LATEST BRITISH AND FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

Kumara Times, Issue 2960, 27 April 1886, Page 2

LATEST BRITISH AND FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

[REUTER’S TELEGRAMS.] By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. THOS. ERSKINE MAY A PEER. THE GREEKS STUBBORN. - THE COMBINED SQUADRON AT THE PIRiEUS. GROUNDING OF THE VALETTA IN THE SUEZ CANAL. MASSACRE OF EUROPEANS IN HARRAR PROVINCE. (Received April 27, 1.15 a.m.) London, April 26. It is announced that the Right Hon. Sir Thomas Erskiue May, K. 0.8., late clerk to the House of Commons, has been raised to the peerage. Athens, April 26. A number of vessels belonging to the combined squadron have arrived in the Piiseus in order to emphasise the demands of the Powers for demobilising the Greek forces. They comprise one Austrian, one German, one Italian, and four English ironclads, men-of-war. Suez, April 26. The P. and 0. Company’s steamship Valetta, which grounded on Thursday last at Timseh, in the Bitter Lake, a section of the Suez Canal, has been floated, and is now taking in the cargo which was discharged for the purpose of lightening her. Rome, April 26. The Government is in receipt of despatches from the East Coast of Africa stating that the Emir of Harrar, a province to the southward of Mas sowah, attacked and massacred a number of European residents in his dominion, including the entire expedition despatched by the Italian Government for the exploration of the interior, + [SPECIAL TO MELBOURNE AGE.] London, April 6. The adoption of the scheme for laying a cable from Vancouver Island, off the coast of British Columbia, to Auckland will depend upon the Australian colonies agreeing to pay a subsidy to the cable. The projectors of the scheme will not accept the proposal that the colonies should merely guaran. tee a certain revenue from the cable business. Earl Granville has intimated that he will await the receipt of a statement from Sir Arthur Gordon, the present Governor of Ceylon, with regard to the aspersions the latter is alleged to have cast upon the character of Mr John Bryce before considering whether his Excellency is deserving of censure. April 7. In the I-L iuse of Commons yesteiday sympathetic reference was made to the death of the Right Hon. W, E. Forster. From the Government benches the Premier alluded to the event, and passed a high eulogy on the deceased member; whilst from the Opposition side the high sense of the merits of the deceased statesman was expressed by Sir Michael Hicks-Beach. April 9. The speech made by Mr Gladstone in submitting to the House of Commons last night his policy with regard to Ireland is generally spoken of as a splendid oration. A feeling of intense excitement prevailed in the chamber during its delivery. The members of the Parnell party are jubilant at the concessions offered as a whole, though they take exception to the proposals in some particulars. The Liberal section of the House exhibited a feelino of apathy.

A Committee is sitting at the War Office for (he purpose of considering the military affairs of the colonies. It is probable that the Agents-Geneva! will be examined as witnesses. Mr Goodwin was examined on Saturday.

Tile debate in .(he House of Commons relative to Mr Gladstone's liish proposals was resumed oa Friday, when

the Right Hon. Mr Chamberlain stated his views. Mr Chamberlain objected to the proposal to exclude Irishmen from the House of Commons, and advocated a scheme of Imperial Federation, combined with a form of separate autonomy similar to that of the American States. He farther proposed that the practice of evicting tenants who fail to pay their rents should be suspended for six months, and that in the meantime landlords should have advances to them of arrears due. Another feature of the scheme proposed by Mr Chamberlain is the appointment of a Commission comprising representatives of all parties interested, whose business should be to endeavour to arrive at a satisfactory way of settling Irish affairs.

The Marquis of Hartiogton also spoke and declared it impossible that Parliament could consider anything like the colonial political system. The Radicals denounce Mr Chamberlain on account of bis action in resigning bis position in the Government. April 12. Mr Gladstone has intimated that he is prepared to entertain modifications in his Bill for the pacification of Ireland. It is understood that amongst the alterations contemplated by Mr Gladstone is one relaxing the provision lhat upon the establishment of an Irish local Parliament all Irish members of the English House of Commons shall withdraw. Mr Gladstone is willing to allow a certain proportion of Irishmen to sit in the House of Commons.