ENGLISH ITEMS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 426, 17 June 1870, Page 3

ENGLISH ITEMS.

The following is a summary of the news brought by the Suez mail, which we condense from the “ Daily Times” : London, April 23.

Sir Phillip Wodehouse’a speech before the Cape of Good Hope Parliament, counselling the colony not to accept responsible Government, since that would involve its ultimate separation from the mother country, is attracting much attention. Canada and New Zealand are cite! as examples of what would happen at the Cape. Explanations have been demanded in the Imperial Government, but are deferred till the debate on Mr. Torrens’s motion takes place.

A sale of Australian meat has taken place at the Hop Exchange in the Borough. The result was encouraging.

The Post-office authorities have resolved to make four ounces the maximum weight of newspapers for the colonies, and to reduce the weight of parcels to forty-seven ounces. Loud complaints are made against the new regulations. Commander Palmer’s conduct in connexion with the recent kidnapping in the South Seas, has been rewarded by promotion. Emigration is increasing. Excellent bui'dings at Plymouth have been prepared for the reception of emigrants for Victoria. Provision has been made for one thousand people.

The Admiralty have telegraphel to Commodore Lambert to search the Anoklanl Islands for the supposed castaways from the mission ship Matoaka. The Irish Peace Preservation Act has produced salutary effects, the “national” journals being more cautious in their tone, and agrarian outrages diminished.

The House of Commons is working hard in Committee upon the Irish Land Bill. An educational controversy is raging Meetings and newspaper discussions are ripening public opinion, which is tending towards religious instructions under certain conditions.

The Government have consented to repeal the Irish Party Processions Act. Sir Rutherford Aleook’s Chinese Conventions has not been ratified. The Bribery Act is a flagrant failure. Mr. Goldstone has moved for a Select Committee to enquire into the corrupt practises of members of the House of Commons. Both the Prince of Wales and Prince Christian have preside! over conferences held for organizing the forthcoming series of International Exhibitions. Prince Chris, tian also presi led at the anniversary festival of the Royal Society of Musicians. It is rumore 1 that a marriage has been arranged between the Prince of Orange and the Princes Louise. -

Mr. Eranch-: R anohls, the original inventor of the Electric ’Wlegranh,has been knighted. Sir Stafford Not thcote has gone to Canada on a mission, behoved to he connected wi hj the Red River affair.

The personality of the late Lord Derby has been sworn under €250,006. The Lisbon of London has resolved f o enforce the legal regulations among the Ritualistic Clergy,

Two agrarian murders have been committed in Irel an I. One assassin was captured, and confessed the crime,

A thousand colliers in Rhonda Valley have struck for an advance of wages of ten per cent. Six hundred pitmen near Sunderland have taken a similar step. May 13. The woo] sales closed heavily at February prices. Two-thirds were taken by the Continent.

At Liverpool, the sales of Australian meat were satisfactory. The British Australian cable from India to Singapore wi'l he shipped in August.

Toe Atlantic yacht race between the English yacht Cambria and the American yacht Sappho was won easily by the Gamin ia.

Mace has been declared the champion of America, after a fight of ten rounds. The Red River insurgents and the Canadian Government have agreed to terms, and the rebellion is at an end.

Judgment has been given in the Bridgewater bribery prosecution. Fentelly was fined £I,OOO, and sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment ; Dr. Kinglake -was fined £2OO ; Hardiment was sentenced to six mouths’ additional imprisonment ; and Holme was fined £IOO.

An awful catastrophe has occurred at Richmond, Virginia. The floor of the Court of Appeal fell through into the House of Representatives, killing fifty-nine persons, of whom twenty were deputies, and injuring one hundred and thirty-five more. Eight counties in Ireland have been placed un ier the Peace Preservation Act. The coloured citizens of Washington celebrated the ratification of the suffrage amendment by a torchlight procession. They serenaded the President, who urged them to prove themselves worthy of their new privileges.

The Mormon practice of polygamy has been vehemently discussed in Congress, and a Bill has been passed on the subject. The threatened raid on Canada by Irish filibusters did not occur on the 15th ,but enough transpired to jnrtify watchfulness on the part of the authorities. The Habeas Corpus Act has been suspended, and the Volunteers are under arme.

Fenian attempts Were apprehended in Loudon. Several rendezvous of Fenians have been discovered, and railway parcels from Birmingham and Sheffield have been searched for arms.

An audacious case of brigandage in Greece has caused great excitement throughout Europe. The brigands captused Lord Muncaster, son of the Duke of Manchester, and several other Englishmen at Marathon. Lord Muncastcr was re'eased on the payment of £2OOO as a ransom. A colonel, with

troops, was sent to attack the robbers, whom he attempted to surround, when they killed all their prisoners, including Messrs flerbeat, Lloyd, Vyner, and Bayle.

The French Plebiscite has commanded general attention in Europe during the month. The Legitimists and the Left strenulously opposed the Plebiscite, but it was nevertheless carried by 7,257,.'179, ayes to 1,530,909 noes. In Paris there was a majority of 200,000 against the Government A disturbance took place in the Faubourg du Temple. Barricades were erected, but after some slight fighting, the insurgents were dispersed. The remainder of Paris was quiet.

A conspiracy was discovered in Paris to assasinate the Emperor by means of nitroglycerine bombs. Mazzini, Rochefort, Flonrens, and others arc said to be implicated. A number of arrests have been made. The French Intercolonial Society in London held a banquet, at which the charge of complicity in the conspiracy was repudiated The healths of Rochefort and O’Donovan Rossa were drunk.

An alleged conspiracy to assassinate the Empress Eugenia has been discovered. Several arrests have been made, and a uantity of bombs anl cartrilgn has bssu seized. At Newmarket, the Two Thousand Guineas were won by Mr. Merry’s Macgregor, Lord Stamford’s Normandy second; and Lord Falmouth’s Kingc-aft third The One Thonsand Guineas were won by Mr. Dawson’s Hester; Mr, Lyndon’s Frivolity being second, and Baron Rothschild’s Matrone third. The Chaster Cnp was won by Our Mary Anne. Formosa second and Sabinius third. The Citv of Boston has been written off on Lloyd’s bst, as lost. An appeal has been to the full Court from the decision in the Mordannt case.

The West Lid'an mail ste-mer Venezuela has been spoken, and her passengers taken off.

Tee Marquis of Bute will not visit Australia.