LATEST FROM EUROPE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 2, Issue 292, 14 March 1881, Page 1

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

(Per Reuter's Agency.) The “ Claimant’s ” AppealLondon, March 11. The House of Lords has dismissed the appeal made on behalf of the convict Thomas Castro alias Arthur Orton, against the judgment of the Court of Appeal in June last, in discharging the writ of error which it was sought to prove against the decision of the Court of Queen’s Bench in 1874 in awarding two successive sentences of penal servitude on the two counts of the indictment. The Armistice with the Boers. The fact of an armistice having been agreed to with the Boers in the Transvaal is receiving much adverse criticism in the Press, and in political and military circles. The impression having got abroad that the armistice was sought by the British, a complete disavowal of the statement that Sir Evelyn Wood had asked that hostilities should be suspended has been communicated to the Press by Mr Gladstone, who moreover states that although no definite information is to hand as to the exact circumstances which led to the armistice, he believes that the proposal for the same originated with President Brand of the Free State, who has for some time been using every endeavor to bring about peace. Mr Bradlangh. The Divisional Court at Westminster

has disallowed Mr Bradlaugh’s demurrer to the plaintiff’s reply to his plea in the action Clark v Bradlaugh, to recover penalties of Lsoo each from defendant for sitting and voting in the House of Commons without having first taken the oaths prescribed by the Act of 1866. Monetary and Commercial. Consols have risen and are now quoted at Adelaide wheat remain at 49s 6d in warehouse, and New Zealand, ex ship, at 455. Best Sydney copra, Li 5. Best Australian leather has declined to rid. The Wool Sales. At the wool sales to-day, 13,700 bales were offered. There was again a good demand. The Irish Arms Bill. In the House of Commons to-day the Irish Arms Bill was read a third time and passed* and transmitted to the House of Lords for consideration. A Costly War, It is announced that England pays five millions sterling to the Indian Government as its share of the cost of the Afghan war. Appointment of Peace Commisioners* London, March 12. In the House of Commons to-day, the Right Hon W. E. Gladstone made a statement regarding the position of affairs in the Transvaal. He announced that, with a view to bring about a complete cessation of hostilities and the permanent setdement of the difficulty, Peace Commissioners would be appointed in the Transvaal to undertake

negotiations with the Boers. Much Excited. Capetown, March 12. News to hand from the Orange Free State announces that the population is at the present time much excited over the state of affairs in the Transvaal, Likely to Agree. Constantinople, March 11. The negotiations which have been proceeding for the past three weeks between the Ambassadors of the Powers in this city and the Porte, with a view to determine the long-standing frontier dispute, are likely to have some result. It is now understood that there are signs that the Porte will be persuaded to agree to a conference for the settlement of the Turko-Greek difficulty. To be Disbanded. Calcutta, March 11. Intelligence has been received from Afghanistan that the army corps which was despatched by the Ameer Abdul Rahman to Ghuznee last month as a precautionary measure against any movement on the part of Ayoub Khan, will now be disbanded, as the force is no longer required.