LATE ENGLISH AND FOREIGN NEWS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 24 November 1880, Page 2

LATE ENGLISH AND FOREIGN NEWS.

(jfROJI THE MELBOURNE EAEERS.) London, November 10.

Mr. Gladstone delivered an important address on the political situation, at the Lord Mayor's banquet in the Guildhall, last evening, in response to the toast of Her Majesty's Ministers. Dealing with the condition of affairs in |re}and, he stated ;that the oiroumstanqes of that country were such as to oause the most serious anxiety to the Government. He attributed the agitation that had arisen to the undeniable evils of the existing land system, and expressed his conviction that the Irish Land Ijaws amendment in the direction of giving greater security of tenure to the tenants. He viewed with great regret the grave excesses into which some of the people had been led, and stated that the Government were determined tQ uphold order and preserve the peace, and tfyafc they vyould not shrink from coercive measures, if to secure this end. He indicated that the Goyernmeqt had under consideration measures which would remedy the griev? ances of which Ireland complained, and that they would be submitted to Parliament during the coming session. Referring to the position of affairs in the East, he declared that the Powers were determined to enforce the provisions of the Berlin Treaty. He added his belief 1 that Turkey's very existence depended upon hpr fulfjlqjejjt of the pledges she had given, November 11.

The authorities in Ireland fear that serious collisions will occur at Ballinrobe, County Mayo, between the sympathisers with thp eyieted tenantry and the Orange expedition, which is oonjiqg to assist of thp thrpatene4 person§. The troops in the district have been strqngly reinforced, and there are now 1000 soldiers encamped at thp place.

Mr. Parncll, M. P. Jbr. Cork, .the. leader of the Home i>'ulers,?rs p-4ng v tour through-TJlster, and is delivering r addresses to' the peasantry. .Great excitement prevails in? the County Mayo, and the people arc flocking in large nutnbersto Lough Mask, a small village on.the lake of, that name, situated within a few miles of, Ballinrobe. It is freely stated that any expedition of Orangemen will be attacked, and a conflict is considered to be imminent. The force of military in the neighborhood is considered sufficient to prevent any serious disturbance. November 12. The expedition of Orangemen from Ulster, despatched to assist the threatened landlords' in Mayo, has arrived at' Lough Mask, and encamped there.' Precautions are being taken against any sudden attack. The Orangemen have, so far, been unmolested, but large numbers of the peasantry have assembled in the vicinity. The military are on the alert to prevent any collision.

A national manifesto has been issued by the Irish Land League, calling upon the people to remain firm in their passive resistance to the tyranny of the landlords ; but to refrain from overt acts of aggression, which ; would enable the British Government, by a display of military power, to crush the - national movement. The command given in the manifesto is "Let the British display their despotism unheeded."

An application has been made to' the Court of Queen's Bench, on behalf of Mr. Parnell and others, against whom proceedings have been instituted for conspiracy and sedition, to require the Crown to speoify the exact nature of the charges brought against them. The judges, after hearing arguments, granted the application, and have made an order inglyNovember 13.

A serious outbreak- has occurred in Dartmoor convict prison, situated about seven miles from Tavistock, County Devon. For some time past a spirit of insubordination was manifested amongst the convicts, and this has culminated in an open mutiny. An attempt was made to overpower the guards, and two of the convicts were shot'. The outbreak was then speedily suppressed. Another murderous outrage has taken place in Ireland. Mr. Wheeler, the agent of an absentee landlord, in the vicinity of Limerick, and whcse life had been threatened on several occasions in consequence of his carrying out evictions, has been shot dead. The murder is undoubtedly due to the agrarian agitation, November 15. The state of affairs in the West of Ire* land still causes grave anxiety. The interference of the Orangemen, who seek to protect the landlords, and the coercion brought to bear by the authorities, have engendered the bitterest feelings amongst the peasantry. The land leaguers have issued a manifesto, and threaten reprisals in the event of any of their members being harrassed or evicted from their holdings. November 16.

A grand durbar of native princes and chiefs has been held at Lahore, at which the Governor-General, the Marquis of Ripon, attended. In the address he delivered he stated that it was the intention of the Government to pursue the policy of Lord Lawrence, one of the greatest of his predecessors, which was characterised by non-interference with the affairs of Afghanistan, and a steady determination to promote the development of the natural resources of the Indian Empire. The B.oers are again becoming troublesome, In some districts they evince a rebellious spirit, and resist the enforcement of the law. The authorities are adopting stringent measures to repress any attempt at organised disturbances, and troops have been strengthened in those places where the settlers are displaying a hostile attitude. The Irish peasants are having recourse to various devices in order to harrass the landed proprietors, who haye been subjected to many petty as well as serious annoyances. In several districts fox covers have been poisoned, and the animals destroyed.