THE CONTINENT

Otago Witness, Issue 1762, 29 August 1885, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE CONTINENT

France. — M. De Lesseps has become sponsor for a scheme of a canal across France from Havre to Marseilles.. . ,", ' The French Minister, of Marine states, that ,, more than 300,000 francs will: be required tb repair the damage caused to the French navy in the jcecepfc war with ClVmai | ' i Reports were spread 'in Paris on the 23rd that the Government withheld>ews of an unfavourable nature which it had received from Anam in regard to Tonquin. • ' ••■ j The new Chinese ambassador has arrived in Paris. ' The Chinese . Government has informed the' "French Ambassador,at,Pekin that the 'chief of ,the Black Flags had begii withdrawn from Anam. • i An' • anti-vaccination > congress met in Charliroi on July 27.- Herbert Spencer Hackel and Buckhef sent approving letters. The "attend-, auce was large^especially of Swiss, French, and German mcdical'men. • Miss Moore, an American girl, took first prize for'siugiug at thV'conversa'zione on July 14. l ' ' .The .Panama Canal director's have 'asked the French Government \o sanfitjon a new issue .of 500,000,000 francs' wor^h, of' bonds. The^ Premier, >M. Brisson,/ opp'oses the- demand on the ground that there is a. deficit in the Budget, and that the country cannot 'ta^!e other responsibility. M.'de Lesseps "maintains in his report that the canal will be'cqmpleted in 1888. Two new contractors have undertaken to fiuish the work for 19,200,000' francs. The total cost of piercing will' be 28,000,000 francs.' Belgium. — King Lebp'old has .mentioned to several foreign Ministers his purpose to inform their Governments that he.intends, to take the title and sovereignty of. the Congo Free States. Denmark.— The Danish Conservative journals of, July 24 refer tb a public scandal involving a professor of the University, the president of a leading scientific society, a ' most eminent author of Denmark, several Wealthy merchants, and several members of the magistracy. They are accused of betraying young girls. Ten culprits have been ar-rested,-two-of whom* committed suicide. The exposures result from an attempt to extort money, which was refused, i Italy. — The Government has prepared a draft of a convention with England in reference to suppression of the slave trade on the Red Sea coast. The fleets of both countries are to have the same privileges. , Spain. — The people of Hensta rose in revolt on the" 29th July against the execution of the excise law, and burned the collectors' office and buildings to the, ground. Senor Costellar'inade a tour of Gallicia, and was.everywhere enthusiastically received. The Government prohibited banquets and serenades in honour of the Republican leader. Germany. — Negotiations are pending in Berlin with two great banking houses for a loan of 100,000,000d01s to China, to construct railways, telegraphs, wharves, and other improvements throughout the Celestial Empire. Four Arctic expeditions leave Germany next week. A row of houses in Cologne, tenanted by many families, collapsed on July 24, 45 persons were killed; and 25 others badly wounded. The great masons' strike is practically over. According to despatch, July 25, the strike committee claim's to have been successful, and the workmen have obtained more concessions than expected. '' The Government ordered an investigation into the circumstauces of the Socialistic riot at Frankfort-on-the-Maine, with the view, it is reported, of declaring the city in a state of siege. Such a declaration would place the town so absolutely under an iron rule that the Government believes -it would entirely suppress Socialism there. Russia. — The Russian Government contemplate imposing a -poll tax of from 100 to 200 roubles upon every foreigner residing longer than a fortnight in the country. ■Incendiary fires are becoming common in Russia, attended by enormous lo I^. Four occurred in Moscow on July 26 and 27, believed to be a part of fi new system of terrorism adopted by the Nihilists. , The Svet (a literary organ in St. Petersburg) on July 24 reported that a firm in Texas, U.S., offered General Komaroff the services of 100 cowboys in the event of war between Russia and England. ■ A despatch dated Moscow, July 3, states that - 60 criminals who had been sentenced to exile in Siberia while 'eh route rose against their guards, and although unarmed began a desperate fight fo>f 0> liberty.' iThe battle lasted a long time, and flie; 'soldiers' were' absolutely unable to conquer their Haanacled assailants. Twenty of them were shot dead' and 30 Bucceeded in escaping.