Additional Mail News.

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 1, 8 May 1885, Page 2

Additional Mail News.

The Parliament of Switzerland has restored to tho Cantons their right of | local option m regard to the Rale of m;- ; toxicating liquor. Brandy drinking has grown to frightful proportions, and profound agitation has' forced Government into this concession. The utmost secrecy Is maintained about the movements of British troapH m India. Press correspondents at Rawul Pindi are refused all information about, army orders, but it is ascertained i that a number of detachments have alJ ready left en route to Quettah. It is | learned from St. Petersburg that the I Ameer (if Afghanistan's plan of cam- | paign m connection with the army, m I case of war with Russia, is about as I follows : — The Ameer's troops are divided into four corps d 1 annee, one of which remains m Cabul, while the other three have taken up positions agaiust the Russians. The three corps embrace 27,800 infantry, 38800 cavalry, and 116 guns. These three corps d' armee stand at present m Herat, at Touchtapnl, and m Sariupul. Together with the troops m Cabul, the Ameer has an army of 67,000 men. Russia has mobilised 60 divisions, which have been sent to the Transcaspian. ! It is estimated that about 70,000 i British and Indian troops are already j concentrated on the Afghan boundary. | The Irish Nationalists are jubilant over the downfall of M. Ferry the French Premier. They exult over it m their newspapers, and describe it as a just punishment of the Premier for his arbitary act m expelling the Fenians from France, Hualey. who presided at the meeting of Nationalist m Dublin, said the Prince of Wales was coming ostensibly to see tho condition of the j country. It would he hotter if he visit3d the huts of the evicted families, whom the League was supporting, instead of picnicking at the landlords' homey. Fie regretted that a gentleman destined to be King of Ireland should be so ignorant of public feeling m Iroiand as to visit Dulilin Cnstle, and thereby cause Irishmen to attribute to him a desire to drop up Karl Spencnr's filthy sceptre and whitewash Dublin Castle, and to connect him (a Prince) with the murder of. Joyce and llaynes. He concluded by assuring tho Prince Out while wishing him a pleasant, voyng<* and plenty of amusement, his visit would have no political effect whatever,