LONDON.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3044, 29 March 1881, Page 3

LONDON.

March 14.

The Commission of enquiry appointed at fhe instance of the Queensland Parliament to investigate the circumstances connected with the contracts for the supply of steel rails to the Queensland Government, and to consider the charges in connection therewith made by Mr Hemmant, ex-Treasurer, against the Premier, Mr M'llwraitb, has commenced its sittings. The commission consists of Mr King, appointed by tbe Queensland Government, and an English barrister appointed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies. The proceedings are private. Some members of the local Land League, who were arrested and lodged in Kilmainham gaol, in County Meath, were serenaded at night by a number of sympathisers. The frequency of earthquakes in Italy has caused great alarm among the inhabitants. Another severe 6hock is reported from Perugia city, in Central Italy, ten miles east of Lake Perugia. In the Parliament of the Dominion of Canada a resolution has been submitted proposing abandoning the protectionist tariff and reverting to free trade. After an animated debate the resolution was rejected by 131 votes to 53. Mr Gorst, the member for Chatham, has withdrawn his motion tabled in the House of Commons for the issue ot a writ for Northampton pending the final decision of the Law Courts as to whether Mr Bradlaugh is legally entitled to hold his seat. March 15. Mr Bradlaugh having determined to resign his seat for Northampton, in view of the recent decision of the Law Courts, applied to the Crown to be appointed to the Stewardship of the Chilton Hundreds, the ordinary mode of vacating a seat. The application was refused on the ground that the legal points involved in the case had not yet been definitely settled. The Socialist Association of Chicago has publicly avowed the approval of the assassination of the Czar, and has] commended the act as one striking a fatal blow at despotism. March 16. Serious riots resulting in bloodshed have occurred at Gal way, one of the most disturbed districts in Ireland. The condition of aflairs in Albania is most deplorable. Turkish rule has been utterly thrown off, and no settled authority exists. Outrages are of frequent occurrence. March 19. Information has been received by the police of threatened outrages b> Fenian emissaries, and in consequence the police force in charge of the Houses of Parliament has been doubled. The Lord Mayor of London, Alderman McArthur, M.P. for Lambeth, has re* ceived numerous threatening letters, which are supposed to have emanated from Fenians. The matter has been placed in the hands of the police, and precautions against any attempts at violence have been taken. Chinese immigration into the United States is reviving. Tbe San Francisco papers strongly urge the President to put into operation the powers restricting the influx of Chinese conferred under the recent treaty concluded with China. The town of Belden, situated in Carinthia, a province of Austria been has destroyed by fire. The place has actually been burnt to the ground. A subscription has been raised to relieve the distressed inhabitants. The Indian tribes in the territory of New Mexico, United States, are on the war path. They have attacked the white inhabitants, and have massacred thirty persons.