FOREIGN & COLONIAL TELEGRAMS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 3508, 26 December 1885, Page 2

FOREIGN & COLONIAL TELEGRAMS.

EXGLXSH AND FOBBIGN CABX.E.

■?er Electric Tbleobaph— Copyright.) (Reuter's Agency.) (Received noon, Doc 24th.) London, Deo. 2:i. The conference on New Guinea affairs between the Agents-General and Colonel Stanley, Secretary of Btate for the Colonies, resulted m the appointment of a successor to the late General Scratohley being referred to the Cabinet, who have chosen Air John Douglas, formerly Premier of Queensland, but now Government Resident at Thursday Island, to fill the post. The Peninsular and Oriental s.e. Shannon, from Melbourne (left Nov. sth), has arrived at Plymouth. (Booeived 3 p.m., Deo. 24th,) Mr W. E. Forater hat written a letter to the papers m which be speaks m terms of condemnation of the proposal to grant Home Rule to Ireland. The appointment of Mr Douglas as High Commissioner of New Guinea is only an interim one, and the permanent election is still to be made. Calcutta, Dec 23. Advices from Burmah state that the British expeditionary forco has left Mandalay for Bhamo. CONHTANTINOPIE. DiO. 83. Monkhtar Pasha, the recently ap. pointed joint Anglo-Turkish Oomruiuiouer for Egypt, has left for Alexandria. Paws. Dec. 23. It is announced that France has concluded peace with Madagascar. Tha terms include the institution of a French protectorate over the island, with absolute control on the part of Franco over the relations of the Malagasy nation with foreign Powers. It is also stipulated that the Hovas shall pay a war indemnity t« the amoutit of 10,000,000 franc*. (Roooivcd 1 a.m., Doc. 25th.) Lontdon, Deo. '24. A tnostdisastrous explosion has occurred at , Mardy colliery, near Pontypridd. Over two hundred miners are still below

the ground,' and it is feared they have perished. (Received S p.m., Deo. 25th.) P" Consols and New Zealand securities are unaltered. Wheat and floor maintain previous prices, and there is no quotable change m tallow. The market rate of discount has been reduced to 3£, and is now \ below the Bank rate. The Australian mails per the Orient Company's &,«. Cnzco, dated Melbourne, Nov. 13tb, were delivered to-day via Naples. Paris, Dec. 24. In tho Chamber of Deputies, SI. Brisson insists upon passing the Tonquin credit vote of 75,000,000 francs, and states it is impossible for France to evaouate that country. [Keoeived 7 p.m., Dec. 2Sth. l London, Dec. 24. It is expected that a large influx of gold will shortly take place from North America. (Special to the Press Association.) (Received 10.30 a.m., Deo. 25th.] London, Dec. 23. It is reported that Mr Murray Smith, Agent-General for Victoria will return to Australia before the opening of the Colonial and Indian Exhibition instead of October as at first arranged. Mr Berry will succeed Mr Smith. The Cable Companies have completed arrangements with Great Britain re the proposed reduction m cable charges. They are now submitting the question of reduced rates on Press messages to the foreign Powers, but do serious difficulty is expected m satisfactorily arranging charges. The Hon. A. J. Mundella has agreed to serve on the Education Commission. [BeoeivedS p.m.. Dec. 25th.] Obituary — Mr ■ Brooke, of the firm of Brooke and Co., Australian merchants. Sir Geo. Bowan, Governor of Hong Kong, is about to return to England. Mr Forster opposes the establishment of an Irish Parliament. Mr Gladstone has stated that he will support any adequate Government Measure which may be brought forward for the settlement of affairs m Ireland. Mr Bowe has been elected to the Directorate of the London Chartered Bank of Australia.