EUROPEAN ITEMS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 542, 24 January 1882, Page 2

EUROPEAN ITEMS.

[Per s.s. Rotorua, at the Bluff.] London, Jan. 13. The proposal of the Government to introduce a modified form of cloture in the House of Commons, for the purpose of overcoming the systematic obstruction adopted during the recent session by the Irish members, has excited much discussion. In Ireland the idea has been greatly ridiculed, and it is openly asserted that it will prove ineffective to serve the object desired. London, Jan. 16. The necessity of extending the fortifications of Romo has been strongly impressed on the King of Italy by his Ministers, and, in accordance with their advice, King Humbert has issued authority for the expenditure of three million lire (L 120.000) upon the fortifications of Rome as recommended by his military staff. The Indian troop ship Crocodile, under the command of Captain Doughty ran aground while passing through the Suez canal, and has for a time completely blocked the traffic. The French troops in Algeria are suffering greatly from the severity of the weather on the frontier of the great desert of Sahara, where there have been heavy falls of snow, and many French soldiers have died from exposure. Alfonso, King of Spain, has paid a visit of friendship to the King of Portugal. A review was held in his honor at Lisbon, and 12,000 Portugese troops marched before him. Much sympathy is evinced in England with the Jews in Russia, who have been subjected to severe persecution. A fund has been started in London for their relief, and subscriptions are pouring in. Miss Richman, of South Australia, a young lady, niece of Lady Fergusson, the wife of the Governor of Bombay, has died from cholera. The death of Lady Fergusson from the same cause was announced a few days ago. London, January 15 The Home Secretary has released two Staffordshire farmers who were sentenced in 1879 to two years’ imprisonment for mutilatiug a man named Isaac Brooks. The latter confessed on his death bed that the prisoners were innocent of the crime of which they were convicted.