LATE CABLE NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2315, 5 September 1881, Page 3

LATE CABLE NEWS.

[By Telbgeaph.J [Per b.s. Te Anau, at the Bluff,] [“Age” Specials.] LONDON, August 23. Sir Charles Duffy, in a published address, has announced his opinion on tho new Irish Land Act. After eulogising in warm language the courage displayed by Mr Gladstone and his colleagues in grappling firmly with the subject, surrounded as it was with difficulties, he characterises the Act as a glorious measure, and one from which he anticipates great results. He maintains, however, that it will still be desirable to continue agitation in Ireland, in order that active public opinion shall secure the fruits of the measure from being lost. Intelligence has been pjeeivod by the police authorities from the United States, warning them that the Fenian conspirators have dispatched a cargo of infernal machines to Ireland. Tho information states that tho vessel is expected tojgo to Limerick, and all the arrivals from the States at that poit are being closely watched. The Financial Secretary for India has submitted his budget to tho Viceroy’s Council. It 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 any substantial remission in taxation, and notwithstanding the objections raised by the mercantile community in England to the import duties imposed some time since they will bo continued. August 24.

The London “ Standard,” in a loading article, discusses the settlement of the reform question in Victoria, and expresses the opinion that the compromise is one on the whole creditablo to the moderation of both parties. The removal of this cause of political strife is believed to bo likely to promote the prosperity of the colony. Another eviction riot of a serious character has taken place in Ireland. A large number of the peasantry attacked tho polios and the military who were engaged in carrying out evictions at Bathkeale, seventeen miles from Limerick, on tho east bank of the Deel, Some parsons were severely injured before the riot was repressed. Tho Dynamite Convention, which is still sitting at 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 a worthless source is scouted.

Another attempted outrage, which is attributed to Fenian agents, has been discovered at Birmingham. At the railway station in that city the attention of tho authorities was directed to a package forwarded for transmission, and which purported to contain boots. There were, however, suspicious circumstances connected therewith, and the package was opened and examined. It was found to contain a considerable quantity of gunpowder matter, which has been placed in the hands of the police. The Government have released Denis Hannigan, the secretary of tho Diumgollogher branch of the Land League. Ho was arrested as “a suspect’’ under tho Provisions for Protection of Persons and|Property Aot on March 9th, and he has since that dato been confined in Kilmainham gaol. Owing to the activity recently displayed by the Nihilist organisation, tho Swiss Government, acting on the representations made to them, have expelled from their country one of the prominent Nihilist leaders, on tho ground that he was guilty of an infringement of the internotional law, and had abused the rights of hospitality. August 25. A Bill for tho amendment of the law of libel, introduced by Mr Hutchison, M.P. for Halifax, which has received the assent of tho House of Commons, has been under consideration in the House of Lords, The Bill, which provides that no criminal prosecution for libel shall in future be instituted against tho proprietor of any journal without leave of the Attorney-General, has mot with general approval. After discussion in the House of Lords tho measure was passed, aud now awaits tho Royal assent. The Russian Ambassador at Washington, acting under instructions from his Government, has demanded from the United States the extradition of Hartmann, tho 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 afforded to political offenders.

The handing over of the territory ceded under the recent convention between Greece and Turkey is being carried out, but some difficulties have arisen owing to the outrages committed by the Turks before retiring. The Turkish troops, when abandoning the town of Kailza, set fire to the place, and a largo number of buildings were destroyed before the conflagration was stayed. August 26. It has been officially announced that the expenses of the trial of Parnell, -the Irish Home Rule loader, and other trave- sers, held before the Court of Queen’s Bench, Dublin, amounted to £9OOO. The expenses of the defendants were defrayed in great part by public subscriptions. August 27.

A proposal has been made by Mr Gladstone, to the Gorman Government, that the island of Heligoland,'’situated in the North Sea, forty miles from the mouth of the Elbe, shall bo recognised as neutral territory. The island, which is only about 223 miles in circumference, is one of the most favorite German watering places. The island has been held by Great Britain since its capture from Denmark in 1827. Owing to the incessant wet weather which prevailed during the review of the Scotch volunteers in Edinburgh, a large number of the men who took part in it 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 a presentation to Michael Davitt, one of the most prominent agitators. Davitt, who was at large on a tickot-of-leave, was re-arrested a few months ago on account of seditious utterances, and is now confined in Kilmainham gaol. The Russian Government has decided to considerably increase the duties on all goods imported into that country. The trade between Great Britain and Russia is likely to be severely affected. An epidemic of yellow fever is raging at Barbadoes, one of the Windward Islands, and has caused a very large number of deaths. The result of the general election in France has been altogether favorable to the Republican constitution. The number of votes recorded was 6,000,000. The Republican candidates obtained 4,500,000, the Bonapartists 500.000, and tbe representatives of the Legitimists and Orleanists and other parties 1.000. A destructive fire has 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 destruotire fire has also occurred imOanda, the town of Yilleyago having been nearly destroyed. Fully one-half of the place was burnt down.