BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXI, Issue 7226, 28 April 1884, Page 4

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

r BT ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH-COPTBIGBT.J [Reuter’s Telegrams.] 1 Received April 26, at 11 a.m.J LONDON. April 25. It is announced that Mr Childers’ proposals as set forth in the Budget last night, regarding the issue of new half-sovereigns, will not affect Australian coinage. THE CRIMINAL CONTROVERSY. In the House of Commons last night, Lord Edmund Fitzmaurice, Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs, in reply to a question, stated that Government is awaiting further communication from the French Government on the subject of the rceidiviste question, and that no negotiations had taken place with the German Government in reference to the transportation of French criminals to the Pacific. [Received April 28, at 12.50 a.m.J LONDON, April 26. The Sydney portion of the cargo of frozen mutton, ex steamship Lusitania, has been sold at an average price of 5d per lb. REFUSAL TO RELIEVE BERBER. Government has had under consideration the joint recommendation that a combined force of British and Egyptian troops should be despatched to the relief of Berber, and in reply has stated that the recommendation cannot be acted upon at the present time, and that such an expedition cannot be sent into the Soudan for four months from the present date. GOVERNMENT GIVES WAY.

The debate in the House of Commons on the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Bill was resumed to-day, when Government agreed to withdraw the amendments to tho Bill as passed by the House of Lords, and to accept the vote of tho House on the measure. DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

A disastrous fire occurred in Queen’s road to-day, resulting in the total destruction of the premises occupied by William Whiteley, whose stores in Westhourne Grove were destroyed in a similar manner, Nov., 1882. The loss is estimated at .£500,000. , ABORTIVE EXPLOSION.

An attempt was made to-day to destroy the barracks at Dublin by explosion, hut the infernal machine exploded abortively, and hut little damage was done. DISCOVERY OP A PLOT.

Discoveries have befen made of

active plotting among the Fenians in Dublin, in which it is believed the projected destruction of the barracks was to have played an important part. A detailed plan for an organised rising, lists of persons interested, and arms were unearthed in a garden attached to the house occupied by Patrick Egan, who was brought up at the Police Court to-day and remanded. The following are the names of Lord Sheffie M’s team who will open the series of matches in England against the Australian Eleven at Sheffield on May 12, 13 and 14 : Grace, Greenfield, Shaw, Hide, Phillips, Shrewsbury, Barnes, Barlow, TJlyett, Harrison and Mycroft.

[Special to Press Association.] [Received April 26, at 11.15 a.m.'J BERBER AND DONGOLA. LONDON, April 26. It is believed that the garrisons at Berber and Dongola will shortly have to arrange terms of capitulation with the rebels. RELIEF EXPEDITION. A British expedition will relieve Gordon Pasha at Khartoum in the autumn. [Received April 26, at 12.30 p.m.] FROSTS IN FRANCE. Severe frosts have injured the French vintage. DIFFERENCE OF OPINION. The English Government desire to limit the functions of the European Conference to dealing with the finance of Egypt. The French Government desire to enlarge the scope of consideration by dealing with the whole of the Egyptian question. The French Press is insisting on the right of France to he re-admitted to a share in the Government of Egypt. A number of Australian colonists have entertained Mr MTntyre, of South Australia, at a banquet. [Received April 26, at 3 p.m.l M. Ferry states that if rccidivistes are sent to the Pacific, special precautions will he taken to prevent their escape. The Hon Evelyn Ashley, speaking at Sandown, said that, if the foreigners resident in New Guinea and the Colonies of Australia required armies and fleets to protect them from the convicts, he considered that it would be the duty of England to back up the protests of Australia against the recidiviste scheme. He thought that the antagonism existing between the Australasian Colonies will probably check the early accomplishment of federation.

Lord Derby has agreed to concede an elective element in the Mauritius Council. [Received April 28, at 1.15 a.m.] TAWHIAO’S YISIT. LOiNDOE’, April 27.

Earl Deroy is consulting with. Sir F. D. Bell, the Agent-General of New Zealand, as to the purport of Tawhiao’s visit Home, and as to the reception to which he is entitled. Earl Granville again asks M. Perry, the French Premier, what steps France intends to take with regard to the rccidiviste question. The Saturday Review says if the French Government persists in enforcing the Eecidivistes Bill, it is only reasonable to suppose that the English Government will sanction the exclusion of convicts from Australia, and that the annexation of New Guinea is indispensable. In connection with the rebellion at Hayti, it is said that the Government are horribly torturing those opposed to them. ZOBEHE PASHA. The latest information from Cairo states that it is believed that Zobehr Pasha, who was appointed by General Gordon as Assistant-Governor of the Soudan, is intriguing with the followers of El Mahdi. The Empress of Germany is reported to be in a critical state of health. Mr Childers, in the Budget, states that he is unwilling to officially invite the Australian Colonies to nominate a delegate to represent them on the Commission to consider the proposed alterations in the working of the Suez Canal.

Six Australian wheat cargoes which have not yet arrived have been sold at an average of 46s 6d, Those arrived have realised 425. SERIOUS IMPLICATIONS. The documents found on the Irish conspirators indicate that Messrs Daley, Egan, and officers of the “ Irish Republic,” are connected with the recent outrages in London. KHARTOUM CUT OFF. It is now impossible to either telegraph or write to Khartoum. The position of Berber is daily becoming worse, and it is seriously menaced by the rebels in the neighbourhood of Korosko. The massacre of the 300 refugees from Shendy is said to bo exaggerated. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. [Reuter’s Telegrams.]

I Received April 26, at 7 p.m.'l LONDON. April 25

Consols have fallen to 102. New Zealand securities remain at the following quotations: —5 per cent 10-40 loan, 103 f ; 5 per cent 1884 loan, 105 ; 4y per cent 1879-1904 loan, 101|; 4 per cent inscribed stock, 101 i Adelaide wheat, ex store, has ad-

vanced to 445; Hew Zealand ditto remains at 35s to 40s ; and Adelaide flour at 28s. Australian tallow has declined 6d to Is par cwt; average quality beef is now quoted at 36s 6d; ditto mutton, 395. Copra, Sydney sun-dried, remains at .£lB 15s. Leather, —Best Australian sides have advanced to 11M. The wool market is quiet. Hew arrivals to date for next series of Colonial auctions now amount to 326,000 bales.