TELEGRAMS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1274, 6 December 1884, Page 1

TELEGRAMS.

ENGLISH AND FOREIGN. London, Deo. 2

In the House of Lords to-day, Lord JNorthhrooke, First Lord of the Admiralty, made his promised statement as to the measure which Government proposed to adopt with a view to increasing the strength and efficiency of the Imperial Navy. His Lordship stated that the Government had determined to maintain the naval supremacy of England. She now possessed 46 ironclads, while Prance, the next naval power, had 31. In view of the constant progress in naval science, Government wished to increase the navy gradually, and for the present they only iutendei to construct four new ironclads, but a number of torpedo vessels would be built without delay. In the House of Commons to-’ay the Hon. Evelyn Ashley stated, in reply to a question, that an amended draft Bill for constituting a Federal Council for the Australasian colonies would be transmitted to the colonies this w«ek, and the Government hoped to be able to lay despatches on the subject before Parliament before the prorogation of the present session.

The ship Berengaria, which left Melbourne for Loudon on August 9th, while proceeding to Sunderland, struck on a rock near Galloper Light, on the coast of Sussex, and sunk shortly after. The P. and O. steamship Shannon arrived at Plymouth to-day from Melbourne (left October 9ih). Later.

The ship Berengaria, bound from Melbourne to Sunderland, struck on a rock and sunk off the coast of Essex. Eleven of those on board were rescued, but the captain and sixteen others are missing. In a statement in the House of Lords to-day, Lord Northbrook announced that the Government proposed to spend £5,500,000 during the next five years on the building and equipping of cruisers, and that this sum would be required in addition to the proposed expenditure upon ironclads and harbor defences. Dec. 3. The cholera has broken out amongst the crews of the French fleet stationed at the Island of Formosa. The new Postmaster-General has decided that all mails to New Zealand shall be sent alternately by the San Francisco route and direct steamers.

M, Ferry’s party has been defeated in the Chamber of Deputies and the Senatorial elections.

Dec. 4,

The Australian squadron will be augmented shortly by H.M. sloop Gannet, of six guns aud 1130 tons, at present lying at Malta, where her furnace plates are undergoing repairs. The Chinese are claiming repeated successes over the French troops in Tonquin. The Orient steamers will now call at Naples, they having ceased to visit there in September last on account of the outbreak of cholera.

In consequence of the Australian station being made an Admiral’s station, Commodore Erskine will be selected for an early command. Mr Joshua Ivess, the recentlrappointed Professor of Music to the Adelaide University, sails for the colonies on January Ist.

Capetown, Dec. 3

Mr Uppington, the Premier, addressed a public meeting last night, in which he expressed himself as siding with the Dutch party. He eulogised the action of the Boer raiders in Bechuanaland, and censured the policy of the Governor. Sir Hercules Robinson. 'The Premier’s speech lias caused great public indignation, and considerable excitement prevails throughout the colony. Cairo, Dee. 2.

The first of the whaleboats conveying the troops to the front have arrived at Dongola. Dec. 3.

News from Dongola states that Mudir has received intelligence that the Mahdi is dead.