EUROPEAN.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 103, 23 May 1885, Page 3

EUROPEAN.

London, May 6.— Sir James Fergusson formerly Governor of South Australia, ii seeking election to the House of Commons, and has announced his candidature foi Manchester. London, May 12. The Government intend to fortify the Indian frontier line, and the sum of five millions is to be expended in such work. London, May 13.— 1n the House of Commons last night, Mr Gladstone announced that a Bill will be introduced shortly enabling Parliament to dissolve in November next. London, May 13. — The Belgian export Company have suspended payment. England wiJl award medals to the New South Wales contingent for their services in the Soudan. London, May 13. — It is understood that I the million loan for New Zealand will shortly be placed on the market. The Queensland loan is expected to be a success. A Tasmanian loan it expected shortly. At the meeting of the London Chamber of Commerce last night, Sir Wm. McArthur in the chair, a resolution was passed to establish an Australian trade section in the Chamber, This sectionincludes forty colonists, with Sir Win. McArthur as Chairman. In the House of Commons the Hon. G. J. Goschen will probably move the omission in the Federation Bill of clause 31, which provides for the withdrawal of a colony. The general elections will pr«bably take place in November next. In the House of Commons last night Mr Gladstone referred to Earl Granville's statement on Monday last relative to the agreement that had been come to on the Afghan frontier question. Mr Gladstone pointed out that Earl Granville had qualified his statement by announcing that the agreement was referred to the Czar for his approval. ' Japan and China are preparing to prevem the Russians from seizing Quelparfc,an islanc in the Yellow Sea off the N.E. coast o: China. The Conservative and Irish members are opposed to the arrangement entered into with Russia, but the Liberal members approve of it. In consequence of the improved prospects of peace wheat ha 3 fallen '2z per quarter. London May 14. The Orient Company's R.M.S. 'Orient will probably take the New South Wales contingent from Suakim to Sydney. London, May 1.5.-— Captain Penrose, of the Royal Engineers, who was selected for New South Wales, will sail by the L\ and 0. steamer Paramatta, "Lieuts. Millward and Bunbury, selected for the same colony, will leave by the Orient steamer Iberia. Router's telegram states that the total amount tendered for was £3,750,900. Tenders at £96 9s 6d will receive 35 per cent, of application ; above that in full. Negotiations are still proceeding with regard to the Afghan frontier question. It is proposed that the Russian boundary shall be fixed at Penjdeh, while the frontier of Afghanistan shall not extend northward of the Zulficar Pas.-, leaving a neutral zone between the two territories. ] London, May 14. —A strong committee has been formed to carry out the construction of the Adelaide ocean dock. The necessary funds for it will be provided privately. The Eastern Extension Telegraph Company will connect Normanton, in Queenslend with the Roper River, in the northern tsrritory, the Adelaide Government undertaking to connect the latter place with Elsie Creek, on the overland telegraph line. The Queensland loan, now in the market, is quoted at a premium at one and a quarter per cent. Mr Allen Red fern, of the firm of Redfern and Co., shippers, is dead. Sir C. L. Tilly, Minister of Finance, Canada, succeeds .Sir Chas. Turper as High Commissioner for Canada. London, May 14.— The directors of the Bank of England to-day further reduced the Bank rate from 3 per cent, to 2\ per cent. London, May lo. — The tenders for the Queensland two million and a-half four per cent, loan were opened to-day. There were five hundred and fiftythree tenders, amounting to nearly £4,000,000. Tenders at £07 9s 6d will receive in full. The minimum of the loan was £97. London, May 15.— The Eastern Extension Telegraph Company will connect Normanton, in Queensland, with the Roper River, in the Northern Territory, to Adelaide, the Government undertaking to connect the latter place with Elsey Creek, on the overland telegraph line. Parliament has voted the allowance to Her Royal Highness the Princess Beatrice. The Queensland loan, now in the market, is quoted at a premium of 1$ per cent. It is reported that the Vatican will submit to England three names in connection with the appointment ot an Archbishop for Dublin, and that Archbishop Moran's name will be the first submitted. Mr S. L. Tilley, Minister of Finance in Canada, succeeds Sir Charles Tupper as High Commissioner of Canada. The death is announced of Mr Alexander Redfern, of the firm of Redfern and Co., Australian shippers. The flon.^Mr Childers, Chancellor of the Exchequer, contends that colonial securities are liable to pay stamp duty. A strong committee has been formed to carry out the construction of the Adelaide i ocean dock. The necessary funds for it will be provided privately. Lord Sherbrooke has published a volume of poems. The limit of the June wool sales has been reached. The " Standard " states that the Russian Government will not sanction the draft agreement drawn up for the settlement of the RuBso- Afghan question, and that parleying has been resumed. In the House of Commons to-day, the Marquis of Hartington, Secretary of State for War, stated in reply to a question that Her Majesty's Government did not regard it as either convenient or satisfactory for the Australian contingent to visit England. Hon. Mr Gladstone informed the House, in reply to a question, that Her Majesty's Government had received no reply from Russia in regard to the portion of the Afghan frontier line, which has not yet been delimited. Referring to the Irish question, Mr Gladstone announced the partial renewal of the S revention of Crimes Act in Ireland, and stated that Government at present were unable to deal with the question of Irish local self-government or to proceed with ithe Land Purchases (Ireland) Bill. It is thought probable that some of the •difecerg of the contingent may remain in England for a time as guests of the Governanont. The New South Wales Contingent will •embark either on Saturday or Sunday. None of them will visit England. The English Government will bear the coat of transport ta Australia.

London, May 16. —A hitch has occurred in the settlement of the Franco-Chinese question. It is reported that Italy will occupy Suakim. The " Standard " this morning announces that the Suez Canal Commission allows Egypt the control of the navigation of the aaiial The "Daily News" to-day states that the point of difference between England and Russia on the Afghan frontier question does not involve any essential portion of the agreement recently come to by the two countries. Lord Wolseley advised that eighty of the New South Wales contingent should visit, England, and Mr Howard Vincent and others were willing to defray the expenses of the visit. London, May 17.~-The Revised Bible which has just been issued, has been favourably received. In the House of Commons today, the Marquis of Hartington, Secretary of State for War, stated,jin reply to a question, that Her Majesty's Government did not regard it as either convenient or satisfactory for the Australian contingent to visit England. London, May 18.— The trial of the two men, Cunningham and Barton, on a charge o f being concerned in the recent dynamite explosions at the Houses of Parliament and the Tower of London was concluded to-day. The prisoners were each sentenced to penal servitude for life.London, May 18.— Lord Edmund Fitzmaurice, Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, announced in the House of Commons to-day that the Spanish Government refused to extend to England the treatment of the most favoured nation, in pursuance of the Convention, and that the negotiation for the commercial treaty had been broken off in consequence. London, May 18.— In the Houso of Comnnns to-day, the Hon. Evelyn Ashley, Parliamentary Under - Secretary for the Colonies, stated in reply to a question that the Western Pacific Commissioners bad sent in reports to their respective Governments, and there was every prospect of an entente cordialeon the question. London, May IS. — Late information received fcom Khartoum states that the Madhi is in great straits. The Irish Bishop 3 are opposing the rumourod appointment of Archbishop Moran, of Sydney, to the Archbishopric of Dublin. Louis Kiel, the leader of the recent rising in Saskatchewan, will be tried for treason. The frosts are injuring the hop crop. The inhabitants of the territory adjacent to Zanzibar are resisting the German protectorate rocently established over them. It has transpired that a political attempt was made to damage the Queensland loan, but ended in failure. The comments which arc being made on the Blue Book iasued in reference to the Afghan question are damaging the Government. London', May 19. — It is announced tha the second reading of the Federation Enabling Bill will not be moved in the House of Commons until after Whitsuntide. Cairo, May 19.— The withdrawal of British troop 3 from the Upper Nile will be proceeded with immediately, and the iirst portion of the force will leave Dongola on Thursday, 2 1st inst. The "Pall Mall Gazette" of this day enie3 that any hitch has occurred in the negotiations between England and Russia on the Afghan question. The Revised Version of the Bible is having an immense sale. Germany is urging France not to accept the terms of the Egyptian Convention unless European control of the Suez Canal is provided for. Mr Gladstone, in the course of a speech in the House of Commons, referred to the early close of his political career. The Victorian loan is now quoted at a premium of two and a quarter per cent. London, May 19 —It is stated that negotiations are now in progress between the Governments of Italy and Great Britain with the view of the occupation of Suakim by the former country, and that a number of Italian troops have received orders to hold themselves in readiness for that service. It is reported that the Hon. Alex. Stuart (Premier of Mew South Wales), the Hon. W. B. Dalley (Attorney -General of New South Wales), and the Hon. Edmund Barton (Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the same colony), will be created K.C.M.G.'s ; and that Colonel J. S Richardson, commanding the New South Wales contingent, will be made a Commander of the Bath. The Hon. Evelyn Ashley will nun c the omission of the abrogating proviso in the Federation Bill. Lord Carrington leaves for Sydney by the P. and 0. steamer Carthage. Victor Hugo, the well-known poet, i.s reported to be in a dying condition. He is 83 years of age. London, May 20. Russia claims to be permitted to locate a diplomatic agent at Cabul. The Russian generals stationed in the vicinity of the Afghan frontier are insisting upon the retention of the Zulfikar Pass. Suakim, May 14. Lieutenants Airey, Wrench, and Sparrow, of the New South YVales contingent, have volunteered to remain behind and act as mounted scouts after the departure of the remainder of the contingent for Australia. Lieutenant-Colonel Richardson, the Australian commandant, is unwell, and has gone aboard the Ganges, hospital ship. The greater part of the troops under Major-General Graham leave at once for England. The work of embarkation commenced to-day. The Guards leave first. The Australian troops leave immediately in the s.s. Arab for Australia. The horses belonging to the New South Wales Artillery will be handed to the Royal Horse Artillery. Suakim, May 17. The Australian contingent embarked this morning, loudly cheered by the British troops on shore. At a dinner on board the transport, Lord Wolseley, who was present, addressed the colonials. In the course of his speech he expressed his surprise at the appearance of the men, which, he said, was most creditable for a force just off service. He concluded by assuring them they carried with them the heartiest good wishes of h imself and staff. The transport, with the Australian contingent on board, will sail to-morrow. Calcutta, May 12. Major-General Sir Donald Stewart has been ordered to proceed at once to Herat, it is believed in connection with the projected fortification of that city. Ottawa, May 13. Advices from Saskatchewan state that a pitched battle took place on Monday last between General Middleton's forces and the enemy under Louis Riel, resulting in the enemy being ousted from their rifle pits. The Batouche Indians managed to rescue a number of prisoners who were in custody of the Canadians. The lobb on General Middleton's side was 16 killed and wounded, while a large number of Kiel's men were killed. Ottawa, May 15. — The insurrection fomented by Louis Reil is collapsing, and numbors of rebels are daily tendering their sabmiesion to General Middletoiu

Ottawa, May 16.~Advices to hand from Saskatchewan state that the insurgent leader Kiel has been captured by MajorGeneral Middleton. • Pabis, May 13.— The Recidiviste Bill in its amended form, providing for the depor tation of criminals to Cayenne, has been passed by the Chamber of Deputies. St. Petbrsbukg, May 16. It is announced that His Imperial Majesty the Czar has despatched a letter of thanks to General Komaroif, together with a diamond hilted sword.