EUROPEAN.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 143, 27 February 1886, Page 5

EUROPEAN .

London, February 17.— The " Daily News" this morning announces that offensive operations by the combined fleet upon Salami^ are imminent, with the view of disabling the Greek fleet, which is now lying in that place. Mr Gladstone has not been able to formulate his proposals with regard to the Irish question, and it is believed the Government are not prepared to submit a scheme at present. It is announced that the various telegraph companies concerned are prepared shortly to make tho press rate between England and Australia two shillings and eightpenco per word, provided all the colonies are treated aliko. Sir Saul Samuel, Agont-General for New South Wale", presided at a meeting of the Society of Art?, at which a paper on the progress of art in the colonies was read. The Bill Committee of the American Congress have reported adversely on the Bill introduced by Mr Bland for the purpose of suspending silver coinage in America. London, February 17.— The new Principal for the Paramatta High School will be appointed in March. The Agents-General intend to give a banquet to Mr Murray Smith. Mr Murray Smith has protested against Sir P. Cunliffe Owen's refusal to allow the sale of colonial wines at the Indian and Colonial Exhibition except through Messrs Spiers and Pond, the well-known caterers, London, February 18. — It is announced that Mr Gladstone has taken the portfolio of Lord of the Pi ivy Seal. Commenting upon tho announcement, the press generally take the appointment as an indication of tho result of the recent divorce case, uhich has debaried Sir Charles Dilke from accepting office. The Corporation of London have subscribed £10,00 towards the guarantee fund of the forthcoming: Colonial Exhibition. The Czar of Russia has signified his assent to the agreement drawn up for the settlement of tho Roumelian difficulty, with the exception of tho alliance clause. London, February 19.— 1t has beon arranged that the Jgents General of the Australasian colonies shall have an irterview with Eail Granville, Secretary for the Colonies on Monday next, to discuss the possible occupation by France of the Now Hebrides Group. The combined squadrons which were despatched to Greece to prevent naval operations on the part of that Power have rendezvoused at Neda (*lc), tho French fleet alone being absent. In the House of Commons, Mr Henniker Heaton has tabled a notice to the effect that it is desirable that all the colonial forces should be placed under the control of the War Office, and that they should receive similar rights and privileges to those bestowed on Imperial forces, and also that information should be ascertained from the colonies as to whether they would be willing to contribute to the cost of such a proposai. Mr Heaton has also given notice that it is desirable that a cable, to be controlled by England, should be laid via tho Cape to Australia and India. An influential deputation waited upon Earl Granville to-day, in reference to alleviating the present distress among the unemployed by means of emigration. Lord Granville, in replying to the representations of the deputation, stated that he was in favour of State aid to the emigration of workmen to the British colonies. He added that he hoped for the creation of an official emigration department. A despatch to the Press Association states . — An influential deputation ha? waited on th© Home Government urging that a permanent loan be floated for the purpose of encouraging State emigration, the emigrants repaying the money advanced by easy instalments. At a meeting of the Chelsea Liberal Committee held to-night, Sir Charles Dilke was present, and tendered a full explanation, denying his guilt in connection with the recent divorce proceedings. The meeting carried a vote of confidence in Sir Charles Dilke. A Press Association telegram says :—: — "Sir Charles Dilke's Cbeleea Committee accept his denial to the charges brought against him in the divorce suit, Crawford v. Crawford." Mr John Morley, the newly-appointed Chief Secretary of Ireland, will not permit the military evictions of Irish tenants. Twenty applications have been received for the Chair of Professor of Physics of the Sydney University. The Otago Wool-growers' Company has been registered, with a capital of £100,000. Count Yon Moltke is recovering from his recent severe illness. Mukhtar Pasha, Turkish Commissioner in Egypt, proposes that a force of nine thousand Egyptians ehould occupy Dongola. M. Freycinet, the French Premier, now agrees to accept the bill introduced by the Extremists, by which power is given for the expulsion of the Princes from France, The English press ai'gue that Irland has now virtually abandoned the Irish National League. A newspaper published in Amsterdam states that Great Britain purposes to parley with Germany for the cession of ceitain territory in New Guinea, lying to the westward of the Fly River. His Royal Highness tho Duke of Edinburgh has started for Malta to assumo command of the Mediterranean squadron. Mr Leonard Courtney has been appointed Chairman of Committees in the House of Commons. The Timaru Harbour Board announce a loan of £100,000 at 5 per cent. The minimum has been fixed at £102, and tenders will be opened on the Ist of March. Earl Granville, Secretary of State for the colonies, is bringing pressure to hear on Franco and Italy with the view to induce them to reduce the proportion charged by them for conveyance of the overland mail between Calais and Brindisi. In an interview with a representative from the " Pall Mall Gazette," re the new mail service to Australia, Mr R. C. Baker, of South Australia, expressed the opinion that the 29 days' service would be too expensive. Mr ChUders, Home Secretary and Chairman of the committtee appointed to inquire into the recent riots, has stated that the inquiry had disclosed the necessity for a teform in police administration. In the House of Commons last night, the Address-in -Reply to the Queen's Speech waa voted in its amended form after a short debate. It is intended to blockade the Greek fleet. Mr Ahern,who opposed Mr Parnell at the general election, invites the Irish National League to declare whether, if separation were granted, they would not be opposed to federation. London, February 22.— 1t is reported that General Alikhanoff, a Russian officer, with one thousand men, is marching upon Maimana, a town 100 miles to the northeast of Herat, and which was captured by the Afghans in 1874,

The Greek Government are reported to be showing some inclination to yield to the demand of the Powers that they should! demobilise thoir forces. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales has left town for Cannes, in the south of France. The Irish Bishops demand Homo Rule for Ireland, the effacement of landlords by means of State purchase, and also the suspension of theevictment of tenant. Sir Charles Dilke offers to assist the Queen's Proctor, should he intervene in the divorce suit, Crawford v. Crawford. Three companies are willing to undertake ! the construction of a second cable between New Zealand and Australia, for one hundred and eighty thousand pounds, Berlin, February 22. It is announced that Germany has declared a protectorate over the Marshall, Brown, and Providence Groups of Islands, in tho North Pacific. The German Government have officially informed the British Foreign Office of the assumption of the protectorate. Rangoon, February 22. — His Excellency Lord Dufferin has arrived here from Mandalay. Cooktown, Feb. 22.— Nothing has yet been heard of the 12 persons who have been missing since the boat accidnt on tho 15th inst , and it is considered certain that they have all erished.