FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4396, 22 April 1875, Page 3

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

GERMANY. A German correspondent writes ; —“ Two hundred and seventy petitions from employers of labor have been presented to the German Parliament to demand a revision of the laws relating to industry. They complain that apprentices in all branches of industry are allowed to quit their masters whenever theylike, and consequently to employ the skill acquired with their first master for the profit of themselves and others, before having compensated their first master for the trouble which he had with them during the first years* of their apprenticeship by their comparative, usefulness during the latter years of it. They demand that all artisans when seeking work shall be obliged to present, a certificate stating that they have regularly finished their time of apprenticeship. The Government Commissioner admitted that the complaint of the petitioners is well founded. The subject is now being considered by a Parliamentary committee.” The announcement is made at Berlin that Prince Bismarck has, at the recommendation of the president of the police, consented to the establishment of a police-station in his private residence, from an apprehension of further attempts upon his life. Tho prolonged session of the Reichstag, which opened on October 29, 1874, closed on February 6 without any other ceremony than a small speech from the President of the Chancellor’s department. Prince Bismarck has uttered no word implying an intention to resign, but he is frequently ailing, and his friends are anxious to restrain him from overworking himself. The prince "will be sixty this year, and is likely to remain at the head of affairs as long as his health holds out. FRANCE. The full returns of tho revenue for the past year, which have just been published, are of a very gloomy description. There is a deficiency on almost every item of taxation, except tobacco; the entire deficit on tho year amounting, according to some computations, to as much as fifty-seven millions of francs, and after every possible deduction and allowance niade, moro or less probable, to forty-nine millions at - the very least. The falling off for the month of December alono amounts to nearly twenty millions, and the same taxes in 1874 have produced less, by thirty-six millions, than they did in 1873 —proving only too clearly that either by over-pressure, or the influence of political circumstances, or both influences combined, the revenue has for the present lost all elasticity. RUSSIA. The Times correspondent telegraphs that forty-five parishes of the of Sedletz, Poland, containing 50,000 with the whole of their clergy, have bodily joined tho Greek Orthodox Church. The public reception was presided over by the Orthodox Archbishop of Warsaw. The Emperor has authorised the Governor-General of Warsaw to acquaint tho petitioners that their admission into the Russian Church has been approved by him, and on January 24 the public ceremony ■was performed,-before ah immense crowd, in the town of Sedlotz. Of the 50,000 people admitted twenty-six were priests ; the first parish entered was that of Bielsk, to which

the Archbishop of Warsaw proceeded, with all the convert priests, and delegates from the forty-five parishes, and where a solemn service qf consecration' was. performed .in - the parish bhiurch., , *■’ ■ , i - "’ ! V : ITALY, The greatest enthusiasm for Garibaldi has been reawakened by his visit, to Rome, The, general arrived at Civita Vecchia at a quarter;' past oue on Sunday morning, January 24.- The Syndic and members of the municipality, Prince Odespalchi, arid a large number .of friends, received him, at the port, and the quays arid streets .were brilliantly illuminated. He landed amidst loud cheers, and the next afternoon started for Rome. The Piazza do Termini was thronged to receive him. . Working men’s societies, wjth their respective banners, were strongly ‘represented, and ■within the station and without there was barely standing room. The Mayor of Rome was at the station, and near' him the wife of Menotti Garibaldi and little Clelia, the general’s daughter. The ai-rival of the train was signalised by deafening shouts echoed far and wide : of . “Viva Garibaldi.” The general appeared at the window of the carriage, thanked the bystanders, and kissed little Clelia, who was held up to him. The mayor then entered. the carnage, and welcomed Garibaldi in the name of the ■ city of Rome, as its defender. Supported by Basso and Menotti he made his way, amidst enthusiastic cheering, to the carriage in waiting for him. Since Macaulay’s Horatius probably lio hero of Rome has encountered a more enthusiastic reception from the people. At ,4.45 , p.ra. Garibaldi received the municipal .(mdy presented to him by the Mayor, who welcomed him again ,to Rome., The general replied in grateful terms, and dwelt on the pleasure he experienced in revisiting the Eternal City. On January 25 Garibaldi took the oath and his seat in Parliament. The crowd in the streets was tremendous. The Chamber was crowded to excess. ' ; spain. : , It is related that on his way to. Saragossa his Majesty' received a petition from .the municipality of Mores on behalf of the widow of a telegraph-clerk who was recently shot by the Oarlists. The King gave her 2000 reals, and ordered steps. to be taken to grant her a pension. The aloadej .ui the name -of the inhabitants of the village, presented the King with two doves, as a sign, of peace, saying the villagers were too poor to make him a handsome present. The King decided to send the doves to Queen Isabella; ; A decree has been issued granting his Majesty a civil list of 28,000,000 reals, yearly. Other, decrees' have' been issued settling the new conditions of the irremovability of judges. . ■ d ’■ : When King Alphonso was in the presence of Espartero, General Jovellar, in the name of the Government offered his Majesty the grand cordon of the Order of St. Ferdinand •in memory of the campaign. The. King, however, declined it, saying ■ that he did not consider himself, worthy of the honor, but hoped to deserve it. Espartero, who is. Grand Master of the Order,, thereupon took off the -grand cordon which he wore, and presented it to the King, saying, “I beg your Majesty to accept this cordon which I have worn in all my campaigns.” ; He then passed it over the King’s shoulder, and his Majesty, in return, removed the Star of the Order-of- Charles 111. whiehlhe- was 'wearing, : 'aiid presented it'to Espartero to commemorate his visit. The King afterwards proceeded to the Municipal Hall, wearing the grand cordon of the Order of St.. Ferdinand. .During the above scene, at which all present were greatly affected, Espartero, being very unwell, was seated in an arm chair. The Government have’ made a further call of 10,000 men, and are going to send 15,000 to Cuba. Tho committee of Oarlist sympathisers at Vienna has,resolved, to, wind, up its accounts Q its members are unwilling to assist,in.carrying on the war against King Alfonso. Very large sums have been spent by the committee. WEST COAST OF AFRICA. Rumors are current that ■ Coffee Calcalli, King of Ashantee,, has retired, and that Quamoali Mensali has been declared Icing, and Quaeoo Duali.his successor. It is also reported that the Gamans have revolted, with other interior tribes, from Ashantee rule, have seized a number of -Ashautees, .and decapitated some of them. Governor Straohan’s proclamation against slavery has been met by a counter statement, by the chiefs, who ask that the old state .of things shall, continue. Of -course, this request will not be complied with. * . .UNITED STATES. ' Ex-President Andrew Johnson has just been elected United States Senator for Tennessee. The Senate Committee on the Privileges of Election has :decided that Mr. Kellogg’s administration should-he recognised as legal in Louisiana. The political parties there are reported to be considering the expediency of a compromise, giving the Conservatives the control of the Legislature if they agreed to recognise Governor Kellogg. : I The Senate has patsed'a Bill'appomting a' commission to - ascertain'the, rights of some British subjects to certain lands in the territory awarded to the'United, States by the Emperor of Germany as arbitrator in the San Juan question. The Court on the Alabama claims has decided that foreigners entitled to the protection ’of the American flag, shall share in the distribution of the fund, while British subjects sailing under the American flag, are not entitled to participation.