FRANCE AND CHINA

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVI, Issue 994, 28 November 1883, Page 5

FRANCE AND CHINA

WAR CONSIDERED CERTAIN.

(Renter's Special.) Hohgkong, November 24th.

Intelligence to hand from Canton shows that active preparations ia view of the outbreak of war with France are being made without cessation in that city, and that the Imperial troops are now being massed there.

The threatening attitude of the natives towards European residents has not in any way subsided.

It has transpired that relations of an intimate character exist between the Chinese Government and the Black Flags, and that a secret treaty— the terms of which are not, however, known — has been concluded between the two nations.

It ia nw considered that; the outbreak between France and China 4Ainevitable, and that an open declaration orwar will not be delayed for any length of time.

Reports to hand from Tonquin state that the Chinese troops have already assumed the offensive, aa<2 that a. force of 3000 attacked the French position at Haidznong (sic), but retired after seven hours' fighting. Great anxiety and alarm at the serious aspect of affairs is feh by Europeans in China.

News (sayd a correspondent of the " Leader ") has been received at Albury of a valuable discovery made by Mr Mark Sheehan, an Aibary resident, who is now prospecting on Dark Rivar. Sheehan has •truck a new reef on the Fortuna line lode, which ia 8 inches wide; and shows gold freely in the veins throughout the stone. A small quantity of quartz, roughly broken and washed, yielded a prospect folly equal to thiat from some of the besfc eh&uu in the locality when well crushed. The stone differs widely from the quartz hitherto found in the same neighborhood, the pyrites contained in it being peculiarly fine in crystallisation and more prominent than uiuu.