Wednesday.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XII, Issue 12, 11 July 1884, Page 13

Wednesday.

A fatal accident 'tfccurrea'* yeßterday at Totara Point, Thames* 1 A. lad named 'etfaTss'Hoi3ifls6n, employed by the contractors for!

the Thames Kopu railway, being jambed betweeu a waggon and the bank and horribly crashed to death. In answer to a question put in the House of Commons, the Hon. Evelyn Ashley Btated that Lord Derby had received an offer from the Australian colonies to contribute yearly a sum of £15,000 towards maintaining a High Commissioner of the Pacific, who would reside at Eastern New Guinea. The Hon Mr. Ashley added that Her Majesty s Government would take steps to organise a snfficient B taff to assist the Commissioner, and that the appointment of the latter would be made promptly. In the Chamber of Deputies M. Ferry, Premier, made a statement regarding the recent engagements between French and Chinese troops at Lang-son. Tonquin. He announced that from accounts which bad been received by the Government it was clear that the ■?u C Jt f orce w^ct was going to occupy Lang-son in accordance with the treaty, had been led into a regular ambush by the Chinese. M./erry further stated that it was the intention of his Government to aemand from China an indemnity of 10 millions sterling as reparation for the outrage. It is currently reported that the Government will order the occupation of Foochow as a guarantee foi the indemnity to be demanded. It is announced that the appointment of a Resident Commissioner over New Guinea will, in the first place, be only for one year, the question of permanently appointing a British officer being deferred, pending the final setlement of the proposals of the Sydney Conference and their approval by the various colonial. Legislatures. It is as yet undecided whether the adjacent islands in the Western racine will be placed under the supervision of the Commissioner resident in New Guinea.