LATER ENGLISH NEWS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1421, 19 February 1873, Page 2

LATER ENGLISH NEWS.

CABLE TELEGRAMS TO FEB. 6. OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.— THE QUEEN'S SPEECH:. [NEW ZEALAND PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Bluff, Feb. 18. The Albion has arrived. She left bourne on the 13th, and sails for Dunedin to-night. The mail had not been signalled when the Albion left. London, Feb. 5. The vessel that sunk the ship Northfleet was the steamer Murillo. The owners of the Northfleet are suing the i owners of the steamer for L 14,000 damages. Arrived— J. M. Joshua, and Patriarch. February 6. Parliament was opened to-day by a commission. The Queen's speech congratulated the country on its friendly relations with all Foreign Powers. It refers to the mission despatched to Zanzibar for the suppression of the slave trade. An acknowledgement is made of the services of the Emperor of Germany as arbitrator in the San Juan question, and the award is to be immediately executed by withdrawal from the island. Reference is made to the Alabama claims and the award of the Geneva arbitrators, and Parliament is asked to provide for the necessary payment of the damages awarded. Mention is also made of the services of the Geneva tribunal. A treaty has been executed with Belgium for the extradition of criminals, and the hope is expressed that the final result of che French commercial treaty negotiations will be shortly announced. The whole correspondence with Russia on the Central Asian question is arriving at an identity of views regarding the frontier lines as promised. The revenue of the country continuea prosperous, but no reduction can be made in the estimates of the year in consequence of the increased expenditure rendered necessary. The commercial condition of the country continues generally satisfactory ; no increase of pauperism or crime. Amongst the inea» sures promised during the session are Irish University and Education Bills. The former will carefully regard the rights of conscience. A bill for the reconstruction of Supreme Courts of Appeal, and measures dealing with land transfer, local taxation, law reform, and the amendment of certain clauses in the " Education Act, 1870," will also be introduced. When the House of Commons met, an address on the speech was moved. Messrs Disraeli and Hossman attacked the Government on their foreign policy, especially the Alabama question. Mr Gladstone, in a long speech, defended the action of the Government, and also promised soon to present the whole correspondence on the Central Asian question. No amendment was moved, and the address was agreed to. In the House of Lords, Earl Granville said a recent sensational telegram regardiug the Central Asian question was unjustified, and there was no cause for alarm. The negotiations with Russia referred to details, and arrangements had been pending since Earl Clarendon was Foreign Minister. Af tdr a short discussion, the address in reply to the Queen's speech was agreed to. The ships Edwin Fox (for Canterbury) and Edwin Bassitt (for Brisbane) put back to repair damages.