EUROPEAN.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 95, 28 March 1885, Page 3

EUROPEAN.

Lonbon, March 17. In the House of Commons to-day, Mr Glad■tone announced that in reply to telegrams sent to the Russian Government, requesting it to confirm the agreement recently entered into with M, De Steal (Imperial Ambassador in London), to the effect that no further advance of troops should take place on either side in Afghanistan, M. De Giers, the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, had replied that the Russian troop would not advance unless the Afghans did 80, or unless trouble occurred at Penjdeh, near which place the Russian troops are new encamped. Wool. — The sales opened at the level of last sales on the 17th, except crossbred, firmer ; faulty scoured, market easier ; medium and inferior greasy, market easier ; medium and inferior clothing, washed, market easier. The sales comprise about 200,000 bales ; 32,000 bales have been sent to the manufacturing districts direct. Wheat. — Markot quiet. Reports are favourable concerning the growing crop here. Adelaide is worth 86s 6d per 4961b ; New Zealand is worth 32s per 49Slb ; Tuscan, 34s Gd. Adelaide f.a.q. is worth (if off coast), 35s 6d per 4801bs. Hors. — New Zealand are worth 39s per cwt. London, March 18.— It is stated that the German Government has offered its services with the view of bringing about an amicable settlement of the Franco-Chinese difficulty. London, March 18. — The new Oriental Bank pays dividends of five per cent, in April. The Melbourne and Sydney broaches of the bank have been authorised to purchase any of the creditors claim in Australia for sixteen shillings in the pound, Mr J. C. Williamson, of the firm of Williamson, Garner, and Musgrave, theatrical managers, Melbourne, has started for America for the purpose of arranging with Mr Dion Boucicault, the actor, to appear in Australia. Lord Roseberry has invited all the A gent 8- General to a dinner given by him. Colonel Fletcher Owen, the new commander for Adelaide, will locally hold the rank of Brigadier-General. Mr George Anderson, Deputy Master of the Melbourne Mint, will sail for Melbourne in May. London, March 18.— TheGerman territory in New Guinea has been named "Kaisor Wilhelm's Land." The Reichstag has approved of a branch at Samoa and Tonga of the new German line of steamers to Australia. The Bank of England has paid one million two hundred thousand pounds of the New South Wale 3 loan into the account of the New South Wales Government with the Associated Banks. It has transpired that Mr Gladstone in November last demanded that the Russians should withdraw their troops from Sarakhp, on the Afghan frontier, but the Russian Government refused, and the demand thereupon lapsed. London', March 19.— The Bank of Eng land has reduced the rate of discount to dh per cent. An authoritative denial has been given to the report current yesterday that Germany had offered to mediate between France and China, and it is announced that M. Patenotre, the French Ambassrdor at Pekin, has been authorised to negotiate with the Chinese Government for an omicable settlement of the difficulty. London, March 19.— -Sir Saul Samuel has asked Her Majesty the Queen to sit for a portrait by Mr Joseph E. Boehm, R.A, The portrait is for the Sydney National Art Gallery. Mr J. C. Bray, ex -Premier of South Australia, sails for Adelaide by the P. and O. steamer Rome on May 7. The Duke of Argyle, Lord Tennyson and others are preparing an address thanking the colonies for their patriotism. The Marquis of Lome, who is actively promoting it, has thanked the Lord Mayor of London for his assistance in the matter. The address is now been circulated throughout the province*. London, March 19.— Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Edinburgh, and Prince Albert Victor started to-day for Berlin, to attend the festivities to be held in connection with the celebration of the Emperor William's birthday. London, March 19.— New Zealand securities : 5 per cent. 10-40 loan was advanced by2o3tolos|; the 4£ per cent. 1879-1904 loan has advanced by 5s to lOlf ; and the 4 per cent, inscribed stock by 20s to 99. London, March 19. — At to-day's auction 9,900 bales were catalogued. The sale was quiet, and prices generally, except for crossbreds, ruled half a penny lower than at the cloße of last auctions. The quantity withdrawn from sale since the spring series is 3,500 .bales. The third series of auctions will commence on June 4. The quantity to be available is estimated at 350,000 bales. London, March 19.— Consuls remain at 98£. The market rate of discount is 3| per cent., .} below the bank rate The total reserve in notes and bullion in the Bank of England is £18,300,000, an advance of £900,000 during the week. The proportion of reserve to liabilities is 49 per cent. Colonial breadetuffs and tallow are without quotable change. London, March 20.— The " Daily News " states that it is probable that the northern portion of Queensland will be formed into a Crown colony. London, March 21. — In connection with annexation of Samoa, it has been announced that the New Zealand Government have offered to bear the cost of governing that island. In the House of Commons to-day the Hon, Evelyn A»hley, Under-Secretary for the Colonies, announced that the Government had received information from the Cape that Colonel Warren had succedeed in effecting a settlement of the native difficulty in Stellaland, and was hopeful that he would be able to arrive at a pacific arrangement of affairs in the Land of Goshen and Bechuanaland. New Zealand frozen mutton, prime quality, is now realising 6£d per lb, an advance of a farthing during the week. At yesterday's auction a firm tone prevailed. The catalogue comprised 10,500 bales. Crossbreds are now ruling fully half-a-penny higher than at the clo3e of last auctions. The market continues firm. Todays catalogues comprised 11,300 bales. General Graham telegraphs to the War Office, from Suakim, that he yesterday cleared the hills around Haskeen of the rebels after severe fighting. The enemy numbered 4,000, and suffered heavy loss. After the battle they retired to Tamai, General Graham further states that a zareba has been formed at Haskeen with the Surrey Regiment and a battery of artillery with six guns as garrison. The remainder of the troops have returned to camp. London, March 22. — The death is announced of Rev. Dr. Wordsworth, formerly Bishop of Lincoln. Alikhanoff, a Russian secret ag-ent, i« endeavouring to form a rising among the native inhabitants of Panjdeh. The English fleet is ready to sail for the Baltic.

The St. Petersburg Press are triumphant at the agreement recently entered into between M. de Steal, the Imperial Ambassador in London, and Mr Gladstone, that no further advance of troops should take place on either side. At the battle of Haskeen, a charge made by the Arab* threw the Bengal Cavalry into confusion. The Arab loss was six hundred. London, March 22.— H.M.5. Myrmidom, 877 tons, has been appointed to the Australian station as surveying vessel. She will sail for Australia in May. The Lord Mayor of London will entertain the Agents-General at dinner. The Prince of Wales will be present. City financiers consider the present time favourable for floating loans. London, March 22,—The French troops are experiencing serious difficulty in obtaining supplies in Tonquin. London, March 22. — Arrangements are being made for an armistice between France and China, London, March 28. Reuters special correspondent with General Graham's army telegraphs from Suakim, under date midnight the 22nd j instant, that the British troops under the command of Major-General McNeill formed a zareba at a point about six miles along the road to Tamai. The position had been only occupied a short time when it was attacked »y a large force of Arabs, numbering fully 4)000, who made a violent onslaught on the zareba. The fighting, which was of a most despsrate character, lasted about twenty minutes, after which time the enemy were repulsed with a loss estimated at over one thousand. The British casualties are given as five officers and fifty-one rank and file killed, and one hundred and seventy wounded. Further particulars of the battle near Haskeen show that the British troops were building a zareba, when they were surprised by the rebels. The struggle was a short and fierce one, resulting in the Arabs being driven off. The Arab casualties were 1,000 killed and wounded, and that of the British 170 killed and wounded. The loss on the British side was principally among I the Indian Corps, and there were also a | number of camp followers who fell. Great havoc was made amongst the camels. Later despatches state that|the British loss was not so great as at first reported. The British casualties are new set down at two officers and twenty-four men killed and thirty-three wounded. The "Daily News" this morning publishes a telegram from India announcing that a force of 25,000 men is now being mobilised. It will be placed under the command of General Sir Fredk. Roberts, and will occupy Pishin, a place about 100 miles to the south-east of Candahar. The same telegram also states that Maharaja Scindia, of Gwaliar, has offered the services of his army to the British for employment, if required, in Afghanistan. It id reported that M. de Giers, the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, has resigned. Earl Granville is insisting on Rußsia proceeding with the commission for the settlement of the frontier question, otherwise Sir Peter Lumsden will settle it alone. London, Tuesday. — In the|House of Commons to-day, Mr Gladstone stated, in reply to a question, that Earl Granville, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, had addressed an important communication to Russia on the Kith March, and that it -was expected that the character of the answer would determine whether the negotiation between the two Powers would take place in London, or whether the Afghan frontier delimitation would be settled by a local commission of enquiry as desired by the British Government. j London, March 24. — The medical, advisers of Her Majesty have ordered her ! to go on a visit to Aix for the benefit of her j health. Aix is situated in Savoy, France, and is much resorted to for ite thermal waters. In the House of Lords yesterday the Message from the Queen was read in reply to the Address, adopted on the motion of the Earl of Wemyss, conveying the thanks, of their Lordships for the acceptance of the loyal offer of New South Wales troops for the Soudan, and expressing satisfaction that the offers of the other colonies would be accepted at the right time. Her Majesty's Message stated that she was highly gratified at the loyalty and patriotism displayed by the Australian colonist*, Sir Henry Bruce, M.P. for Coleraine, on behalf of the Conservative party, has given notice in the Houee of Commons of a motion censuring the action of the Government in agreeing to a European Convention for the settlement of Egyptian affairs. Sir F. Napier Broome, Governor of Western Australia, has been entertained at a banquet, at which the Agents-General fbr the colonies were present. Fifty thousand Indian troop 3 are ready to march to the Afghan frontier. In the last engagement on the road to Tamai the loss among the British and Indian troops was 245. The Arab loss was 1,500. Major-General McNeill has been blamed for the engagement. Berlin, March 18.— A disastrous mining explosion occurred to-day at Saarbrtick, in Rhenish Prussia, by which two hundred miners were entombed. Berlin, March 19. — Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Edinburgh, and Prince Albert Victor arrived to-day from London, Brussels, March 21.— King Leopold 11. has formally announced his acceptance of the title of Sovereign of the Congo State, formed by the International African Association. St. Petersburg, March 19.— Sero*i Official "Journal de St. Petersburg" states that Mr Gladstone's recent declarations regarding the Anglo-Russian eituation, had cleared the ground for parleying of a Pacific character. Cape Town, March 23. — The Shaw, I Savill, and Albion Co.'s b.s. Coptic arrived from Plymouth (Feb. 28), and sailed hence last evening for New Zealand. Calcutta, March 23,— Earl Dufferin, j Viceroy of India, started today for Rawul Pindi, in the Punjaub, in order to receive the Ameer of Cabul on his visit to India. Bombay, March 25. It is announced that those officers of the British and Indian armies who are absent ' on furlough at the present time will be recalled to India without delay. Madeira, March 22.— The New Zealand Shipping Co.'s R.M.S. Aorangi, from Wellington (14th), arrived yesterday morning. The shipment of frozen mutton is in good condition. Hongkong, March 22. — News has been received announcing the death of Sir Harry Parkes, British Minister at Pekin, aged 67. Suabim, March 18. It is expected that the British troops under General Graham will next week advance against the rebels under Osman Digna, who are collected in the neighbourhood of this place in considerable force. General Graham has summoned Osman Digna to surrender, in order to avoid blood* shed. Suakim, March 19, A force provided with a day's rations and a hundred rounds of ammunition per man started from Suakim this morning in the direction of Haapeen,

! The fofoe despatohed from here this morning merely made a reoonnaiaanoe in the direotion of Itasheon. It was found that the place had been eraouated by the enemy. The Britiih troop* entered, and after a alight skirminh with the rebels, who were atlll la tht vioinity, returned to their oamp. Suakim, Maroh 20, Later intelligence has come in that the British force which left here at daylight for Haskeen, came up with the rebels under Oeman Digna, and a severe engagement ensued. The fighting lasted for fully five hours and resulted in the complete defeat of the rebels who were driven from all their positions, with heavy loss in killed and wounded. A considerable force of British troops started at daylight to-day for Hashan, where immediate work will proceed in the construction of entrenchments. Suakim, Maroh 21. Accounts to hand of the battle whioh took place yesterday in the neighbourhood o Haskeen with the rebels under Osman Digna, in whioh the British were victorious at all points, gives the latter's loss at 20 killed and 44 wounded. Suakim, March 22. A considerable force under the command of Major- General McNeill started from this place this morning, formed into two squares, end proceeded in the direction of Tamai. On arrival there they will con-j struct a zareba, and the Berkshire regiment will remain to garrison the position, the rest of the force returning to camp. News has since been received that a large body of the rebels left Osman Digna's ; headquarters with the intention of intercepting General McNeill's force, but their movements being observed from the I British zareba at Haskeen, a heavy cannonade was opened upon them, with the result that their advance was checked, and a large number were killed and wounded. Cairo, March 23. General Wolseley, with the principal members of his staff, proceeds from Korti to Dongola to-morrow. Washington, March 23. —1t is announced that Senator Phelps is appointed American Minister to the Court of St. James, and for the future the appointment will not be subject to political changes, but be of a permanent character.