LATE CABLE NEWS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3370, 22 January 1884, Page 2

LATE CABLE NEWS.

(By Tnleqbaph.) (Per s.s. Wairarapa at the Bluff.) London, Jan. 9. A brother-in law e£ £1 Mahdi, the false prophet, has been captured by the Egyptian troops. He states that El Mahdi will not oppose the Turkish Government, if they take supreme control over the Soudan, but that both he and his followers are determined to expel all foreigners from Central Africa. Arrangements have been made by the Agents-General for on interview on

Friday with the Secretary of State for War. During the interview the AgentsGeneral will endeavor to enlist Mr Childers’ co-operation in the annexation movement, and the effort which is being made to secure an increase in the number of war ships for the Australian station.

The report that a treaty of peace has been concluded between France and Madagascar, by which the former secures the possession of the northern portion of the island, has not been confirmed, and is now regarded as very doubtful. The death is announced of Chunder Sing, the well-known Buddhist scholar and propagandist. Baker Pasha, who was despatched to Suakitn at the head of an expeditionary force, has arrived at Massowah, a town on the west coast of the Bed Sea, and is now holding a parley with the King of Abyssinia, who has also marched upon the place.

The British Government have resolved to disregard the rejection by the Spanish Council of Ministers, of the proposed commercial treaty between Great Britain and Spain, and appeal to the Crotes to ratify the treaty. The principal provision of the treaty is that Spanish wines of 30deg proof will be admitted into Great Britain at the rate of Is per gallon if England is placed by Spain on the footing of a most favored nation.

The Agents-General of the Australian colonies have received an official note from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with respect to the representations recently made on behalf of the Australian colonies for extending to them the concession granted to Spain, whose wines are to be admitted at the reduced duty of Is per gallon. This reduction is also to apply to Australian wines of 30deg. proof. Mr Childers, however, declines to extend the Is duty to wines of 32deg proof; but he has promised to consider Mr Smith’s proposal for the adoption of a sliding scale, charging the duties of colonial wines according to their proof. Jan. 13.

Fears are entertained that the revolutionary forces of El Mahdi,the false prophet, will overtake and massacre the fugitives from Khartoum. The evacuation of Khartoum by the Egyptian troops is proceeding. The projected commercial treaty between Spain and Great Britain, which the Spanish Council of Ministers refused to ratify, has been submitted to the Cortes, and favorably received. Earl Granville, Secretary of State for the Foreign Department, has approved of the agreement entered into between British shipowners and M. Lesseps, as representative of the Suez Canal Company. It is now officially announced that the Canton river has been effectually blockaded by the Chinese authorities with torpedoes.