NEWS BY THE ENGLISH MAIL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2464, 10 February 1881, Page 2

NEWS BY THE ENGLISH MAIL.

[By Telegraph.]

Auckland, Feb. 9

TlioZealandia arrivedfrom San Francisco this evening. The following is a summary of news :

GREAT BRITAIN

In the Queen’s Speech Her Majesty says :—“ Trade is gradually improving, an’ abundant harvest has greatly decreased the distress in Ireland, but I grieve to state that the social condition of Ireland has assumed an alarming character, and agrarian crimes in general have multiplied. Attempts upon life have not grown in the same proportion to these offences, but I must add that efforts are being made for the personal protection far beyond all former precedent, by the police under the direction of the Executive. I have to notice other evils, yet more widely spread. The administration of justice has been do feated with respect to these offences through the impossibility of procuring evidence, and an extended system of terrorism has thus been established in various parts of the country, which has paralysed almost alike the exercise of private rights and the performance of civil duties. In this state of things, new in some important respects, and and hence with little available guidance from former precedents, I have deemed it right to put in use the ordinary powers of the law before making any demand, but a demonstration of their insufficiency, amply supplied by the present circumstances of the country leads me now to apprise you that proposals will be immediately submitted to you for entrusting me with additional powers, necessary, in my judgment, not only for the vindication of order and public law, but like wise to secure on behalf of my subjects protection for life and property and liberty of action. With respect to the primary and imperious obligations to which I have just referred, I continue to desire not less than heretofore to prosecute the removal of grievances and the work of legislative improvement in Ireland as well as in Great Britain. The Irish Land Act of 1870 has contributed to the security and comparative well-beingof occupiers of the soil without diminishing its value or disturbing the foundation of property. In some respects, however, and more particularly under the strain of the recent and more calamitous year, the protection which is supplied has not been found sufficient, either in Ulster or other provinces. 1 recommend you to undertake the further development of its principles in a manner conformable to the special wants of Ireland. With regard to the relations of landlords and tenants, and with a view to effective efforts for giving to a large portion of the people, by purchase, a permanent proprietary interest in the soil, this legislation will require the removal, for this purpose, of all obstacles arising out of the limitation or ownership of property, with due provision for the security of interests involved. A measure will be submitted to you for the establishment of a County Government in Irelandj founded upon representative prices, and framed with the double aim of abridging ■ unpopular control over expenditure, and of supplying the yet more serious want of extending the formation of habits of local self-government,” Her Majesty alluded to different matters of England’s domestic policy which will be laid before Parliament, and concluded with the Benediction and a commendation of her people to Divine care.

Cliief Justice May declined to preside at Parnell's State trial on account of Press comments on liis charge to the Grand Jury that indicted Parnell and bis coadjutors.

A despatch of the ISth inst. says the following is the outline of the Government Irish Land Bill—The surplus fund of the Irish Church will be devoted, first, to the reclamation of waste lauds'; second to assist migration from over-crowded districts; third, according to a carefully drawn scheme, to assist emigration measures. It will also include the “ three F.’s guarded by restrictive provisions necessary for the practical working of the measures. With respect to the Coercion Bill it is stated Government contemplates the creation of a Commission of two Judges with power in certain cases to supersede the ordinary Judicial Tribunals. In Ireland the authorities are exerting themselves to maintain order and enforce the laws, and many persons have been arrested for “ Boycotting ” and bull-dozing people into joining tire Land Leaguers and other offences.

The Post Office Department is ready to establish, the telephone throughout England, and have ordered 20,000 for use.

Gale, the pedestrian, broke down on December 28, having covered 2233 miles, out of his proposed feat of 2500 miles, in 1800 hours. At the beginning he walked one and a quarter miles every half hour. * All prisoners for debt in Scotland have been released under an Act of Parliament. Hanlan and Eoss, on Jan. 1 issued a challenge to row any oarsmen in the world for a double sculling race for £SOO to £IOOO aside, the race to come oft’ early in the season. The Tipton Slasher died on Christmas Eve.

The new Ballot Act, if passed, throws be cost of elections on the electors.

AMERICA.

Copious rains have fallen in California, Oregon, and Washington. The promise of crops of all kinds, particularly wheat, is more than good. The Mormons are uneasy at the attitude of the President, and have organised a lobby at Washington to guard their interest. Mark Twain, the famous humorist is going crazy. The population of the United States is unofficially given at 50,152,559. Jay Gould, the American railway proprietor, last month, by purchase of the lease, has obtained control! of 3487 miles of road, which makes him controller of 9649 miles of railroad, employing hundreds of millions of capital.

American Shipping.—Loading at New York, the American barque F. M. Carlow-, for Dunedin and Wellington, probably clear January 18th; British ship Orient for Lyttelton and Auckland; probably 'clear February Bth. At Boston: Peruvian barque Fra Beutos for Dunedin and Lyttelton, probably clear January Hth; British barque Sarah Scott for Adelaide and Dunedin, probably clear February 3rd. CANADA. The struggle in Parliament over the Canada-Pacific railroad contract still continues, and the opposition has been so bitter that the Syndicate of foreign capitalists have been obliged to somewhat modify their original plan. The Toronto “ Globe ” of the 14th says that since the formation of the new Syndicate, 10,000,000 dols. have been subscribed in England for the CanadaPacific railroad, and it is now certain the whole amount of capital for the construction of the road can bo obtained. SOUTH AMERICA. The Chilians, forty thousand strong, are marching on Lima. A number of minor actions have occurred, but the Peruvians await the attack in their fortifications.

The Government has given the proposed ship raihvay across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec the right of way and 1,000,000, acres of land-

The Indians raiding in the state of Chihuahua, on December 23rd, killed eleven persons.

EUROPEAN SUMMARY.

The municipal elections in Paris resulted in a complete Republican victory, the Communists suffering a complete defeat.

Anderwest, the President elect of the Swiss Confederation, committed suicide at Berne on December 15th by shooting himself at a public promenade.

The Jewish crusade in Germany still continues, especially in the larger towns, and many Jews of Berlin and other places, are preparing to emigrate to Turkey. The old English banking firm, Hanson and Co., of Constantinople, have failed with liabilities 1,250,000 dols. Heavy advances to the Porte caused their suspension.

The Albanian league has summoned all males over 18 years to arms in every northern district in Albania. The Albanians demand Dnlcigno, and if Montegnero does not give up they propose to declare war.

Sixty-four lives were lost by the burning of a Japanese steamer in the Inland Sea on December 12.

THE BOER WAR. The insurgent governing Committee bus issued a proclamation defending their actions, and offering’ to pardon all their opponents. They agree to retain their present office, also to admit a British Consul, and to indemnify Great Britain for her expenditure in the Transvaal. The Boers lost 100 killed and woKiided before Potcbefstroom, which was defended for 48 hours by Major Clark and 25 men who were compelled to surrender;

The Cape authorities at last accounts were rapidly concentrating all their available forces in the Transvaal. All the colonial forces are in the Basuto country.

Brand, the President of the Orange Free State, is reported to have said that the Boers under his circumspection would join the friendly Boers, but no confirmation of the rumor has been received.