NEWS BY THE MAIL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 37, 3 June 1876, Page 2

NEWS BY THE MAIL.

KING ALFONSO'S ENTRY INTO MADRID.

The following telegrams from Madrid, dated March 20, were published in the " Times " of the following day : "The King's entry from the camp is finished. Twenty-five thousand men of all arms entered, and were four hours and a half marching through the Puerta del Sol. The men looked bronzed and warworn, but healthy. The streets of the capital were crowded as at fair time. The King was well received. Generals Moriones and Campos were heartily cheered. Crowns were thrown and pigeons were set loose from the balconies of the houses, and handkerchiefs were waved by the ladies at the windows. Loud shouts were raised of ' Long live the Pacificator King !' Cheers were also given for Generals Quesada, Martinez Campos, Priino de Rivera, &c., and for the victorious army, Generals Quesada and Martinez Campos being sj>ecially greeted with shouts of ' Long live the defenders of liberty!' ' Down with the privileges of the Basque Provinces.' The people crowned the soldiers with wreaths as they passed.

THE ROYAL TITLES BILL. At the conclusion of his speech in the House of Commons on the motion for the third reading of the Royal Titles Bill, Mr. Disraeli spoke as follows : —"I have had the honour of introducing this bill, and I have impressed on the House to the utmost of my power that it -was most important it

should pass. I have said—and I dic~*-l speak without authority—that there \v>l great political reasons why it should pasa —(hear, [hear) —and I should have been glad had some of the discussion which haj arisen upon it been avoided. The right hon. gentleman, the member for Greenwich, has spoken of the great changes in the relations between this country and some of its dependencies. But, sir, while we have been occupied with these matters there have been greater changes going on in the very heart of Asia—(hear, hear) —greater changes than even the conquest of India itself. There is a country of vast extent which has been known hitherto only by its having sent forth hordes to conquer the J world. That country has at last been van-1 quished, and the frontiers of Russia— I will not say a rival power, but the frontiers of Russia —are only a few days' inarch from those of Her Majesty in India. (Hear, hear.) Sir, I am not of that school which views the advances of Russia in Asia with deep misgivings. I think that Asia is large enough for the destinies of botli Russia and England, (Hear, hear.) But whatever may be my confidence in the destiny of England, I know that empires are only maintained by vigilance, by courage, by understanding the temper of the times, and by watchinw those significant indications that may easily be observed. (Cheers.) The population of India is not the population which it was in 1858. There has been a great change in the habits of the people. That which other influences have failed to do, the introduction of railroads has done, and the people of India now move about in a manner which could never have been anticipated, and are influenced by ideas which before never reached or touched them. (Cheers.) What was the gossip of bazar; rs is now the conversation of villages. You think they are ignorant of what is going on in Central Asia. You think

they are unaware that Tartary, that great conquering power of former times, is now at last conquered. (Hear.) No; not only do they know what is going on—not only are they acquainted with the conquering power, but they know well the title of the great prince who has brought about that wonderful revolution. (Hear, hear.) I have listened with surprise, night after night, to lion, gentlemen on both sides of the House translating the title of empress into all sorts of languages, and indicating to us what name would at last be adopted, (Cheers.) The nations and populations that can pronounce the word emperor, and and that habitually use it, will not be slow to accept the title of empress. (Cheers.) That is the word which will be adopted by the nations and populations of India, and the announcement by Her Majesty hi a Royal proclamation that she adopts that title will strengthen our rule in that part of the world, and will signify in a manner which cannot be mistaken that the Parliament of England is resolved to uphold the empire of India." (Loud and protracted cheering.) The third reading of the bill was carried by 209 to 134.

SEVERE SNOWSTORM IN SCOTLAND.

[from the "daily news," march 2QJ Our Dundee correspondent last evening as follows :—" On "Saturday night a fearful north-east gale swept over the north of Scotland, and although there was little fresh snowfall, the blocks on the Caledonian and Highland Railways were renewed by the snow being blown in great clouds from the hills. The Highland line was only partially interrupted, but on the Dundee and Perth system the block was most complete. Two goods trains and a passenger train from Dundee were overwhelmed, about eight miles from the town, in wreaths from Bft. to 10ft. feet deep, and have only just been extricated, the passengers having had to pass a dismal night in the carriages. It is reported to-night (Sunday) that a block has also occurred between Perth and Aberdeen. Last night the London mail train was not despatched from Perth, as its fate was foreseen, and it only arrived in Dundee this afternoon. The mail bags came to town this morning, however, having been carried by the North British traine, nnd a number of passengers availed themselves of the same means of conveyance. To-night the storm seems to have spent itself, and there are indications of more settled weather." An Aberdeen correspondent telegraphs : '' All the railway lines converging on Aberdeen are completely blocked by the snow, and telegraphic communication is almost entirely interruj ted. The storm is the worst that has been experienced here for half a century. The London mails were fourteen hours late in arriving, and sixteen trains on the Caledonian Railway are blocked. On the Great North of Scotland line, among other trains which are snow-bound, is one that has not been heard of since Friday night." A telegram from Stonehaven says : "On Saturday night the snowstorm set in with great severity in this neighbourhood. Every road was obstructed, and the railway was blocked. The last train from the south and other trains were blocked up. Some of the cuttings have over 20ft. of snow. The snow plough is hard at work near Laurence kirk." Another telegram states that the Highland mail, which left Perth for Inverness at half-past nine yesterday morning, could get no further than Blair Athol, and came back to Perth, running on the line of the afternoon train from Inverness, which stuck'at Dalwhynnie, and had to go back to Inverness. Near Dalwhynnie there was an engine off the line, in 6ft. of snow, and as the line is single, there was no saying when there would be communication with Inverness. The Aberdeen train, due at Perth at twelve minutes to four yesterday afternoon, did not leave Aberdeen till a quarter-past six last night, and was to proceed no further south than Perth. Telegraphic communication between Perth and the north was almost stispended. n <