CALOGRAMS.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4664, 15 December 1883, Page 2

CALOGRAMS.

BeUTEB's TeIiEGEAMS

London, December 13

The issue of a loan of £3,000,000 for the New South Wales Government bearing interest at 4 per cent., is announced to-day. The minimum price is at par.

Caieo, December 13

The latest intelligence to hand from Soudan is to the effect that the immense body of Arabs which El Mahdi recently had under his command has greatly decreased, and that large numbers of his adherents are dispersing;

Hongkong, December 13

Information has been received from Canton that the fortifications surrounding that city have been put in complete readiness to withstand an attack if an outbreak of war should occur, and that strong bodies of troops are posted in the neighborhood of the city.

Hongkong, December 14,

Admiral G. O. Willes, C.8., commanding the China squadron, is now at Canton.

London, December 14

The Right Hon. W. E. Forster, M.P. for Bradford, addressed his constituents last night. In the course of his speech Mr Forster said he was rejoiced to hear of the proposed federation of the Australasian colonies, and trusted Lord Derby would be able to accede <o the request of the Australian Convention for the annexation of New Guinea and the Pacific Islands.

Paris, December 14

Intelligence is to -hand from Tonquin reporting that the King of Annam has been poisoned, and that bis death has been caused by a conspiracy among the anti - French party in Annam.

[Specials to the Pbess Association.]

London, December 11.

The Royal Geographical Society has approved of Mr Powell's proposed exploration of New Guinea. It will be of a purely scientific character, and will start in February. A naturalist and a geologist have been engaged. An attempt will be made to penetrate into the centre of the country from the north or east coast, but it is not intended to attempt further explorations on the Fly River, or to go over the ground already traversed by Captain Armit.

A programme of thirty matches has been arranged for the Australian Eleven. It includes matches with Oxford and Cambridge Universities, two with the Gentlemen of England, two with the North of England,, three - with All England at Manchester, Lords, and the Oval respectively, two with the Players of England, one with the South of England, and thirteen against County elevens. The county clubs of England have unanimously requested the Marylebone Committee to instruct the umpires in all county matches to strictly enforce law 10, which forbids throwing or jerking in bowling.

Mr Grleydell has secured premises in Lombard street for the London branch of the Commercial Bank of South Australia, and will commence business early in the coming year. The Marquis of Lome, speaking at the Colonial Institute, expressed a hope that the Australian colonies would federate, and he insisted'that England must recognise the colonies as being the best judges of their own wants. He eulogised the activity of the Australian colonies in the matter of defences. Sir Alexander Gait suggested that English diplomatists might devote some attention to improving the commercial relations between the mother country and her colonies. His Royal Highness the Duke of Albany was present, and there was a crowded audience.

...Mr Percy Robin, of Adelaide, a student of St. John's College, Cambridge, has been awarded first prize for the Colonial Institute essay.

It is reported that a party of Royal Engineers will be sent to fortify the town of Assouan, situated near the first cataract of the JJile, and guarding the approaches to Upper Egypt. The Egyptian garrison has abandoned Souakin, and a force of 15,000 rebels is stated to be holding the passes of the Soudan. The Times says the accomplishment of colonial federation will tend powerfully to reduce the difficulty which surrounds the larger question of Imperial federation. London, December 12. Signor Giuseppe Mario, the celebrated tenor, is dead, aged 75 years. Mr Paraell has refused to coalesce with the Liberal party until they consent to abandon the policy of coercion and cmi* gration. Applications for shares in the New Zealand Mortgage Company are in excess of the number open for allotment.