LATE CABLE NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6494, 20 December 1881, Page 5

LATE CABLE NEWS.

{Pub Puss AsaociAHoir.j (Per S 3. Albion, vii the Bluff.) CAes Spscuzs.] LONDON, Dio. 12. Hie British Government has decided to reopen negotiations with the Gambetta Ministry for a commercial treaty. Sir O. Dilke, Under-Secretary for Foreign Affair a, starts (or Paris on Monday, and will hare a pervaaol interview with Gambetta. Count Eotoolgr, Austrian Premier, after careful consideration of the points in dispute between the Austria- Hungary Empire and the Kingdom of Boasaania relative to control over the navigation of the Danube, has communicated hi* views to Prince Bismarck. Hu result is that they have agreed upon a joint plan of action towards Boumania, and have forwarded their demands to the Government o! Bucharest.

’The Treaty of Commerce which was recently agreed upon between the Governments of Stance sod Italy, has been formally com* pktod, the traoty baring been ratified by the two Powers.

Tim ITaitod States Government baa doodad, is accordance with the generally expensed wish of the nation, to confer upon the widow of the late President Garfield some special token of its high appreciation of the character and cervices of her late hasbacd, and sympathy for her tinder her greet bereavement It has therefore been announced that Mm Garfield shall have tbe privilege of e*nding letters throughout the States of the Union free of postage. The asti-Jesriih agitation which has for woe time put been prevalent in parts of Germany an d Busris, it gaining ground and mindly spreading through every portion of the two Empif®*. It also seems likely that (he feeling will cot be confined to these, but will extend to adjoining countries.

As explosion occurred in a coalmine at ihradey, a tows in tbe West Biding of Tarlahm, about nine tulles Dora Sheffield. Tbe eoaeequecow were most disastrous, bo law than sixty miner* being lolled. The stomas which have been recently raging over the Atlantic have been especially destructive aloof tbe coast of Newfoundland. Numerous shipwrecks are reported. A destructive fire, involving loss of life, has occurred at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Working Men’s Home, an institution devoted to the use of the working classes, caught ire, and the building was consumed with such rapidity that many inmates were to make their escape. Ten persons perished in the flames. It Is announced that Sir Arthur Gordon, Governor of New Zealand and High Cora* wiMlfHMw of til# Pacific, will shortly be relieved of the general supervision over the Colony of Fiji, which he has exercised. The f umUod of taxation in India has bora under comidrralion of the Viceroy and Ms Cfetmdl for eome time. It is now announced on good authority that a determination hoe been oeme to to impose an Income tax. The proposal has hitherto met with serious objection, as toto® » to* uosuited to the habits of the people. It is probable that the cotton duties will to abolished. in Santander, a Province of Old Castile, on angry fowl has existed tot ween some newspapers published in the district and the priests. Several b ttof attacks on tbo clergv nave been published in tbo papers, in which their gweral character was impugned, and the clergy bavo retaliated by solemnly oiooroamoioating tbo editors of throe offending journals. This action hoi excited great senration throughout Spain, and the subject is being taken up widely by tbo public journals. In consequence of tbe continuance of outrages in various parts of Ireland, and tbe difficulty experienced in securing tho detection ana conviction of offenders, the Irish Executive have under consideration a proposal to vest the military officers in command of tho disturbed localities with magisterial powers. It is believed that stops wfll to taken shortly in order to provide for the wcarity and protection of well-disposed people in those districts. Negotiations bare been opened by the German Government with Earl Granville for tho transfer to Germany of the small Island of Heligoland, which has been in the occupation of Great Britain since. 1814. ltd©** not exceed 54 squat# miles in area, and is of no practical importance. [Auovh SifßCiAX«,j . Ateifcdlyanti-IrwshfecliEg is spwadtog in England tn consequence of the cowardly outrage* and intimidation systematically practised in Ireland. The Lord Mayor of Itoodoa has opened a fund for the assistance of the Property Define® Association of Ireland. President Arthur has signed ® convention asUhiUhtfg (ha post-office money order *wi«n between the United State* and Fow Zonked and New South Wale*. Aiemblenpiumo haa occurred in a <wal

®in® Wonting to the Cookwill Company. iSKd DR ‘ 3leißium * miners were

Two soldiers, named Woodhead and North* cote, hare been sentenced to death by the Dublin Criminal Court for the murder of o*md«mim Currish* At a grand concert given in Berlin, Madame Blmelad {nie Maggie Mcnoios, of Melbourne) performed several selections on She pianoforte. A eormpoodent of tho 7Vm«i speaks of tho skill she displayed aa highly creditable to the musical talent of Australia.