CABLE NEWS

Patea Mail, 4 January 1881, Page 3

CABLE NEWS

RECEIVED LAST NIGHT. (. Reuter's Despatches to the Mail.) TRIAL OP LAND LEAGUERS. London, Ist, The trial of Land Leaguers at Dublin, which commenced on the 28th ult., was opened by the Irish Attorney-General in a speech for the prosecution, which has occupied the last four days. The speech bases the charges against Land Leaguers chiefly on their utterances at different meetings throughout the country. Intense interest is taken in the trial, the Court being densely crowded. IRISH LAND BILL. London, Ist. The Times , in a leading article to-day, announces that the Irish Land Bill which Government propose to introduce supplements and repairs any defects in the Act of 1870, but no new principles of land legislation are embodied in the measure. MORE FIGHTING AT THE CAPE Capetown, January 1. Intelligence has been received from Basutoland that a severe engagement had taken place there between colonial forces and a tribe ®f Tambookees. The enemy were completely defeated, and a large number of their cattle and.sheep captured. Over 80 Tambookees were killed, and a number taken prisoners. The casualties on the side of the colonials amount to three.

HARD WINTER. London, Dec. 31. Very heavy snowstorms have fallen in England during the past few days, and in many districts serious floods have resulted in the breaking up of the frost. Considerable loss of property has occurred. Owing to the extreme cold, much distress has been experienced by the poor classes. THE CAPE WAR. Capetown, Dec. 31. A report comes to hand to-day from Transvaal that the Boers have followed up their recent successes by occupying Pretoria, the capital town. The rumour, however, requires confirmation. MELBOURNE CHAMPION RACE Melbourne, Jan. 1. The attendance on the Flemington course to-day was the largest of any Champion meeting. The weather was splendid. champion stakes, 3 miles. Grand Flaneur 1 Progress ... ... ... 2 Sweetmeat ... ... ... 3 Wellington and Trevellyan also started The race resolved itself into a match between Grand Flaneur and Progress, who were together all the distance, but the former finally won by two lengths. Time, smin 40secs. ANCIENT GREEK STATUE London, Jan. Ist. News has been received that a statue Minerva, by Pludinus [query, Phidius?] has been discovered during excavations which were being made at Athens. FATAL BUSH FIRESAdelaide, Monday, Serious bush fires have occurred in country districts, attended with loss of life and property. In one locality a woman, with her five daughters and a son, have been burned to death.