CONTINENTAL.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 15, Issue 764, 24 February 1870, Page 1 (Supplement)

CONTINENTAL.

FRANCE. After endless rumors the resignation of the Cabinet was announced on the 28th. Nearly all the late elections ! have been declared valid. Parliamentary parties have fallen into hopeless confusion, owing to loudly expressed dissatisfaction with the abuse of her influence by the Empress, who ceases to take a prominent part in politics. Count Chambourd issued a manifesto on the present state of France, declaring that hereditary monarchy is only a harbor of refuge. Guizot asserU that Parliamentary government can alone insure the effective aliiance of order with liberty. The public finances are reported to be in a very flourishing condition. Protectionist agitatation is provoking the organised action of free traders. Traupman's trial causes great excitement. 15,000 persons applied to be present. He was pronounced guilty and sentenced to death. The formation of a new Cabinet is entrusted to Ollivier. The Emperor, by a letter, requested him to select persons who can with himself form a homogeneous Cabinet faithfully representing the Legislative majority. Personal government appears to have surrendered, and the basis of Parliamentary regime is laid. SPAIN. Prim obstinately adheres to the candidature of the young Duke of Genoa despite the opposition of his family and friends. Constitution guarantees are restored. The strength of the army is fixed at 80,000. A commission has been appointed to inquire into the disappearance of the Crown jewels. During the Christmas recess Ministers have gone on a hunting expedition, to the mountains of Toledo, accompanied by a strong guard. Two Bepublicans comprised in the late rising have been executed. Sainerno, ex-Minister for Finance, was stabbed by a former colleague, from revenge. The sale of Church and National property has been resumed. PORTUGAL. The Government is becoming unpopular and weak; Duke Saldanha, a popular military chief, aged 90, attacking the Ministry. An insurrection appeared imminent, and the War Minister resigned. ITALY. The Ministerial crisis has at length terminated by Laugar constructing a Cabinet. Sweeping Ministerial reforms are

promised, but additional taxes are foreshadowed. The disbandment of 464,000 men is rumored. Considerable excitement has been produced by the dissolution of a congress at Naples held in opposition to the Ecumenical Council. Several countries were represented by deputies. The Linti Council meets next September in Switzerland. Forty lives were lost by an inundation of the Arno at Pisa. Santa Maura has been totally destroyed by an earthquake. The (Ecumenical Council opened on the Bth, amidst gloom, rain, booming of cannon, and pealing of the bells of 36.0 churches. 800 ecclesiastics were present, and thousands of spectators. The order of service was mass, the inaugural discourse by the Archbishop of Iconium, the Papal benediction, the homage of members of Council to the Pope and to the Holy Ghost, and a Te Deuin for subsequent sitting were with closed doors. Already there are reports of dissension and intrigues amongst the Fathers, and a strong opposition of French German, and American bishops to the dogma of infallibility, but subtle measures are taken by the Pope and his Jesuit advisers to stifle discussion by remitting obnoxious subjects to safe committees. The bull communicated at the second meeting has occasioned surprise and indignation. If the inMlibillty project is insisted on a great disruption is probable. The Council is expected to sit for six months. The French Ambassador has warned the Pope of the probable consequences of his high-handed proceedings. One Cardinal is dead. It is conjectured that Cardinal Man ning will be the next Pope. . GERMANY. Billa, who shot the Rev. M. Henrici during the service at Berlin Cathedral, was sentenced to twelve years' hard labor. Count Bismarck has returned to Berlin. The abolition of the newspaper stamp duty is promised. AUSTRIA. The Reichsrath was opened by the j Kaiser on the 13th December. There i was undue reserve in his speech, in compliance with the wish of the Ministry, who are divided. The minority asked leave to resign, An interview with the King of Prussia is fixed for January 15th, at Ancola. The Dalmatian insurgents are making submission. RUSSIA. An expedition has been sent from St. Petersburg to discover means of i connecting the Caspian and Aral Seas. An understanding has been arrived at between Russia aud the British Government respecting the Central Asia question. Cholera rages in Russia. TURKEY. The Egyptian question is said to be settled. The Khedive having accepted the conditions of the Sultan's firman, no fresh loans are to be contracted or taxes imposed without the Sultan's - sanction, LATEST TELEGRAMS London, Jan. 11. The prospectus of the British Australian Telegraph Oooipany was issued on the 3rd instant, capital £600,000, which was eagerly subscribed foi\ It is intended to complete the line by Port Darwin.

The balance of the Victorian Loan has, been negociated, the offera amounting to £3,000,000 and upwatds, at the advertised minimum of 100|. The English Emigration Society have offered to co-operate with the National Emigration League, ...■-, The Committee of Colonial Dele-: gates forward by this mail a temperate reply. Mr Beamont's resolutions were adopted at a subsequent meeting. A National Colonial League has been formed.' Professor Gamee asserts that he has solved the difficulty of meat preserving, and sample cases have been forwarded to England. A man named George Dyer surrendered himself to justice, and made a self-accusation of having murdered a man named George Willsat thirteen years ago, at the gold diggings in Victoria. He has been remanded for further inquiry. There has been a Fenian attack upon the Salford militia, in order to seize 800 stand of arms. Owing to the vigour of the Government in regard to the state of Ireland three months ago, public feeling has been much relieved. Reinforcements Of troops to operate in moving columns have been sent, and the threat of the Government to suspend the Habeas Corpus Act has paralysed the Fenian leaders. Two incendiary priests have been suspended. The dreaded anniversary of the defence of Deny passed without distarbance. Several attemp'ed assassinations in Ireland are reported; one was accompanied by barbarous mutilation. Two gunsmiths' shops at Dublin have been entered and plundered by armed men. Two constables have been shot at Limerick.

The • country (Ireland) has been visited by a terrible storm. In Limerick some old houses were blown down. Many persons were killed. The Welsh fasting girl died on the eighth day of a fortnight's watch in the presence of nurses from Guy's Hospital. The parents refused to offer the girl any food. A verdict of manslaughter has been returned against the father. The acquittal of the Overend and Gurney Bank directors was received with loud acclamations in Court. The verdict was approved by the Judge, and the decision gave great relief to all concerned. The sitting Judge refused costs to the prosecutor.

The mission entrusted to Fleury to detach .Russia from the Prussian Court signally failed. Lord Clarendon sent the congratulations of the British Government to M. Lesseps, who was so pleased that he communicated to the Emperor. Last Monday evening eighteen people were crushed to death at Bristol in a theatre panic, caused by a cry of fire. The performance proceeded. The Archbishop of Canterbury is convalescent. . The Rev. Mr Spurgeon has experienced a relapse into his lormer serious illness. There have been destructive gales on the coast, with heavy rains, great floods, and high tines. These were followed by the frost and snow of true Christmas weather.

A Times telegram from Berlin Jast week states that France has proposed a disarmament at Yienna, St. Petersburg, Berlin, and Paris, and jit is also supported at London. There jis no confirmation of the statement. The iron roof of King's College dining room gave way and fell in, jbut happily the apartment was unpccupied at the time, The disaster was occasioned by the vibration of &n adjoining tramway. The engineer's report states that there are cracks in the granite columns of the Holborn viaduct) but there is no danger to be apprehended from the defect. General Tom Thumb and his interesting troupe are passengers to Australia by the present mail. Lucy Escott is dead.