EUEOPEAN.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 99, 25 April 1885, Page 3

EUEOPEAN.

London, April 16.— The Rev. William "Webber, the newly -appointed Bishop of Brisbane, will be consecrated at St. Paul's on May 26th. At a meeting of the shareholders of the Bank of South Australia, a motion was passed approving of the proposal to transfer fifty thousand pounds from the reserve fund to meet all possible loss. A large meeting is to be held in London to take into consideration the condition of the British navy. Consols have risen §,and are now quoted at 95£. The bank rate remains at 3i,per cent., but the market i*ate is reduced J, and is now 2g per cent. New Zealand securities remain at previous quotations. The "Journal de St. Petersburg " contains the report that the Afghans intend to revolt in favour of Russia. The new Mahdi has captured the town of El Obeid from the followers of the Mahdi. London, April 17.— The Bishop of Oxford defends Bishop Barry, Primate of Sydney, in his efforts to discourage marriage with a deceased wife's sister. The belief that a peaceful settlement will be effected of the difficulty between England and Russia with regard to the Afghan froniter question is hourly increasing. If the colonies pay the necessary cost, the Admiralty are willing to supply mon and to maintain the men-of-war belonging to the Colonial Navies. The N. Z. Shipping Co. 's steamer Kaikoura has been solected by the Admiralty for equipment as a cruiser. The stock market is improving, as tho apprehensions of war between England and Russia*are subsiding. London, April IS. — Wool : The sales closed at the level of last sale 3 on the ISth inst. Except superior greasy, market easier. Good scoured, market easier. Superior combing washed has declined fully 2d to 3d. Medium and inferior greasy, medium and inferior clothing washed, medium and inferior combing washed, andfaulty scoured, have declined Ad to Id. Fine crossbred and coarse cross-bred have advanced Ad to Id. Merino lambs market unchanged, and faulty merino lambs market easier. There was much irregularity in the bidding. The sales comprised about 195,000 bale", of which 40,000 bales have been held over for future disposal, 110,000 bales have been taken for the Continent, and 5,000 bales for America. Wheat : Market has a downward tendency. Adelaide is worth 38s, New Zealand 365, and Tuscan 3Ss for 4961b5. Adelaide f.a.q. is worth c.i.f. to arrive, 37s for 4Solbs. London, April IS — Consols have further advanced by an eighth, and are now at 97a ; New Zealand securities remain at last quotation, and there are no changes to report in colonial produce The March- April series of wool s»les closes to day, the total quantity sold being ISO.OOO bales ; 42,000 are held over for next auctions. Prices generally closed a halfpenny to a penny tower, except for crossbreds, which have advanced by a halfpenny to a penny compared with closing rates of the January February auctions. The third series of sales open on June 4. London, April 19. —The new steamer Burrumbeet, built for Messi'3 Huddart and Parkei*, of Victoria, has made a trial trip, ■when a speed of thirteen knots was attained. The D.D. degree has been conferred by the University of Edinburgh on Rev. John Kinross, 8.A., principal of Sfc. Andrew's College, Sydney, and Professor Salmond, of the Otago University. The ** Spectator," in an article on federation, considers that the right of secession held by a colony would override any past decisions of a Federal Council, and would be fatal to federation The French ultimatum in reference to the suppression of the "BosphoreEgyptianne has been presented to the Egyptian Government. It is reported that the latter have refused to accede to the relicensing of that paper, as demanded. Mr Gladstone states that an honourable settlement of the Afghan difficulty is probable. General Komaroff admits having received news of the agreement between England and Russia before the 23th March. It is officially assumed that the Ameer of Afghanistan would rather abandon Penjdeh to Russia than permit the British army to occupy Herat ; and yet the Ameer stated on Friday that he would never surrender an inch. Troops from C'andahar will reinforce Herat. General Dondoukoff has been ordered to advance from Sarakhs, and pursue his march close to Herat. Rumours of a peaceful settlement of the existing difficulty between England and Ru.^sia continue to be rife, but so far nothing of a definite nature has transpired in regard to the situation. The " Standard" stated yesterday that the Ameer of Afghanistan was disposed to pre3s his claim to Penjdeh, and expresses the belief that everything demanded by Russia ha« been conceded except the Zulfikar Pass, which remains Afghan territory. London, April 20. — It is rumoured that Germany is preparing a fresh surprise in connection with their colonial annexation policy. Herbert Vaughan, Roman Catholic Bhhop of Salford, is a passengor by the Orient steamer Austral for Sydney. f- It is expected that to-morrow (Tuesday), Government will ask the House of Commons for a vote of six millions, to defray the ex. ponses of the military preparations now being carried on. A number of torpedoes have been procured in Germany. The Admiralty have engaged the Orient Company's steamer Lusitania as a cruiser. A telegraph despatch has been received at the War Office from Sir Gerald Graham, in which he states that the colonial troops marched on Saturday last, a distance of fourteen miles through a pass consisting oi most difficult country, in nine hours. Colonel Richardson, commanding the Australian contingent, conducted the advance of the force in excellent style. In the House of Commons to day Mr Gladstone announced that the Government had received a further despatch from Sir Peter Lumsden, but it was not a reply to the inquiries made in the communication of the 10th instant, wherein the Government asked the British Commissioner to report all the circumstances connected with the Penjdeh incident. Sir Peter Lumsden's present despatch, Mr Gladstone added, conflicted with the version of the affair recently published by the Russian Government from General Komaroff, and the Cabinet therefore must await further details before communicating Sir Peter Lumsden's despatch to the House. Tho statement made to Parliament to day by the Premier has caused renewed anxiety as to the probable result of the RussoAfghan difficulty. London, April 21 — Tho shipment of frozen meat ex ship Marlborough is selling at s£d per Ib. The French Government will allow Nubar Pasha time, to consult with the Porte in

connection with the suppression of the " Bosphore Egyptien." Mr Gladstone admits, in a measure, the responsibility of the English Government in regard to its suppression. Their Royal Highnesses, the Prince and Princess of Wales, returned from the South of Ireland to Dublin yesterday. They received an enthusiastic reception along the route, though there were some cases of mingled hooting. j§M. de Giers, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, states that the British officers who WfiYQ present at the recent engagement encouraged the Afghans to provoke a Russian attack, and that General Komaroff s despatches which have been received in St. Petersburg amply justify his action ; and that, under the circumstances, it would have been a neglect of duty if he had failed to attack the Afghans. Despatches have been receivod from Sir Peter Lumsden, in which he reiterates the statement contained in his former message, I that the Afghans did not provoke tho attack. Tho Russians are compelling the inhabitants of Sarakhs to construct a military road towards Herat. The "Standard's" special correspondent telegraphs that tho Afghans are studiously moderate in their manner towards the Russians. i The "Daily Nowa" to-day announces j that it lias been decided to withdraw tho ! force undor the command of Sir Gerald Graham from Egypt at once.

St. Petersburg, April 17. In his latost dispatch to tho Russian Government, Komaroff reports that the Afghans have evacuated all their posts on the frontier, and that the Russian troops remain stationary.

St. Petersjjurc:, April 18, It has transpired that in a late despatch to his Government, General Komaroff announced that when Pcnjdeh and forts in the neighbourhood were evacuated by tho Afghans, and the latter fled to Herat, ho deemed it expedient to place Penjdeh under temporary Russian administration.

St. Petersburg, April 20 The Russian Baltic fleet has now rendezvoused at Cronstadt, and is making active preparations for sea.

Suakim, April IS. A messenger has arrived with a letter to General Graham, from the chiefs of the Amaray tribe, offering a force of five thousand men to join the British against Osruan Digna. Melbourne, April 13.— The trial of the convict Barne3 for the inui'dcr of tho late Mr J. B. Slack concluded to-day. The prisoner was found guilty and sen ten cod to death.