CABLEGRAMS. EUROPEAN.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 98, 18 April 1885, Page 3

CABLEGRAMS. EUROPEAN.

London, April 9.— At to-day's auction a firmer tone prevailed. 18,400 bales were offered. Since the opening of the series 22,000 bales have been withdrawn from sale out of a total of 169,800 catalogued. The Oriental bank are forming an assets company, with a capital of £600,000, for the purpose of dealing with the colonies. Captain Grieves has been selected for the command of the Queensland Artillery. The meat cargoes by the lonic from NewZealand and Liguria from Australia are selling at 6d per lb. As a result of the Commission of Inquiry into the German land claims in Fiji, it is believed that Mr Sahl will alone receive a small compensation. Mr J. C. Bray, ex-Premier of South Australia, returns to Adelaide via America towards the end of May. Mr J. B. Thurston, Colonial Secretary of Fiji, will sail on May 7th. The Pacific Commissioners will bring up their report next week. It is believed that an agreement prevails on all points, with the exception of Samoa. Steps will be taken to absolutely suppress the sale of arms, explosive substances of all descriptions, and tho sale of alcoholic liquors. Measures will also be taken for the establishment of proper control over the Island labour trade. Information has been received that immediately on the receipt of the news of the conflict between the Russians and Afghans, the Czar of Ruesia wired to General Komaroff, demanding an explanation. Tho Ameer of Afghanistan was much distressed on hearing o? the engagement against his troops. London, April 10.— A great Indian rising is feared in North-west Canada. The Prince of Wales, who has been an active member of the English Royal Commission on housing the working classes, has paid a visit to jjjae slums of Dublin, in order to ascertain the condition of the lower quarters of that city by personal observation. In the House of Commons to-day, Mr Gladstone stated, in reply to a question, that General Komaroff had been requested by the Russian Government to furnish an explanation of his conduct in attacking the Afghan troops. The European press generally condemns the action taken by General Komaroff. The English press and the public demand that that officer should be recalled, and they consider thatHussia is now only trifling with a view to gaining more time. Intelligence to the effect that Ayoub Khan, late Ameer of Afghanistan, has attempted to escape from custody, and has been conveyed to the citadel of Teheran, has been received. The panic which prevailed for some time on account of the threatening aspect of foreign affairs has now in a great measure subsided, and business matters have resumed their usual course. London, April 10. -The San Francisco mails from Auckland on March 3 were delivered here to-day. London. April 11.— A shipment of Jbeef, ex the steamer Liguria, has realised only 3^d. The meat arrived in an unsatisfactory condition. The shipment ex the Westminster brought 4{d per lb. The wheat market ia excited, and prices aro unsettled. April and May cargoes have been sold at 36s 6d, and February ehipments at 37s 3d. Holders, however, demand a higher price The wool market is weaker, and is especially low in greasy sorts. London, April 11.— 3 per cent, consols remain at 93 ; bank rate unchanged at 4£J; market rate, 2h per cent. New Zealand Government securities, 5 per cent. 10-40 loan has fallen to par ; 4i- per cent. 18791904 loan to 99^ ; and 4 per cent, inscribed stock to 94\ (sic). A considerable rise occurred in breadstuffs. Adelaide wheat, ex store, per 4961b3, 39s ; New Zealand ditto, 32s to 3Ss, according to grade ; Adelaide flour, 28s per 2801bs. The total quantity of wheat afloat for the United Kingdom is 2,760,000 quarters, being a decrease of 150,000 quarters during the week. Prime New Zealand mutton realised an average of 6d per lb. 10,400 bales wool were catalogued yesterday and 9,000 to-day. The market is quieter but still steady. London, April 11. -The New Zealand Shipping Company's R.M. s.s. Tongariro left Plymouth this afternoon for Port Chalmers via Teneriffe and the Cape. London, April 11. —Arrived, ship Pleiades, from Napier It is mentioned that England could have ready for embarkation, should hostilities with Russia occur, 20,000 men at two days' notice. The patriotic fund of the Bengal natives has amounted to 70 lacs of rupees (£840,000). Lloyd's Australian war risks have increased five shillings per cent. London, April 12 —The death i 3 announced of the Right Bon. George Swan Nottage, Lord Mayor of London. Ellis and Comrany, of Bradford, millers, have failed for £60,000. It is feared that the Ruf-siaDS will make an attempt to disable the Suez Canal. Admiral Hornby will probably command the Baltic fleet. The Black Sea, Sea of Azov, and the lower portion of the Baltic will remain open. The " Morning Post " states that the Emperor of Germany considers General Komaroff the aggressor in the recent action against the Afghans. His Majesty urges that the Afghan difficulty should be settled by arbitration at the annual meeting of Emperors at Skiermevice. It is not expected that the reply of General Komaroff to the demand of the Russian Government for an explanation of his attack on the Afghan troops will be received for fully a fortnight. London, April 13.— 1n the House of Com mons to-day, Mr Gladstone referred to the recent negotiations between Earl Dufferin and the Ameer of Afghanistan. He said they were entirely satisfactory. Speaking of the recent hostilities at Penjdeh, Mr Gladstone informed the House that as there was considerable discrepancy between the British account and that forwarded by General Komaroff, the Government had telegraphed to Sir Peter Lumsden to ascertain the actual facts of the case. Further details of General KomarofFs explanation in connection with his action in engaging the Afghans state that on finding the Afghans entrenched on the Russian side of the Kuhsk River, General Komaroff halted some distance from them. The Afghans then menaced a reconnoitering company of his, and also occupied a height commanding the flank of his forces, refusing to retire behind the Kuhsk River when requested. The Russians have sent to America an order for six cruisers of the Esmeralda class, and aic endeavouring to purchase the steamers plying between San Francisco and Honolulu. Two Russian transport vessels now at Port Said have been ordered to proceed to the Amoor lUver, and are also instructed to uvoid all British ports en route.

The Russian man-of-war Wladmir Monomadb.' is believed to be in the vicinity of the Cape. The English Press assert that by his explanation General Komaroff convicts himself. The Russian troops are advancing along the River Murghab. The Afghans are being employed in forwarding quantities of military stores and munitions of war to Pisheen. The British troops are massing at Quetta. It is announced that in view of the existing crisis the Admiralty has resolved on immediately sending ironclads to reinforce the naval squadron on the Australian and Chinese stations. London, April 13th. — Arrived, ship Marlborough, from Oamaru, 3rd January, with 10,500 carcasses frozen mutton. Lo>idon, April 13. Consols remain at 95. The market rate of discount remains at —being 1 per cent, below the bank rate. It is currently reported that an agreement has been arrived at between the English and Italian Governments, by which the latter country agrees to occupy the Soudan in the event of tho British troops in that locality being drafted to India. London, April 14.— The sum of one million and a half of the old Oriental Bank dividend has been deposited with the new Oriental Bank. Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princessof Wales, and Prince Albert Victor, left Dublin yesterday for Cork. A number of Nationalist sympathisers assembled at Mallow, a station a few miles north of Cork, with the view of making a hostile demonstration. They were, how ever.ejected from the station by the force of constabulary on duty, whereupon they assembled in the vicinity of the railway, and hooted the train on arrival. A riot also took place at Cork between the Nationalists and the loyal sections of the community, during the progress of which a number of windows were smashed by stones. Colonial stocks are unsettled. New South Wales 3h per cents, are at £S9, Victorian fours are" at £94, and Adelaide £100. The latter are over sold. In the House of Commons to-day, Mr Gladstonemade a statement te tho effect that j the Russian Foreign Office had renewed the recent pacific assurances as to the policy of the Government with regard to the Afghan frontier, and had stated that any change made by the Russian commander in the position of the troops near Pengdeh would bo contrary to the intentions and orders of the Government. It is feared that the Russians will attack Meruchak and Gulfikar. The European Press urge that Prince Bismarck should mediate in the settlement of the Russian difficulty The Russian squadron stationed at Naples has been ordered to proceed to the Baltic. Iti the engagement between the Russians and Afghans on the 30th March the lo&s of the latter was 930 killed and wounded. The ironclads which have been selected to strengthen the China and Australian squadrons will be ready in May. The Government to-day received a telegram from Mr Murray Smith, the Victorian Agent-General, in whifh he states that the prospects of a peaceful settlement of the Afghan frontier question aro very gloomy. The " Daily News " states that the troops comprising the various camel corps now serving in Egypt will be recalled to England forthwith. Rome, April 9. — His Holiness the Popo has been seriously indisposed, but is now making good progress towards recovery.

St. Petersburg, April 12. A telegram, dated April Ist, from General Komaroff, to the Russian Government, explains that he summoned the Afghans to evacuate a position they had taken up. This, however, acting under the advice of British officers present, they declined to do. In order to support the demand, Komaroff ordered his troops to advance, still counting, however, on a pacific issue of the difficulty. On the approach of the Russians, the Afghans opened fire on them, and followed with an attack on the cavalry, whereupon Komaroff felt compelled to order his troops to commence hostilities, with the result that the battle was fought as already . reported. ' The semi-official organ of the Government, "The Journal of St. Petersburg," commenting on Komi*'ffs explanation of the Afghan incident, declines to allow that the action of the Russian commander was prompted by aggressive motives.

Bombay, April 13. The Ameer of Afghanistan left Rawul Pindi to-day for Cabul, after reiterating his continued friendship for Great Britain.

Cairo, April 12. The news of tho rising by the disaffected followers of the Mahdi has been confirmed, and it is belieoed his forces have been completely destroyed in the fighting at El Obeid.

Suakim, April 10 (evening). Sir Gerald Graham has issued a proclamation calling upon the rebel Arabs to submit to him, and to furnish provisions and camels for the use of the British, otherwise they must be prepared to take the consequences of their resistance.

Suakim, April 10. News received from Kassala to the 20th March states that the Egyptian garrison up 'to that time had maintained their popition the rebel forces.

Suakim, April 12. Native sheikhs in the neighbourhood of this place, in consequence of General j Graham's proclamation, are rapidly I tendering their submission, and it is < expected when the British advance is completed as far as Tambouk nearly all the tribes will have owned the allegiance of British authority.

Suakim, April 13, evening General Graham reviewed the New South Wales Artillery this afternoon. Addressing the force, he complimented the men upon their soldierly appearance. A difficulty has arisen concerning the submission of the rebel Arabs, in accordance with the proclamation issued last week by Sir Gerald Graham. The sheiks demand foi their tribes a guarantee that they shall not suffer on account of past actions, but General Graham, on behalf of the authorities, is not prepared to give any pledges.