BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3505, 30 June 1884, Page 2

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. [Reuter’s Agency.] (Received June 30, 1884, 0.35 a.m.) Commercial* London, June 27. Consols are unchanged at 99|. New Zealand securities remain at last quotations. The total quantity of wheat on passage and shipping to the United Kingdom is 1,870,000 qrs, a decrease during the week of 180,000 qrs. Adelaide wheat, ex store is quoted to-day at 40s, and Now Zealand do, at 34s to 40s. Adelaida flour, ex warehouse is worth 28s. Tallow—Australian average quality, beef, 35s 6d ; mutton, 375. Prime New Zealand mutton is quoted to-day at 5d to s£d per lb. Shipping. The Merchant Shipping and Underwriters’ Association report, under date London, Juno 28tb, the arrival of the ship Loch Creo, from Wellington (left March 12th) ; and New York, June 25th, the arrival of the ship Abiel Abbot, from Auckland (left March 23). The CobdensJune 28. At the annual dinner of the Cobden Club this evening, Sir H. Parkes, exPremier of New South Wales, in responding to the toast of “ The Colonics,” stated that the legislation of the colonies would never take a direction hostile to the interests of the Mother country.

Anglo-Portuguese Commission* In the House of Commons to-day, Lord Edmund Fitzmaurice, Under-Sec-retary for Foreign Affairs, announced that Government intended to propose to the Powers the appointment of a mixed International Commission to decide the questions which have arisen in connection with the Congo river and the ad joining country. The Commission is to be appointed on the same basis as that which sat to regulate the question of the navigation of the Danube, and will supersede the 'Anglo-Fortnguese Commission. ProroguedBerlin, June 28. The prorogation of the Reichstag took place yesterday. The discussion on the question of the subsidy for establishing a line of mail steamers to Australia has been shelved, but the motion will be reintroduced next session. (Received June 28, 1884, 10 p.m.) The French in TonquinHong Kong, June 27.

The latest news from Tonquin states that further fighting has taken place between the French and Chinese at Kingston on the frontier, the Chinese being again the agressors. Accounts received here show that an attack was made on the French position at Kingston, by a large body of Chinese, and heavy fighting ensued with varying success to the combatants. The assaults of the Chinese were renewed at intervals daring two days, and hostilities 'proceeded for the whole of that time, neither side gaining any decisive advantage. The loss sustained by the French is set down at 10 killed and 32 wounded. The Chinese loss is not known, bat it is believed to have been heavy. Ten thousand Chinese are reported to be in the vicinity of Kingston, and further fighting is expected to take place during the next few days.

Treaty Not RatifiedLondon, June 27It is announced that the British Government have decided, after furthor consideration, not to ratify the treaty which was agreed upon in February last with Portugal, providing for the appointment of an Anglo Portuguese Commission to regulate the trade and navigation of the Congo river, West Africa. The Franchise Bill. In the House of Commons last night before the Bill for the reform of the franchise had been finally passed, Mr Gladstone made a speech, in. which he took occasion to warn the House of Lords that the rejection of the measure in that Chamber could only be attended with the gravest results to the nation. [Special to the Press Association.] London, June 26. M. de Ville, an eminent French jurist, asserts that the Anglo-French treaty does not permit of the extradition of escaped reoidivistes. The frozen meat by the nteamer Liguria is in splendid condition, and is realising sd. The Victorian Government is grossing for an immediate settlement of the New Guinea question, Jmae 27. The rupture between Prince Napoleon and Prince Victor is now complete and final.

Mr Gladstone intends to meet the vote of censure on his Egyptian policy by a direct negative. Fully one quarter of the total population of Toulon has fled from the city through fear of cholera, Eight deaths occurred there on Thursday.

Two Noumea convicts, found as stowaways on the barque Buland, have been arrested at Swansea, and delivered to the French authorities.