LATE CABLE NEWS.

Kumara Times, Issue 1355, 3 February 1881, Page 2

LATE CABLE NEWS.

[From Australian papers.] London, January 18. There, is a probability that the obstruction in the House of Commons will soon be brought to an end. Professor Thorgold Rogers, one of the Liberal members for Southwark, has discovered among , the old orders of the House one which dates back to the year 1600, which empowers the Speaker ■to “stay irrevelant speeches.” It is likely that this will be used for the purpose of putting a stop to the present protracted discussion. A hurricane snowstorm of unprecedented fury swept over a great part of England, causing incalculable destruction to property, and involving it is feared great loss of life. The storm raged during Tuesday night with appalling force, sweeping everything before it. Within the recollection of none living has such a calamity visited any part of the United Kingdom. On the Eastern Coast the hurricane raged most furiously, and traffic on the railway lines with London was abandoned throughout. Great damage was done to the rolling stock. The condition of thousands of homeless people is pitiful in the extreme. Tfaa Thames overflowed, and submerged large areas of land at Woolwich. The pier was entirely demolished, and everywhere was disaster and devastation. Incalculable Is the shipping loss in the Thames. January 20. The Dutch settlers of South Africa have made an appeal to the Government and people of Holland, claiming their sympathy and protection in their present relations with Great Britain. It is considered very unlikely that the assistance sought will be granted. It is reported that Mr Joseph Cowen, proprietor of the Newcastle Chronicle and Liberal representative for Newcastle, meditates, with Mr Parnell, haranguing a monster meeting to be held in London in opposition to the application of the Government for coercive measures for Ireland. In c ntsequence of the continued strike among the coal miners in Lancashire, serious disturbances are threatened, and troops have been despatched to the district to maintain order. Mr Gladstone has expressed sympathy with the loyal Boers, but regrets that it is impossible to grant them independence. It is stated that Earl Beaconsfield is pressing upon the Conservative party the necessity of supporting some measure of land reform in Ireland, with a view to checkmating the designs of the Land League. The frozen butter by the Protos is pronounced in tolerably good condition. The frozen meat has been bought with avidity, as there is great scarcity of stock in the Smithfisld market, owing to the recent snow storms. The members of the British Government are exasperated by the continued obstruction by the Irish members. The Speaker suggested the appointment of a committee to search for precedents as to the extent of his powers in case the ruling of the chair continues to be ignored. It was considered probable that decided steps should be taken by the Ministry immediately, unless the Irish members abandoned the course pursued, of which there is scarcely any hope. The debate, notwithstanding the rote on the motion for amendment to the address, has been re opened in various ways, and tactics of obstruction have been vigorously pursued. A series of amendments were moved on the address, and no sooner was one negatived than another was proposed. Mr Gladstone threatens strong measures. January 24. Mr Henry Taylor, late emigration lecturer in England on behalf of South Australia, sails by the Orient, to deliver lectures throughout Australia, advocating the export of Australian food to England.