EUROPEAN.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 91, 28 February 1885, Page 3

E UROPEAN.

London, February 16. Lord Wolseley has telegraphed to the Imperial Government stating that the report of the messenger who left Khartoum on the 7th inst., and aflirtned that tne place had not then fallen, is unreliable. The fall of Khartoum (Lord Wolseley adds) is strongly confirmed, information to that effect having reached him from various sources. General Gordon is reported to have been shot while going to the* Austrian Consulate in a rush made by the rebels. After General Gordon fell, the Austrian Cousul was killed. The Consul representing Greece was made a prisoner, and remains in the keeping of the rebels. In a letter published today, the " Daily Telegraph " suggests that the women of England should present the members of the New South Wales contingent for the Soudan with a silver bugle as a special recognition of their patriotism. The same writer further suggests that Her Majesty should present a special ensign to the Australian troops. The " Times," in a leading article on the Gordon relief expedition, says that the despatch of Australian troops to Egypt is a step which has practically effected the military federation of the British Empire, London, February 17. It has transpired that the Government hivedecided todecline the offers of Canadian and Victorian troops for the Soudan, as it is believed they could not arrive at the scene of operation in timo to be of service. The " Times" states that the Government ought to overrule the decision given by the War Office refusing assistance from Victoria, as such refusal is likely to cause disgust with the Government. The Queensland Government have offered to send volunteers to join the Australian Brigade which is being forwarded to the So.idan. It is considered that their offer is certain to be accepted. London, February IS. — Soudry, the French Commissioner at the Melbourne International Exhibition, ha 3 been con victed of swindling, and sentenced to a term of imprisonment. A telegram from Lord Wolseley announces that a body of rebels, acting as escort to a quantity of guns and supplies being sent from Khartoum to El Metemmeh, came up with a British detachment, which was about eight miles from Gubat. The rebels opened fire on the convoy, which was responded to by the British, and after an hour's skirmish the enemy were driven off, and retired. The fir3b batch of reinforcements has sailed for the Soudan. The "Times" to-day states that the • Opposition leaders have decided on the meeting of Parliament to propose a vote of want of confidence in the Government on their Egyptian policy. Five thousaad Araba are reinforcing El Metemmeh. Her Majesty the Queen has, through Lord Derby, expressed to the various colonies a warm and grateful feeling for their offered oid, which was a most satisfactory expression of loyalty on their part. London, February 18. — The home authorities, fearing a rising, have decided not to reduce the strength of the garrison at present stationed in Ireland. Lord Derby is forwarding to Lord Lyons, the British Ambassador at Paris, a written protest from the several Agents -General against the deportation of recidivistes to the Pacific. Messrs Donaldson, Andrews, and STiarland, general merchants, with an agency in Adelaide, have failed for seventy thousand pounds. The assets of the firm are large. The creditors in the estate of Messrs Young and Lark, Australian merchants, which was sequestered for their benefit over a year ago, have not yet been paid their third instalment due. The death is announced of Madame Sain-ton-Dolby, the well-known vocalist, aged 64. London, February 19. Up to the present the amount of the Oriental Bank* call received is upwards of half a million. Her Majesty the Queen has, through Lord Derby, expressed to the various colonies a warm and grateful feeling for their proffered aid, which was a most satisfactory expression of loyalty on their part. It is believed that all the colonies except New South Wales will be warned that any troop 3 they may wish to send will probably be to late for an immediate campaign, but the decision in the matter will be left optional with the Colonies. Lord Derby is forwarding to Lord Lyons, British Ambassador at Paris, a written protest from the several AgentGenerals against the deportation of recidivistes to the Pacific. Parleying regarding the New Guinea annexation boundaries is still proceeding. London, February 19. — At a banquet given by the London Chamber of Commerce to-day, the Hon. Evelyn Ashley, Colonial L'nder-Secretary, made a speech, in which he advocated Imperial Federation and the admission of the colonial Agents-General to the House of Commons, but without a vote, Sir Saul Samuel, in a speech on the occasion, remarked that it was impossible to •draw the colonies closer together than they were at present. In the House of Lords to-day, the JMarquis of Salisbury, in the course of a speech, stated that the colonial policy of the Government had brought nothing but repeated insults. In the House of Commons to-day Mr Glad stone announcei that the Australasian Federation Enabling Bill would shortly be introduced in the House of Lords. The Prince of Wales will preside at the next meeting of the Royal Colorial Institute, when Sir F. Napier Broome will read a paper on "Perth," Western Australia. His Royal Highness has returned from Cannes. >■ It is considered unlikely that Sir. G. W. Dcs Voeux will be appointed to sacceed Sir W. F. D. Jervais as Governor of New Zealand. Russia is despatching a torce of 30,000 men to the region to the south of the Caspian. Parliament re-as3embled to-day. In the Houses of Lords and Commons, statements were respectively made by Earl Granville and Mr Gladstone as to the intentions of the Government with respect to the Soudan. They stated that the Ministerial policy was still to evacuate that country, but it had been resolved that a British force should go to Khartoum to break the powor of tlje Mahdi. The selection for the time of the advance of the expedition would be left with Lord Wolseley, but it would probably be in the autumn. Both speakers warmly recognieed the beneficial influence of the offers of troops by the colonies. With regard to Egyptian finances, they said the questions at issue had been henourably arranged with the Powers. The Marquis of Hartington, Secretary of War, in reply to a question, stated that the troops at Metemmeh, under Major-General Buller, would probably be ordered to fall back on Korti or Merawi.

Sir Stafford Northcote, in the House of Commons, gavo notice of a motion censuring the Egyptian policy of the Government. A Press Association message says ; — The notice of motion given by Sir Stafford Northcote in the House of Commons censures the resultless sacrifices of the Government, and asserts that it is necessary to establish a stable Government in Egypt, and in parts of the Soudan. The Queen to-day inspected at Windsor the Grenadier Guards, who are about to proceed to Egypt. A Press Association message says :—: — "The advance of the Mahdi on El Metemmeh is causing grave anxiety." London, February 20. - It is believed that Russia and France have arranged to divide Asia Mhor and Syria between them. It is rumoured that tho Governorship of New South Wales has beon offered to the Marquis of Lome, but tho Princess Louise (his wife) is unwilling that he should accept it. At the banquet given by tho London Chamber of Commerce, Sir Arthur Blythe and Sir Saul Samuel dissented from Sir Evelyn Ashley's views on colonial federation, The frozen meat, ex Orient steamer, is in good condition. The rebels are enclosing Abuklea Wells, and the troops under Major-General Butler are entrenching there. In the House of Commons last evening Mr Gladstone made a speech in which he said the offers of the colonies of troops for the Soudan testified their attachment to the Throne, and would draw closer the bonds of the empire. Earl Derby, speaking in the House of Lords,' said the country was deeply indebted to the spirit shown by the colonies. Government had decided to accept the services of the Now South Wales troops, and details were being arranged with the other colonies who had offered contingents. The Duke of Cambridge said he rejoiced at tho assistance of the colonies. A proclamation has been issued by the Queen, stopping men in active service from joining the reserve and embodying the Militia for garrison duty. The Queensland Meat Preserving Company have received large orders for provisions for the Soudan. Sir Stafford Northcote, speaking in the House of Commons, eulogised the gallant and spirited offers of assistance made by the colonies for the Soudan. These remarks wero received by the members of the House with prolonged cheering. The offers have created a marked impression in Berlin. London, February 21. — It is believed that France (if permitted to annex the Hebrides) is willing to guarantee all missionary rights, and undertakes not to send convicts to tho Group. The stakes for tho Waterloo Cup have been divided between Mr Hick's Miss Glendyne and Mr Dent's Bit of Fashion. London, February 22.— The Hon. J. F. Garrick, Agent-General for Queensland, and Mr Murray Smith, Agent-General for Victoria have asked Lord Derby to observe tho decision arrived at at the recent convention, and his reply has been generally favourable. Mr J. C. Bray, ex-Promier of South Australia, speaking at Greenock, advocated preferential treatment of Colonial ■nines in the matter of import duties. He also regretted that Earl Roseberry had not replaced Lord Derby as Secretary. It is believed that the acceptance of the Sydney offer for the Soudan will promote federation of tho colonies. A special cable despatch, received this afternoon, says : — There is an enormous gathering of rebels under Oman Digna at Tamai. Messrs Pritchard and Morgan, of Queensland, has promised £500 towards the patriotic fund, and will give a similar amount annually. Sir Gerald Graham and bis staff, with the Grenadier Guards, embarked to-day for the Soudan. News is to hand from Central Asia that a Russian force is advancing from Turkestan towards Panjleh, a town on the River Murghab, about Pfty miles to the South of the present Afghan-Turkestan frontier line. In consequence of this step, Sir Peter Lumsden and the British members of the Anglo-Russian Commission have retired from Surakho to Herat, fearing that a coliision will take place between the Afghans and Russians, owing to the encroachment of the latter on Afghan territory. London, February 23. Despatches received by the Government from General Gordon at Khartoum have been published. The last is dated December 14, and shows that Khartoum was then reduced to the last extremity. Fighting was going on day and night, the city being besieged by rebels on three sides. Gordon concluded his letter with the words, " Come quickly. " His despatches, dated November 4, received on the 14th, said he could hold out easily for forty days, but afterwards there would be a difficulty. He added that there were five steamers at Metammeh waiting Lord Wolseley's orders. An engagement has taken place in the neighbourhood of El Metammeh between the friendly Arabs and a tribe of the rebel Hadendowas, when two thousand of the latter were killed. In an article to-day on the refusal of the Imperial Government to accept additional colonial troops, the " Times " states that the reply is ungratefui, and further expresses the opinion that the aid of colonial troops will be needed. The "Standard" says the refusal is a distinct blunder, and characterises the reason given for not accepting the troops as weak. The Marquis of Salisbury has given notice in the House of Lords of a motion censuring the Government for proposing to abandon the Soudan, and declaring that such a proceeding would be dangerous to the safety of Egypt and the British Empire. In the House of Commons to-night, Sir Stafford Northcote proposed a vote of censure on the Government. The motion set forth the Ministerial policy in connection with the Soudan had proved resultless, and in his speech he urged that it was imperative that a Government should be established in that country, Mr Gladstone, in reply, warmly eulogised the late General Gordon, and pointed out that treason alone had prevented his rescue. He demanded that the House should have confidence in the policy of the Government. The debate was continued to a late hour, and then adjourned. Mr Gladstone has refused to give a pledge that he will establish a Government for the administration of affairs at Khartoum. London, February 24. In his speech on the motion of censure, Mr Gladstone strongly defended the Egyptian policy of the Government, and in regard to the death of General Gordon, urged that the same was unavoidable under the circumstances. At the meeting of the National Rifle Association to-day, tho Duke of Cambridge presided, in the course of his speech he expressed a hope that the British Government might find it possible to utilise the offers made by other colonies than New South Wales of troops for the Soudan.

JLiONDOK, February 24,— The Prince of Wales will visit Ireland in April. The Earl of Derby, Colonial Secretary, will shortly introduce the Enabling Bill for Australasian Federation in the House of Lords. A Press Association message says : —The Federation Enabling Bill will not be brought down until after Easter. England claims to be placed on an equality with Germany so far as Samoan interests are concerned. Paris, February 23.— At a Congress of dynamitards held in this city, it was re solved to extend explosive operations in England. Berlin, February 22.— The European Conference has agreed to the neutrality of the Congo River. The Conference will close un Thursday next. Hong Kong, February 18. News hm been received that two Chinese corvettes have been punk by French torpec'.oe. Three other Chinese war- vessels were, however, uninjured by the mines, and escaped. Cairo, February 17. Lateßt telegrams from Korti announce that Major General Sir Evelyn Weod has gone to Gubatonthe Nile, abovo Metemmeh, and that Colonel Brackenbury has consequently succeeded to the command of the ! late General Earle's column. Cairo, February 18. Intelligence has been received that the British troops on Saturday last abandoned Gubat, on the Nile, above Metemmeh, and retired to Abuklea, to the southward. The movement was effected without molestation from the enemy. It )» possible the troops will fall back on Gak^i;l where more water is obtainable. It is reported that the Mahdi, with fifty thousand followers, has left Khartoum, and is marching on Motemmeh. Cairo, February 19. News is to hand that Major- General Sir Herbert Stewart died on Monday last at Gakdul, from the injuries he received at the battle near Metemmeh on the 19th ult. Cairo, February 22. Latest telegrams to hand from Korti report that the enemy is harassing the British troops at Abuklea, to w> ich place Sir Rod vers Bull&r recently retired from Gubat, and it is stated that he will fall back on Gakdul as soon as the necessary camels arrive at Abuklea.