BRITISH & FOREIGN

Daily Telegraph (Napier), 16 February 1883, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN

By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. [Reuters Telegrams.] DELIVERY OF JANUARY SUEZ MAIL IN LONDON. THE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT— FORECAST OF THE QUEEN'S SPEECH. MR BRADLAUGH AND HIS SEAT IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. SUPERIORITY OF NEW ZEALAND OVER AUSTRALIAN FROZEN MEAT. DESPATCH OF A FRENCH CRUISER TO MADAGASCAR, LONDON. February 11. The homeward mails via Suez and Brindisi, dated Melbourne, January 4, Avere delivered here to-day. February 15. The folloAving is a forecast of the speech from the Throne to be delivered at the opening of Parliament to-morroAV : The speech Avill refer to the great efforts Avhich have been made to secure the establishment and maintenance of order in Egypt and self-govermnent for that country, together with the safety of the Suez canal, and at the same time to observe the obligation due to Europe. The approval of the Great Powers and the agreement of the Sultan are firmly anticipated to the policy Avhich has been pursued. The speech will express strong hopes that the labors of the Danubian Commission Avill result in a satisfactory settlement of the question at issue, and that good results Avill follow the reinstatement of King CeteAvayo in Zululand. The folloAving- measures Avill be announced as the proposed Avork of the ensuing session :— Bills for the codification of the criminal Laws, and for regulating the proceedings in the Coiu-t of Criminal Appeal; for amending the Acts relating to bribery at elections and the Ballot Act. The other proposed measures deal Avith the Municipality of London, local govonmient, floods, and the bankruptcy and patent hnvs. The speech, in reference to Ireland, will state that considerable imprOA'ement has been manifest in the condition of that country, despite the efforts of secret societies to set laAv and order at defiance.

Later. Parliament was opened to.day by a

Royal Commission. The forecast of the Queen's speech as previously telegraphed was confirmed by the speech as delivered. The speech, however, also states that the withdrawal of the British forces from Egyptian territory is proceeding as expeditiously as the dictates of prudence will admit. In reference to Ireland the speech acknowledges that the machinations of secret societies in that country demand unremitting energy and vigilance on the part of the Executive. Reference is also made to the proposed measure providing for the compensation of tenants in England and Scotland for improvements made upon leasehold lands.

A large meeting of the supporters of Mr Bradlaugh was held in Trafalgar Square to-day with the intention of escorting him to the House of Commons to claim his seatas the duly elected member for Northampton. In the course of his speech Mr Bradlaugh, however, stated that the announcement by Lord Hartington, that a bill providing for affirmations in lieu of oaths was about to be introduced in the House of Commons averted the necessity of adopting that method of claiming Ids seat which he had proposed to employ, and he considered it advisable to take no further action at the present time. The intending demonstration did not, therefore, take place. The low prices realised by the cargo of frozen meat ex Orient are declared to be due to the fact that the meat was badly butchered, and hence less attractive than the New Zealand meat ex Sorrento.