EUROPEAN ITEMS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 940, 11 May 1883, Page 2

EUROPEAN ITEMS.

London, April 27. Rumors are current to the effect that Prince Bismarck intends to propose a general alliance amongst the Great Powers for mutual protection. France, however, is to be excluded from the suggested compact. In the House of Commons last night, Mr W. F. Ecroyd, Member for Preston, brought forward a motion for extending protective duties in the United Kingdom. The motion was negatived. With a view of rendering himself familiar with the condition of the poorer classes in Ire and, Lord Spencer is now making a tour amongst the Irish peasantry. It is rumored that Mr Gladstone intends accepting a peerage, and to assume the title of Earl of Mi llothian. Mr J. H. Haliburton, of the firm of Haliburton and Co., wool merchants, of Melbourne, has been appointed one of the Directors of the Commercial Bank of Australia. The Australian and New Zealand Myfrtgage Company, Limited, have declared a dividend of 10 per cent, for the past year, with a bonus of 10s per share. At yesterday’s meeeting of the Irish Convention in New York, it was decided to adopt Mr Parnell’s suggestion, and adjourn , the , Convention until Autumn.Patrick Egan, late treasurer of the Irish National Land League, submitted a state-; mentof the accounts, which was approved of and deemed satisfactory. Members of the Convention who are in favor of the use of dynamite fully believe that the objects of the Irish agitators will bo achieved by its continued employment,, Two Australian priests who were present

at yestepfey’a in favor of | I j-I ftl 'Sn . i A deputation waited: on Lord Granville in with the proposed widening cjf thle-B uez Oanal. They urged tlpl,,theX7tmal did hot at present tradd, aftd that further accommodation had become absolutely necessary. Lord j»id that tta'GßttWf 1 had ;not“come |o in 'flie. : mattbt «9 yet, /Before-doing st> they woMd-c^ukw|tfe^o^ at present in "Conslantmo and who would be able 'tS J aaViaethem as to thanooesaity or otherwise of any alteraiion in the Oanal, The friends of the Tichborne claimant ar<- making arrangements for a grand reception of the lunatic in the Parramatta asylum, whom they allege to be the genuine Arthur Orton. An application for his release is now pending in the Supreme Court of New South Wales.

April 29. Kingston, the Irish Invincible, who was recently arrested in the county of Cumberland, and Devine, another of the Fenians charged with conspiring to murder, have made important disclosures to the authorities. They allege that besides the Assassination Committee other secret societies existed in Ireland, the object for which they were organised being the murder of prominent officials. They have given full particulars to the police, and several additional arrests will probably follow. April 30. It is reported that a crisis in Egypt is imminent, the Khedive having refused to accept the reforms proposed by Lord Dufferin.