BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2436, 8 January 1881, Page 3

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

[Reuter’s Agency, j The Boer Rebellion. London. Jan. 6. Sir Evelyn Wood is to proceed to the Cape, to command the British forces in the Transvaal. The official report of the disaster met with by a detachment of the 94th in the Transvaal, almost completely confirms the accounts first received. The detachment w r as escorting a convoy of supplies, when it? was surrounded byBoers, who summoned the British to surrender. Upon the latter refusing, the Boers swept down on them and 113 officers and men were killed. Another Raid on the Band League. Mr Parnell has arrived in London to attend the sittings of Parliament. Six more Land Leaguers have been arrested in Ireland, and will shortly be placed on their trial. South Australia In the Pawn Office. £3,000,000 Adelaide mortgage debentures have been subscribed for at par. The Queen’s Speech. Parliament was opened to-day. The Queen’s speech referred to the continued maintenance of European concert and said that there was every reason to hope that a peaceful solution of the Turco-Greek difficulty would be arrived at. Alluding to the state of affairs in Southern Africa, the speech stated that owing to the rebellion of the Boers it was not necessary to take strong measures to re-assert British authority in the Transvaal. The outbreak in Basutoland would soon, it was hoped, be suppressed. Regarding Afghanistan the Speech announced that it was not intended to retain Candahar; and referring to the unsettled state of Ireland, stated that i Her Majesty’s Government would introduce Bills to provide for the necessary coercive measures for the suppression of the existing agitation, and a Bill would, at the same time be brought forward dealing with the Irish land question. Later. The forecast of the Queen’s Speech, as previously telegraphed, is fully confirmed by the Speech as delivered, except in regard to the Greek frontier question, referring to which the Speech states that the Great Powers and Eng land will determine the delineation of the frontier. Regarding the Transvaal, the Speech states that the rebellion there has indefinitely postponed the plans which were to have been distributed for securing administrative autonomy to the settlers. Regarding Ireland, it is said that the social condition of the country is alarming, it being, in fact an extensive system of terrorism. Additional powers are requisite to deal with the state of affairs, and Government will recommend the development of the Land Act. The Speech further states that it will be proposed to abolish corporeal punishment in the army and navy.