LATEST ENGLISH NEWS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 262, 28 December 1880, Page 2

LATEST ENGLISH NEWS.

[Rbuieb's Telegrams pee Pbess association.] London, December 24. j The total quantity of wheat afloat for i Great Britain is 2,130,000 quarters. i The report circulated with regard to the 1 resignation of the Marquis of Ripon of his I position of Viceroy of India is devoid of foundation. A letter has been sent by Lord Carnarvon to John Bright, in which he denounces his speech of the 16th November as unfitting to a Cabinet Minister, and deplores its ever having been made. He further attacks the landlords for their preference for theoretical reforms before first making efforts for restoring law and order in Ireland. Latest advices from head quarters in Transvaal supply an officer's account of the recently reported disaster. Two hundred and fifty Yeomanry marching in Piscatoria were attacked by large numberg of Boers, and were almost crushed. Five officers and 130 rank and file were killed and wounded, the remainder being taken prisoners. The colors were saved. i The High Commissioner has urgently appealed for reinforcements of cavalry. j December 27. In consequence of the necessity for reinforcprneots of cavalry in the Transvaal the 6th Dragoons have been ordered to Natal. Romb, December 24. The Observatore Romano announces that a letter has been written by the Pope in which ! he counsels the Irish clergy and peoplo to separate themselves entirely from the lution. Capetown, December 24. Telegrams from Transvaal give details of the attack by the Boers on the Briiish position at Potchefstrooin. From news which came to hand yesterday it appears that the fighting was severe, and lasted some time, but a strong defence was offered by the British troops, and the Boers were ultimately repulsed with considerable lose. News has been received from Natal that Kruger, the Boer I'resident, has issued a proclamation which, while deprecating any war with the British, states that the Boers are determined to assert their independence in Transvaal. December 26. Further telegrams to hand regarding the disaster in Transvaal state that when tho Boerß attacked the detachment of the 94th Regiment the men were engaged in rescuing a number "of swamped wagons, and being consequently without arms they were completely crushed by the largo number of Boers who swooped down on them. News I)Q9 also been received that the Boerß at Potchtfstroom have murdered five Englishmen who wore residing in the town, and that as soon as information of the outrage reached head-quarters a battery of artillery whs despatched acd shelled the place. The enemy were driven out, and over 100 were killed by the guns.

[Spocial to tbo "Melbourne Argus."] (Per Arawata at the Bluff.) London, December 17. The attempt to murder M. Braitienao at Bucharest failed. He was only Blightly wounded. The offender has been arrested. Mr Walter Watson Hughes has been knighted. Greece has arranged to obtain a new loan. December 20. The Daily Atws states that Herr Wetendorf returns to Berlin, announcing that any reform of the Turkish finances is hopeless ; and also that the Jewish feeling in Berlin is increasing. A large meeting has been held, at which it wus resolved to treat the Jews n8 Boycott waß treated In Ireland by the I peasants. I Paris, December 17. The Daily JS'tws says that Franco and England have an united policy with regard to the claims of Greece. The Cologne Guzett'e says that the intended cession of Crete by the Porte to Germany i^a made with a view to the transfer of the fslnnd to Greece in exchange for the sur render of her claims to Tncssaly aud Epirus. The Gia;;rj Orange Lodge of Ireland bns • QlliiOuucv'd its reßolvo Jo frustrate tho Laud League, tt is also intimated that in consequence of the numerous requests for arms, the Grand Lodge has arranged for a supply from England to be distributed in the West and South of Ireland. Mr Cullan, M.l', who was convicted for libelling Mr Sullivan, his colleague, has been fined £50. [Special to Sydney " Herald."] (Per Wakatipu at Wellington.) London, December SO. Mr King has, with the approval of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the United States, drafted reaolutiona to be submitted to Congress expressing regret at the unhappy position of Ireland, aud that the British Government appeals unable to fulfil its normal duties for the protection of life and property; also that the lion Mr Evarts, Foreign Secretary of State, bo instructed to inform the GoTernhient of Great Britain that it Is thought expedient that there Bhould be immediate reforms in Irish affairs, and that pacification should be prosecuted in a kindly und considerate spirit. A telegram frcrn America, stating that Congress i* likely to adopt these resolutions, has caused much excitement here. December 21. The Orangemen of Londonderry assembled at Coleraine.aud burned in tfiigy Parnell and Biffgar, the Land League leaders^ The second bkttuiion of Grenadier Guards, so rarely sent out of England, has been ordered to proceed to Ireland. In conaequence of the disturbed state of affairs in Ireland, the Empre es of Austria, who had arranged to go there again this winter for tbo hunting season, haa abandoned her intention. [From the IV. Z. Times we take the following cablegrams to the Sydney papers brought to Auckland by the Herb :— ] London, December 13. The Imperial Cabinet, having been Bummoned to discuss matters regarding the Irish difficulty, met tc-day, and the question was discussed at great length by Ministers for five houn. Tho result of tbeir deliberations is not yet published, tfc is known, however, that a consultation is taking place between Earl Spencer, Lord President of the Council, formerly Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and the Right Hon. W. E. Forster, Secretary of State for Ireland, to whom has been delegated tbo taak of preparing what are understood to be coercive measures for the maintenance of law and order in the disaffected parts of Ireland. December I*. It has transpired that at the Cabinet meeting held yesterday, it wns reeolted on the joint recommendation of Earl Spencer and the Hon W. E. Forater, that immediately upon thaassemblingof Porliamentin January, the Ilouees should be asked to assent to tbe BUspsnßion of the Habeas Coiput Act in Ireland, and that measures for reform of the Irish land laws skould be introduced ns soon as possible. A protracted sitting of the Imperial Cabinet h»s been held, at which tho situation of affairs in Ireland was thoroughly discussed, and it was retolve d to depatcb 5000 additional troops to Ireland for the maintenance of order. I Judge Kovvse, formerly Attorney-General for Ireland, baa been threatened by tho Land Leaguers. The League hns succeeded in preventing the export from Cork of produce of any farms belonging to farmers obnoxious to them. December 15. Serious disturbances have occurred in Donegal, and a portion of that county has been proclaimed as a disturbed district. A farmer h»B been murdered at Granard Town, in Longford, for his opposition to the I designs of the Land Leaguers. The murderer is unknown. Messrs Henley and Walsh, arrested some weeks ago on charges of using threats against a farmer, conspiracy, and exciting ilUwill among her Majesty's Bubjectsin Ireland, wero placed on their trial to-day. They pleaded not guilty. Tbe Court, which was strongly guarded by military, was crowdedj and the hearing of tbe case occupied tho entire day. The commander of the Turkish forces has taken steps with a view to aid Montenegro in coercive measures against the Albanians, and compelling compliance with the terms of the Conferences. Tho funeral of Madame Thiers took place yesterday, and was of a semi-public character. The members of the French Ministry atj tended, and the principal dignataries of the Republic, both civil and and military, wore also preeent. The cortege was a very large one, and the Btreets and thoroughfares wero lined with spectators. Russia and China are settling their differences amicably, and a new commercial treaty, offering considerable advantages to tbe former Power, is deemed highly probable, but so far nothing haß been heard of the withdrawal of Russian cruijers from the Pacific and China seas. Messrs. Healey and Walsh have been acquitted and discharged. The resnlt was received with exhibitions of frantic excitement among the populace, Both gentlemen were the recipients of a tremendous ovation, and are to be banquetted.