LONDON.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3178, 5 September 1881, Page 3

LONDON.

August 23. Sir C. Or. Duffy, in his published address, has announced his opinion of the new Irish Land Act. After eulogising in warm

language the courage displayed by Mr Gladstone and his colleagues in grappling firmly with a subject surrounded with difficulties, he characterises the Act as a glorious measure, and one from which he anticipates great results. He maintains, however, that ifc will still be desirable to continue the agitation in Ireland, in order that an active public opinion shall secure the fruits of the measure from being lost. Intelligence has been received by the police authorities from the United State, warning them that Fenian conspirators have despatched a cargo of infernal machines to Ireland. The information states that the vessel is expected to go to Limerick, and all the arrivals from the States afc that port are being closely watched. The Finiancial Secretary for India has submitted his budget. The Viceroy's Council shows a surplus for the year of £855,000. The total expenses of the Afghan war are found to have exceeded £20,000,000. He is unable to recommend a substantial l-emission of taxation, alld notwithstanding the objections raised by the mercantile community in England the import duties imposed sometime since will be continued. August; 24. The Standard, in a leading article, discusses the settlement of the reform question in Victoria, and expresses an opinion that tho compromise is one on the whole creditable to the moderation of both parties. The removal of this cause of political strife, is believed to be likely to promote the prosperity of the colony. Another eviction riot of serious character has taken place in Ireland. A large number of peasantry attacked the police and military who were engaged in carrying out evictions at Rathbeal, seventeen miles from Limbrick, on the east bank of the Lee. Some persons were severely injured before the riofc was repressed. The dynamite convention, which is still sitting in Chicago hatching its schemes for the employment of infernal machines is ridiculed by the New York press as unworthy of serious consideration. The idea that any dangerous action is likely to emanate from such worthless sources is scouted. _ j Another attempted outrage, which is attributed to Fenian agents, has been discovered in Birmingham, Afc a railway station in that city the attention of the [ authorities was directed to a package forwarded for transmission, and which purported to contain books. There were, however, suspicious circumstances connected | therewith, and the package wa3 opened and examined. Ifc was found to oontain a con- ) siderable quantity of gunpowder. The matter has been placed in the hands of the police. The Government have released Dennis H'annigan, secretary of the Drumoalloghor branch of the Land League. He was arrested as a ' suspect' under the provision of the Protection of Persons and Property Act on the 9fch of March, and has since that date been confined in Kilmaihham gaol. Owing to the activity recently displayed by tbe Nihilist organisation the Swiss Government, acting on representations mado to them, have expelled from the boundary one prominent Nihilist; leader, on the grounds that he was guilty of an infringement of international law, and had abused the rights of hospitality. August 25. The bill for amending the law of libel introduced by Mr Hutchinson, M.P. for Halifax, and which has received the assent of the House of Commons, has now been under the consideration of the Lords. The bill which provides that no criminal prosecution for libel shall in future be instituted against the proprietor of any journal without the leave of the Attorney-General, has met with general approval. After discussion in the House of Lords the measure was passed, and now awaits the Royal assent. The Russian Ambassador at Washington, acting under instructions from his Government, has demanded from the United States the extradition of Harfcmann, the Russian Nihilist. It is maintained that the offence with which Hartmann is charged is of a criminal character, and that he is not entitled to the protection accorded political offenders. The handing ovor of the territory ceded under the recent convention between Greece and Turkey is being carried out, bufc some difficulties have arisen owing to an outrage committed by the Turks before retiring. The Turkish troops when abandoning the town of Kailza, set fire to the place, and a large number of buildings were destroyed before the conflagration was stayed. August 26. It has been officially announced that the expenses of the trial of Mr Parnell, the Irish Home Rule leader, and the other traversers, held before the Court of Queen's Bench in Dublin, amounted to £9000. The expenses of the defendants were defrayed in great part by public subscription. August 27. A proposal has been made by Mr Gladstone to the German Government that the island of Heligoland, situated in the North Sea, fifty miles from the mouth of the Elbe, should be recognised as neutral territory. The island, which is only about 223 miles in circumference, is one of the most favourite German watering places. The island has been held by Germany since its capture from Denmark in 1827. Owing to the inclement weather which prevaibd during the review of Scotch volunteers afc Edinburgh, large numbers of the men who took part in ifc have been placed on the sick list. The troops were exposed for hours to the rain, and suffered severely from the wetting. The Irish Land League purpose making the presentation of a farm to Michael Davitfc, one of the most prominent agitators. Davitfc, who was at large on a ticket of leave, was re-arrested a few months ago on account of his seditious utterances, and is now confined in Kilmainham gaol. The Russian Government has decided to considerably increase the duties on all goods imported, into the country, and trade between Great Britian and Russia is likely to be severely affected. An epidemic of yellow fever is raging afc Barbadoes, one of the Windward Islands in the West Indies, and has caused a very large number of deaths. The result of the general elections in France has been altogether favorable to the Republican candidates. The number of votes recorded was 6,000,000, and of these theßepublican candidates obtained 4,500,000, the Bonapartists 500,000, and the representatives of the Legimitists, Orleanists, and I other parties, 1,000,000. ! A destructive fire lias occurred in Chicago, by which several buildings were burnt, and a large amount of property destroyed. The loss is estimated at 1,000,000 dollars. A destructive fire has also occurred in Canada, the town of Villeyagc having been nearly destroyed. Fully one-half of the place was burnt clown. The continuation of tho heavy rain has been most disastrous to the prospects of tho harvest throughout; Great Britain. The crops on the Continent have also suffered severely. Mr Saul Samuel, the Agent General of New South Wales, has obtained the promise of a number of valuable presents for the new museum recently established in New South Wales.

LONDON.

[RErjTEE's SrEoiAL to Telegraph.J

September 2. At the wool sale to-day 10,900 bales were catalogued.

Sir Stafford Northcote made a speech to-day at Sheffield, in the course of which be took occasion to emphasize the importance of maintaining' the existing union between England and the colonies. The election for a member for North Durham, which tools place to-day,

resulted in the return of Mr Elliott, the Conservative candidate, in the room of Lieut-Colonel Joicey, deceased, the Liberal representative. September 3, At the wool sale to-day 9300 bales were offered, making a total of 101,700 catalogued since the opening of the series. A good demand was experienced for the various lots offered. September 4. The final report of the enquiry into the Dotterel explosion acquitted all on board of complicity, and states that tbe primary cause of the disaster was an explosion in the bunkers.