Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1885-03-07 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

GERMANY AND THE CAMEROONS. Correspondence on the subject of the Cameroons has been issued as a blue book, the despatches ranging from August, 1879, to February 7,1885. The first is a letter to the Queen from King Acqua, Prince Dido Acqua, Prince Black, Prince Joe Garner, and Prince Lawton, from the Cameroons, dated August 7, 1879, asking for English laws and English government This is followed by a letter to Mr. Gladstone from King Bell and King Acqua, dated November 6,1881, to the same effect, asking him for "mercy sake to lay our request before the Queen and to the rulers of the British Govenament. We heard," the letter continues, "that you are a good Christian man, so we hope you will do all in your power to see that our request is granted." These letters were submitted by the Government to Consul Hewett, who recommended taking the country under British rule, as well as all the territory commencing at a convenient frontier line to the south of the Cameroons, and extending as far as and including Benin to the westward. Mr. Gladstone replied to King Bell and King Acqua, on March Ist, 1882, promising to examine the matter and write again. A memorial was signed by the inhabitants of Victoria (Amboises Bay), on March 24, 1883, asking for British protection. The Rev. W. K. Collings, of Gloucester, a former missionary in the Cameroons, wrote to Mr. Gladstone on September 27, 1883, urging the extension of British protection to those regions, calling attention to the possibility otherwise of the French annexing the territory. On April 19, 1884, Count Vitzthum, of the German Embassy, communicated to Earl Granville the fact that Dr. Nachtigal was about to embark for the West Coast of Africa and inquire into the state of commerce in that region. On May 16 Consul Hewett was directed by the Foreign Office to return to the Oil Coast, and conclude treaties with the various native chiefs at Bonny and appoint viceconsuls, and to take Arabes Bay under British protection. This instruction was notified to the German Government; but Consul Hewett, writing from her Majesty's ship Flirt on June 30th, says that on his arrival at Fernando Po he found he was too late, the Germans having already taken possession of Bimbia. Writing on September 14th Consul Hewett expresses the dissatisfaction of the chiefs at the Germanannexation, and encloses a statement of one of the chiefs to the effect that he signed the agreement with the I German agents under an impression that it was to allow the Germans to put a factory in his town, together with sunilar statements from other chiefs. Further despatches describe the bombardment of the Cameroons by the Germans. The concluding despatch is one from Earl Granville, denying the accusation that the British annexation of the remaining portion of the West Coast was due to the action of Germany. I Consul Hewett was fulfilling his instructions in so I doing. Earl Granville also denies the charges brought against the missionaries and English residents of participation in she hostilities.  A PAINFUL sensation has been occasioned in Carmarthen by the death through chloroform of Miss Reeve, matron of the infirmary, it being currently reported that she committed suicide. It is stated that Miss Reeve was annoyed because the House Cominittee thwarted her in certain reforms of management. SIR WATEIN WILLIAMS WYNN'S hounds met recently at Stockhill Gate, between Ellesmere and Whitchurch, Salop, and whilst the pack was crossing the Cambrian Railway, near Welshampton, a train from Oswestry ran into them, cutting six or seven of them to pieces.  THE committee of the Proportional Representation Society have issued a report to the effect that they have reason to be greatly encouraged at the results obtained by the agitation carried on during the past two months. A Wor.vsnmarProx correspondent writes that the other day Mr. Joseph Moseley, a gentleman of independent means, and member of the Tettenhall Local Board, hired a four-wheeled cab, and ordered the cabman to drive him to his residence at Woodcroft. When within a few yards of the latter place the driver heard a pistol-shot. Seeing that the blinds were drawn over the cab windows, he became suspicious and examined the vehicle. He then found Mr. Moseley lying, covered with blood, on the seat. Deceased had shot himself through the roof of the mouth with a small revolver, which was found in the vehicle. He was highly respected in the neighbourhood.