The Mahdi's Preparations.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5193, 26 December 1884, Page 3

The Mahdi's Preparations.

[Reuter's Telegr&ms.] CAPETOWN, Dec. 23. Telegrams from Pretoria state that i the Transvaal Government has despatched an officer to the frontier in order to prevent the Boers who formed parties, with the object of raiding adjoining Native lands, from crossing the border. i

CAIRO, Dec. 24. Intelligence has been received from Dongoia that 64 whaleboats, conveying troops to the front, have arrived at Kortie, on the Nile, near Ambukol, where the concentration of the troops is rapidly proceeding. The Mudir of Dongoia telegraphs that a Bedouin, from Omderman, a village near Khartoum, which he left on Dec. 9, has arrived at Dongoia, and reports that the Mahdi has sent seven corps to reinforce his armies at Berber against the approach of the British troops, under Lord Wolseley, on that town.

LONDON, Dec. 24. Tlie Spanish-African Society has acquired 15 square miles on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea. The territory extends some distance inland from a point opposite Korisko. It is understood that the European Powers have Bhelved the proposal recently submitted by the English Cabinet for the settlement of the affairs of Egypt. .

[Special to Press Association.] LONDON, Dec. 24. The Democratic section in the United States Senate will not endorse the action of America in reference to the construction of a Nicaraguan Canal. Mr Adolph Trevil has been appointed Austrian Consul at Adelaide, and Mr Ernest Moon as Consul for Costa Rica at Sydney. The English Press strongly sympathise with Australia in reference to the annexation of the northern part of New Guinea by Germany.