EUROPEAN ITEMS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 548, 31 January 1882, Page 2

EUROPEAN ITEMS.

[Per s.s. Albion, at the Bluff.] London, Jan. 17. It ia announced that Her Majesty will visit the Continent in March next., Professor Newmayer of Hamburg, an old friend of the lost explorer Dr Leichardt, haa announced his belief in the truth of the statements made by Skuthorpe in Queensland concerning the finding of Leichardt relics. After an investigation into the matter, he has come to the conclusion that the truth of Skuthorpe’s story, and the genuineness of the relics, must be considered established. The Pope has given an audience to the sous of Ismael Pasha, the ex-Khedive of Egypt, who has for some time resided at Naples. He accorded them a friendly reception. This action has excited considerable comment. Riots have taken place at Arbroath, a seaport in Scotland, sixteen miles north of Dundee, arising out of the doings of the Salvation Army. Whilst parading the streets the army was attacked by a mob, and several persons were injured. The captain of the army was wounded so seriously that his condition is regarded as critical. The Sultan of Morocco haa addressed an energetic protest against the action of France in the annexation of Tunis, and the desecration of the sacred places of Mahommed at Assam. At the same time he disavows any motives of hostility, and expresses his belief that the Algerians are faithful in their allegiance to France. An arrangement has been entered into between Austria and Montenegro, whereby the latter State has undertaken to keep a cordon of her troops on her frontiers adjoining the disturbed districts in Herzegovina, in order to prevent the insurgents escaping. Austria has agreed to pay the cost of this movement.

Intelligence has been received from Teheran which states that Ayoub Khan, who, after his defeat by the Ameer of Afghanistan, sought refuge in Persia, has been expelled that country, and has entered Russian territory. He has asked permission to join the Russian forces. The outrageous practice of houghing cattle is still extensively practised in Ireland. During the last few days no less than a hundred cases of the kind have occurred on properties situated in the immediate vicinity of Dublin. The Russian Jews have presented a memorial to the Czar setting forth the persecutions and outrages 1 which they have been subjected to, and praying for protection. Great sensation has been caused in political and diplomatic circles by a rumor that the Sultan intends to immediately assert his claim to the suzerainty of Tunis, notwithstanding the protectorate established in that country by the French Republic. It is reported that he will issue a proclamation dethroning Sidi Mohammed, and calling upon the Mussulman population to recognise the leader of the ' insurgents as the Bey of Tunis, subject to the supremacy of the Porte. The Marquis of Ripon, "Viceroy of India, has repealed the Act passed by his predecessor, Lord Lytton, early in 1878, subjecting the Native press to severe censorship. The Act was passed in consequence of seditious and libellous language indulged in by the vernacular newspapers, and has remained in force ever since. A shocking accident has occurred at Bucharest, the capital of the kingdom of "Roumania. jA circus, which was performing in town, accidentally caught fire, and, before the flames could be extinguished, the structure was burnt to the ground. A number of horses and several of the employees of the circus were burnt to death. The Russian Government proposes to extend the system of universal military service in the Grand Duchy o£^_Finland. The nrnnngal has caused great dissatisfaction among the population - ," ■wU i. neii u—hitherto been exempt from the burden. , It is now considered improbable.. that Abdul Rahman, the Ameerof Afghanistan," will pay his promised visit to India, and is unwilling to go there, being afraid.that a rising may take place among the Afghans during his absence. - : Great alarm is felt in Norfolk by the increasing destruction among cattle caused by rinderpest, and there is a general feeling among the farmers that immediate steps should be taken to check the progress of the disease. A great fire broke out at the Hammer-

smith station of the Metropolitan Railway line, and before the flames could be extinguished the entire building was gutted. The amount of damage is very large. Emigration from the United Kingdom to Canada during the year 1881 was 35,000. ~