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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 150, 24 June 1880, Page 2

The following London telegrams, ranging from the 9th to the 15th inst., appear in the Australian papers :— There is considerable distress in Mayo, Ireland. The men demand immediate relief for themselves and families, and threaten if this is not provided they will pillage the country, and take by violence all they can lay hands on. — A disastrous fire broke out in Pennsylvania. One of the largest petroleum houses in the State caught fire, and a fierce and disastrous conflagration was soon raging. It is estimated that not less than 1,000,000 barrels of oil were destroyed, value nearly one million dollars. All efforts to check the progress of the fire failed. The catastrophe created great consternation among the inhabitants. A later despatch says it is roughly estimated that two millions dollars worth of property was|destroyed. — The silence of Abdul Rahman, and his&esitation about accepting the off er of the Ameership of Cabul, has given rise to suspicions that he is afraid of the hostility of Yakoob Khan's adherents, and that the followers of Yakoob are intriguing with Abdul Rahman for the restoration of the late Ameer to the throne.— A fearful boiler explosion has taken place on board a Spanish man-of-war, the Santiago de Cuba, causing great damage to the ship, fearful injuries to scores of people, and the loss of several lives. The number of deaths has

not been ascertained, but it is known that the killed and injnred amount together to 140. — An exciting scene occurred in the House of Commons, lasting six hours, and of a character unexampled for mauy years. Mr. O'Donnell made an outrageous attack on the newly-appointed French Ambassador iv London. Mr Gladstone^interrupted O'Donnell's speech amid great excitement and disorder, and moved that he be not heard until he had withdrawn hia offensive remards and apologised to the House. ' O'Donnell refused, and au angry and disorderly scene ensued. The Speaker was powerless to restrain the turbulent Home Rulers, who accused Mr Gladstone of endeavoring to gag membersof the House. Mr Forsterdelived a trenchant reply on the conduct of ihe Irish members, .accusing O'Donnell of outraging the decencies of society and imperilling national amity. Order being restored, Mr Gladstone effected a compromise by withdrawing bis motion. — The tone of the Russian Press since the fate of the Beaconsfield Cabinet appears to show that Russia is seizing the opportunity of the cbange of Ministry to proclaim a desire for peace and readiness to enter into any arrangement, assuring the British Government at the same time of the honesty of her professions. During the severe storm nou Saturday night (says the Poit of Tuesday last) a large rata tree at Drake's farm, JobnsonTille, was struck by lightning, and shivered into a thousand pieces. The tree must have originally stood about 60ft high, and the trunk measured about 3ft 6in m diameter. The ground around, extending over some two or three acres, is covered with splinters, with here and there large pieces of wood, which had stuck in the ground after being projected a considerable distance in the air. Some of «fche shattered fragments were carried by the force of the explosion a dißtance of three or four hundred yards from where the tree stood. :