LATE EUROPEAN CABLES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6792, 21 November 1883, Page 3

LATE EUROPEAN CABLES

The following messages have appeared in the Age ;—

The report that the French forces in Tonquin had occupied the towns of Sontay and Bao Ninh without opposition has proved to be unfounded,

The explosion of firedamp, which occurred at the Monkfield Collieries at Accrington, in Lancashire, resulted in the death of 60 miners, A banquet has been given at the Langham Hotel to Mr James M'Bain, M.L.G., one of the Victorian Executive Commissioners at the Amsterdam Exhibition. A correspondent of the Standard bad an interview with M. Jules Ferry, the Trench Premier, with a view of obtaining an authoritative) intimation as to the course which France intends to pursue in relation to New Guinea and the New Hebrides. At. Ferry denied that the French Government had any intention of interfering with New Guinea. In reference to tho New Hebrides he asserted that France was determined to maintain the neutrality of those islands, in accordance with the understanding arrived at with England some time ago. The Committee appointed to inquire into ani report upon the best means of regulating the labour uaffic of the Western Pacific have sent in their report, but the result of their inquiries, and the nature of their recommendations have not transpired.