TELEGRAMS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1252, 14 October 1884, Page 1

TELEGRAMS.

ENGLISH AND FOREIGN,

London, Oct. y,

An important conference, attended by numerous British and colonial repreeen. tatives, sat to-day to consider the situation of affairs in Africa. Among the principal speakers were Sir William Macarthur, and the Right Hon. W. E. Forstpr, both of whom strongly urged that the Imperial Government should take steps to enforce the provisions of the Convention concluded with the I'n.nsvaal Republic in 1881. The Chinese have been defeated at Loo Chung- by the French. Their losis estimated at one thousand, while 'that of the French was only twenty-five.

The French authorities are boarding English merchant steamers both at Amoy and Formosa.

Commodore Erskine has been instructed t( proclaim a British protectorate over the southern shores of New Guinea and the islands immediately adj icent. This step lias been taken in accordance with Mr Gladstone's reply to the question asked on the suljct by fcfir William Macarthur in the House '( Commons on the 11th of August last The British Government have, however, decided that for the present settlement in the territory and the Lslauds shail be prohibited.

The Tongariro Aas arrived with her meat in splendid conditun.

Oct. 10. Prime New Zealand muttou is realising per lb. It is currently reportpd here that a Conference on matters relating to the Congo will be held in Berlin iu November.

Commander Hamilton, of H.M.S. Hercules, has been appointed to the command of H.M.S. Nelson.

The English and German Governments are now discussing the question of appointment of a mixed Commission to adjudicate on the conflicting claims of the English and jrerman subjects in Angra Pequena, on the West Coast of Africa.

Paris, Oct, 9,

Despatches have been received from Tonquin stating that an engagement had taken place between a force of Chinese, numbering 6000 men, and the French troops under Negrier, at Kep. The action listed for five hours, when the Chinese fled, having suffered heavily from the French fire. General Negrier lost twenty-one killed and fifty wounded, and was himself wounded.

Berlin, Oct, 10

The Germnn Goyernment have ii. vited the Powers interested to send delegates to a Conference to be held in this city in November next, to consider the best means to secure freedom of eommerce. on the Congo and Nigei rivers in We«.t Alricn.

lioMB, Oct. 9,

A cyclone of unusujl force pass-ri over the island of Sicily and did an enormous amount of dmmge. Its efficts were felt most severely a' Catania, a town on the east coast, an ' hundreds of inhabitants are paid to have been killed and wounded.

Hong Knua, Oc'. '0

Laier intelligence from Fonnnsa shows tfiat the report of llie occupation of Tamsui by Admiral Ltfsspps is in correct. The town, is stiil in poss-ssion of the Chineae troops, and the Frencibombardment continues daily. I'lw local forces are strongly entrenched in the neighborhood of Ta nsui, and all efforts to dislodge them as yet hav>' proved unavailing.

Capetown, Oct. 11

The Transvaal Government hav< dpcided to withdraw its protecti ai fn-m Montsiva, the native chief who for some time past has been provocating hostilities against the Bjers in Buchuanaland.

Cairo, Oct. 11

Telegrams have been received from Dongola giving details of the treacheron> massacre of Colonel Stewart's party by Arabs at Wad-el-Khomar. The wholeparty were not killed, the lives of fourteen of them being spared by the Arab?, who hold them prisoners. General Lord Wol.*eley ordered the troops at Merawi. a town thirty miles beyond the Fourth Cataract on the N'le, to rescue orransom l tb« ptisoaers. J

I\ew Y.-RK, Ui>t. 9. Arrived—The ship Stanley, from Auckland (Julv sth). QuEBBC, Oct. 11.

Two explosions ol dynamite occurred outside ilie'Parliament bui'dings to-lav. The edifii-e was considerably damaged, and Sfv<arl workmen who were in (he neighborhood were inj-jred. Nolliinj; is yet known as to the cause of th"« explosions. •■■:',

The New Zealand Shipping Company have ricnived the foi.Dvviug oil)*' «ii«s*age, dii'.ed London, 9tii irnt :— i\n\gt, vim arn'ved al! well at Piym->utii l<day ; ac'ual steaming' time thtrt\--L'ht days ten hums. Opowa and Hakaii h»ve sailer!.