EUROPEAN ITEMS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1034, 29 August 1883, Page 2

EUROPEAN ITEMS.

London, August 7. A debate took place in the House of Commons last night consequent upon a statement made by the Hon. E. Ashley to the effect that the Imperial Government had signified their approval of the step taken by the New Sou'h Wales authorities in removing from the Commission of the Peace certain Justices who had subscribed to a disloyal address pres mted to Mr Redmond, the emissary of the Irish National League. Mr Healy gave notice of a motion that he would on a future day, move for a return showing the number of members in the New South Wales Parliament who had been sent out to that colony as convicts. A fete in commemoration of the celebrated ride performed by Lady Godiva through Coventry, was celebrated in that town yesterday, and passed off most successfully. Prince Bismarck has beenjdecorated by the Emperor of China. A deputation composed of AgentsGeneral of the Australian colonies has wa'ted upon Earl Derby to protest against the action of the Imperial Government in shipping Irish informers to the colonies. They asserted that as the step had been taken, and the Colonial Government had prevented the informers from landing, it was the duty of the Imperial authorities to take the responsibility of having the men returned to the United Kingdom. The Standard this morning comments upon the position taken up by the colonies in reference to the informers on board the Pathan, and contends that the colonial authorities, in refusing to allow the men to land, acted unconstitutionally, and that their action was calculated to encourage murder and prevent criminals from giving information of crimes in which they had participated. Mr Marray Smith yesterday laid before Lord Derby the difficult position which the Victorian Government was placed in owing to the attempt at landing the Irish informers from the Pathan. He urged the Imperial Government to give their immediate attention to the matte:. In the House of Commons last night, Healy again referred to the step taken by the New South Wales Government in dismissing Justices of the Peace for subscribing to the Redmond testimonial. He requested Government to inform all intending emigrants from Ireland that the Irish colonists of New South Wales were

being submitted to systematic persecution at the hands of the authorities.

Mr Murray Smith has had an interview with Lord Derby, the Secretary of State ior the Colonies, with regard to the reported intended annexation of the New Hebrides by France. The order recently issued by the Admiralty, directing the British corvette Frolic to proceed to the Mauritius has been countermanded.

A severe engagement has taken place between the insurgent troops in Catalonia and the soldiers who were despatched by the Spanish Government to suppress the rising. A large number of civilians in the disaffected districts are joining the ranks of the insurgents. It is rumored that the Carlist party are encouraged by the present unsettled state of the country, and contemplate another rising. The French Government are despatching reinforcements to Madagascar from Reunion. In consequence of the censure passed upon Admiral Pierre by the French Government for his treatment of the captain and officers of the British war vessel Dryad, he has resigned his office as Commander of the French Forces at Tanntave.

St James's Gazette, in an article to-day, refers to the apathy displayed by the Imperial Government in connection with the deportation of French criminals to the islands of the South Pacific, and contends that in ignoring the earnest protests of the colonies, England is acting unwisely, and that such action must tend to impair the connection which has hitherto existed between England and her colonial possessions.

A festival in honor of Martin Luther, the reformer, was held to-day at Erfurt, a town in Saxony, in which is situated the Monastery of St Augustine, containing the cell once occupied by Luther. The festival was most successful, about 100,000 persons being present. The British authorities in India have seized a number of seditious letters as they were in course of being transmitted through the post on the 7th inst. The Emperors of Germany and Austria have met at Ischl, in Upper Austria, according to a previous arrangement. The interview ' was of a most cordial character.

Several ironclads belonging to the Italian Government are menacing Morocco.

The Lancashire Volunteer rifle team has won the Sargood prize, valued at L4O. Fears are entertained thit the overflowing of the Nile this year will be unusually severe, and a disastrous inundation is anticipated. The Rev. Dr Thornton, Bishop of Bal-lar-t, has been engaged for some time collecting subscriptions in England in aid of the funds of his diocese, and has received a fair share of support. Subscriptions to date amount to L 5.000. The Bishop will

leave England for Victoria on 25th inst., travelling via San Francisco. Mr Gladstone last night referred to the proposal made by the Australian colonies to annex New Guinea and New Hebrides. He stated that in bis opinion the subject had undergone no change, in spite of the representations made on behalf of the colonies, and that ha strongly condemned the proposals. A debate took place in the House of Lords upoo the ,report of the Select Committee appointed by that Chamber to consider the scheme for he construction of a ship canal from the Mersey to Manchester. The Committee reported in favor of the project, but the House of Lords rejected the report, August 12. It is reported that dissension has arisen amongst the members of the French Cabinet over the manner in which the Madagascar campaign is being conducted. Some Ministers censure the War Department for the delay which has taken place in the military operations. They contend that France should pursue a more vigorous policy, especially now that her troops are suffering distress at Tamatave in consequence of the Hovas having cut off their supplies. The Pope of Rome has issued an encyclical letter to the Roman Catholic clergy in Spain on the subject of the present Republican rising in that country. He commands them to induce the people under their charge to abstain from taking any action in the rebellion against King Alfonso.

The Austrian Government has derided to form illy annex the provinces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which were formally ceded to that empire under the Treaty of Berlin.