LONDON.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3226, 1 November 1881, Page 3

LONDON.

October 18

A most disastrous fire broke out at Port Said yesterday, and no less than sixty houses were destroyed ere tbe progress of the conflagration was checked. The French Government has received information of a great battle fought between the French troops and the Arab insurgents, in which the Arabs were defeated with the loss of 800 killed. Mr Forster, the Chief Secretary of Ireland, is attended by police for his personal safety. Police are also on guard at Hawarden Castle, the seat of Mr Gladstone, and it has been found necessary to increase the Constabulary force at tbe Castle. Mr Gladstone's effigy has been burnt at Philliptown. The authorities continue to make arrests of persons inciting tbe peasants to resist the payment of rent, and using inflammatory language against the Government. A huge meeting of Irishmen and the sympathisers of the Irish malcontents is convened at New York. October 19. ~ A fire broke out on board one of the Cunard steamers on her passage from New York to Liverpool. She was not far from the English coast when tbe fire was first noticed. The captain made for Flint, the nearest seaport, situated in North Wales. It was found tbat the fire could not be subdued by ordinary means, and the vessel was accordingly scuttled. A Danish steamer has been burnt at sea. She had a large number of immigrants on board, 500 of whom are missing, and it is believed have perished. October 20. Great excitement has been caused by two attempts which have been made to destroy the Abyssinia, one of the steamships belonging to the Cunard line at New York. Tbe designs of the incendiaries were frustrated by the timely discovery of their intentions. A disastrous hurricane has swept over the greater part of Mexico, and resulted ia the destruction of 300 houses*

Disturbances in Ireland have ceased to a certain extent and an easier feeling prevails throughout the country. The military and Constabulary have been strongly reinforced, and numerous arrests have been made among the local leaders who urged the people to refuse the payment of rente- ; - ■ October 21j .Bills to institute trial by jury, and provide for civil .marriage have> bden introduced into the Spanish Cortes. . A disastrous gale bas swept over Spain, doing much damage. •■ '. '' ■ Sergeant O'Lagan, tbe President jof the Commission appointed to administer the Irish Land Act, in opening the Court, explained the _iode of jirocediire he intefided to adopt. '■-'•' . ' The officers of /the Irish. National Land League have been arrested and imprisoned, October 23. Information has been reseived from India to the effect that Cbaman has been evacuated by tbe British troops. Reports of wrecks during the recent disastrous gale off the coast of Scotland continue to come to band, and intelligence has been received,that a Dutch steamer foundered during the gale, and 200 of. those on board are missing. Two trams have collided on tbe Midland Counties railway near Leicester. Another engagement between the French troops and the Arab insurgents has taken place. Two hundred insurgents were killed. Rinderpest is prevalent among the herds of Norfolk. The Mississippi has overflowed its banks. A water famine is feared at New York. Sickness is very prevalent amongst the French troops in Tunis. October 24. Five persons connected with the Land League were arrested at Roscommon, and three at Wexford yesterday. [Reut-r's _i*ecia_ to Telegraph, j