January 21. Intelligence has been received here that a severe engagement has been fought near Gakdul between the British troops under Sir Herbert Stewart and a body of the rebels, numbering fully ten thousand. Heavy fighting proceeded for some time, but Colonel Stewart finally gained a brilliant victory, and inflicted heavy loes on the enemy, fully eight hundred of whom were left dead on the field. British casualties are set down at nine officers and sixty-five men killed, and nine officers and eighty-five men wounded. After

the battlo tho enemy retired, and Colonel Stewart will advance forthwith to El Metammeh, from which position it is hoped communications will oe opened with Khartoum. Cairo, January 21. Lord Wolseley telegraphs that the cavalry have reached Hamdab, and that a recon noitring party has proceeded thence in the direction of Berber without meeting with

any opposition. Cairo, January 22. Later despatches state that in the battle near Gukdue, the enemy numbered fully fourteen thousand, including nine hundred riflemen. Colonel Stewart had a narrow escape from death, his horao having been shot undor him.

Cairo, January 2G. Telegrams from Korti state that General Earlo's column has reached the fourth cataract on tho Nile.

Cairo, January 27. Latest telegrams from Korti report that General Wolsoley has despatched a large convoy with supplies to Gakdul, on tho road to Mctetnmeh.

Hong Kong, January 24. — Tho French forces recently mado an attack on the Chinese at Kolung, and were ropulsed with severo loss.

Hong Kong, January 27. — In pursuance of orders from home to enforco the neutrality of this port, the Colonial authorities have refused to allow the French warship Triumphant, now operating against China to refit here.

Capetown, January 24. — Tho advance of the British expedition to Bochuanaland has commenced.

Washington, January 24, — A bill has been presonted to the Sonato to provide for the punishment of explosive crimes hatched or committed in America or elsewhere.

Washington, January 26. In the Sonate, to-day, a resolution expressing abliorronco of the dynamite outrages recently porpotratcd in London was passed.

Santiago (Chili), January 20. A futile attempt to kill President Senor Dominga Santa Maria with an infernal machine was made on Saturday.