"AGE" SPECIALS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VI, Issue 1865, 15 December 1884, Page 2

"AGE" SPECIALS.

(Press Association.)

London, December 5. Twelve Chinese warships have been leapatobed to release the Island of

Formosa, where the French have seized and occupied the ports of Kelung and Tamsui, Several of theso vessels are officered by Germans.

The German fieichstag has repealed theJaw.onipowflring'the authorities to expel priests froui the.empire. Bisijiarok was;6pjidsecl' to the .repeal and the deoisioq of ihe-Ohamber becoming;known,\ he'denounced'the'principle of Parliamentary gowtiaent; and ..declined to' •reconsider the'decision arrived at.... It is. probable the Ertiperoi" will; exercise! his power'to veto the matter. .

•• The decision arrived at by Justice Chitty last. Saturday relating to the transferors of. shares" in the Oriental

. Bank Corporation now being liable as contributors in the estate, has occasioned much adverse comment.' 'lt is probable that his decision will be reversed. A. committee .of shareholders is now engaged inquiring into the relations of the Bank with the Ceylon Co. .They..,declare that, the charter was .violated and that the directors were responsible.

The Australian squadron: is to be strengthened by the addition of other war vessels, Commodore Erskine is to be appointed to a, superior command. Rear Admiral Tryan', who is to succeed Commodore Erskine in the Australian station, has sailed.

December 7,

A number of diamonds recently received in London, the produce of the Australian diamond fields, have been tested by experts and pronounced to be of superior quality to Cape diamonds. December 8.

The Spanish authorities have accepted the offer of the British Government, by which Spanish wines containing 30 degrees ot proof spirits and under are to be admitted into Great Britain at a duty of Is per gallon. In consideration of this concession Spain places England on the footing of a most favored nation. . The-arrangement is to remain in operation till 1887,' after which the duty will probably apply to wines of 36 degree proof. .Tne 'Suez Ganal commission has been approved of by recommendation I also made by Sir Andrew Clark, vide' recent commission, and has decided upon widening the canal. The report

that the Suez Canal Commission has determined upoti .witleriiiig the canal is now deolared to be premature. A bill for the extention franchise which passed the House of Lords on Friday has received the Royal assent. Mr Upington, the Premier of the Cape Goverhment has been mobbed at Kinjberly, the capital of the diamond •field in- coilsequcuce of.his expressed sympathy with the'(Dutch party of Boer Radiers at Becliuanalaud. • Tbe -announcement thaf the 'gholera frenclf fleet at flow? Kong has so far not'been confirmed,