BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Otago Witness, Issue 1679, 26 January 1884, Page 12

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

[By Elkotbio Telegbaph.— Oopybiqht.]

{Reoteb's Telegbams.)

London, January 16.

Adelaide wheat (ex store), 445; New Zealand do, 36s to 425. Adelaide flour (ex store), 31a. Australian tallow— best beef 39s 9d, best mutton 445.

January 17.

The latest news to hand from the Soudan states that the insurgents have cut off any possible retreat of the Egyptian garrison from Sennaar, and have blocked the river a mile below Duem. 3

January 18.

President Kruger, of the Transvaal, has suggested a compromise in the matter of the modiiication of the Transvaal frontier line as proposed by the British Government, in order that certain native chiefs might be afforded the protection of British rule. Adelaide wheat (ex store) remains at 445 ; and New Zealand (do) at 36s to 425. Adelaide flour (ex store), 31s. The total quantity of wheat afloat for Great Britain is 1,880,000' quarters. The wool market is dull. The new arrivals to date for the first series of auctions this year now amounts to 100,000 bales.

January 19. It has transpired that at the request of the British Government Gordon Pasha has accepted charge of a special mission, and started for Khartoum. Gordon Pasha will be answerable only to the British Government as regards his expedition, and has not accepted any command in the Egyptian army. Tbe Times to-day announces that, as the result of the recent Conference at Sydney, the British Government will probably undertake the maritime defence of New Guinea.

January 21.

It is announced that Baron Macleay, the New Guinea explorei, will return to New Guinea at an early date. Bishop Moran, of Ossory, the newly-ap-pointed Archbishop of Sydney, has been summoned by the Pope to Rome, where he will bn appointed a cardinal prior to his departure for Sydney. Mr William Holmes, Liberal M.P. for Paisley, which he has represented since January 1870, has resigned his seat in the House of Commons.

It is announced that H.M.S. Carysfort, one of the vessels of the Mediterranean squadron, has been ordered to Suez, whence she will convey Colonel Gordon (Gordon Pasha) to Souakim, on his special mission to the Soudan. January 22.

Five packages containing dynamite have been discovered in a tunnel near Euston square railway-station. His Royal Highness the Prince of Walea was about to travel northwards by the London and North- Western line, and the discovery was made prior to his departure. It is believed that it was intended : to wreck the train by which the Prince proposed to travel, and it is thought that the projected outrage was the work of Fenian emissaries, but up to the present time no arrests have been made by the police. The discovery has caused much excitement and indignation.

New York, January 19.

The steamship City of Columbus, bound from Boston to Savannah, has been wrecked, with great loss of life. According to the latest intelligence 120 persons were drowned.

Hongkong, J anuary 18. Yielding to the British representations, the Chinese Government have suspended operations for blockading the Canton JJiver with torpedoes.

Cairo, January 21.

News to hand from the Soudan states that Baker Pasha, since his arrival, has been parleying with the sheikhs of the desert Arab tribes, and with considerable success, several of them who have been in rebellion haviug submitted to the Egyptian Government.

(Special to Press Association.) London, January lfi. Tho Earl of Bantry is dead, aged _S2._ His son and heir, Viscount Berehaven, is in the Colonies.

There are 15,000 Christians and 40,000 Egyptians in the Soudan. Owing to Earl Granville's parleying, it is rumoured that France will not send any more convicts to New Caledonia, and, possibly, not to any of the other Pacific islands. It is believed that the Government will recognise the principle of Sir George Grey's Pacific Annexation Act. A rumour has gained currency to the effect that England intends to immediately establish stations along the coast of New Guinea. January 17. The premises of Messrs Silver and Co., army, navy, and Colonial agents, Suncourt, Cornhill, have b en completely destroyed by fire. Twenty-five engines were working at the fire. Portions of the adjacent buildings, occupied by the Commercial Bank of Australia and by Henry S. King, East Indian and Colonial agent and manufacturing stationer, were also damaged by the fire. . . iU The damage done to the premises or the Commercial Bank of Australia by the Cornhill fire is very slight. The total damage done i& estimated at £35,000, and is fully covered by insurance. , . The Pope has approved of the nomination ot the Right Ilev. Patrick Francis Morau, D.D., Bishop iif Ossory, formerly Professor of Hebrew in the College of tho Propaganda, Rome, to the Archbishopric of Syd.iey. The formal appointment will not, however, be made imtu tbe existing vacancies in the Irish Sees are filled.

January 18.

The latest information from Cairo states that Baker Pasha is unable to relieve the troops at Suika, a town threatened by the followers of El Mahdi. Several other garrisons are reported to be surrounded by the rebels. The merchants in the Soudan are appealing to France for assistance in consequence of thR threatened attack on Khartoum by the False Prophet. A large number of civilians are leaving that town.

The s.s. John Elder took 100,000 sovereigns, and the s.s. Mirzapore 300,000 sovereigns for Australia.

January 19.

Australian wheat cargoes have been sold at 43a, but the present value to London direct is 41s 6d to 425.

The heavy gold export to Australia is stiffening the money market, and the secrecy attempted to be observed about the matter has produced unfavourable comment. It is inferred that the Australian banks have run short of gold owing to the operations of the new loan agencies. The Union Bank of Australia (Limited) and the Australian Mortgage Company have each shipped 200,000 soveieigns, and the total withdrawal of gold for Australia has reached the most unexpected amount of £1,000,000. The Economist coiv aiders that the Colony of Victoria is in a favourable position, and that whatever may be the faults of the Administration, the Colony cannot be considered at all overwhelmed with debt.

January 20. The Times says that England should undertake the maritime defence of New Guinea if the Oolonies will become jointly responsible for the cost of all operations on land. The Pall Mall Gazette says that Englapd having in reality invested Gordon Pasna with supreme authority in the Soudan, it is necessary that Mr Baring should be given equal authority in matters of finance. Seuor Oastello has formed a new Tory Ministry in Spain, the policy of which is unfavourable to the English Treaty. Marshal Guisada, a personal friend of the King's, is Minister of War.

It is reported that there are 150,000 unemployed in the city of Paris, and violence is threatened.

January 21.

The health of her Majesty the Queen is unsatisfactory, and she is unable to stand for more than a, few minutes.

The Russian paper Novoye Vremy a attacked Baron Macleay for favouring the projects of England on New Guinea. Queensland is offering to convert £2,500,000 of bonds into inscribed stock.

(Special to Age.)

The terms of the triple agreement which has been entered into between Germany, Austria, <md Italy have been published. They stipulate for an unreserved alliance between Italy and Austria, but they exonerate Italy from assisting Germany should that country be engaged in war with France.

The French Ministry have decided upon soiling the Government lines of railway to private companies, aud negotiations with this object have already been entered into. A proposal has been made in the reduction of the salaries now paid to Egyptian officials.

In reference to the formal demand made to Great Britain by the Egyptian Government for aid in quelling Mahdi's rebellion, it is also considered probable that, in the event of such aid being gt anted, the Great Powers will require England to guarantee the safety of foreigners in Egypt. It is estimated that there are 15,000 Egyptian troops available for defence. This force Sir Evelyn Baring conciders to be insufficient.