BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2538, 10 May 1881, Page 2

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

[Reoter's Agency, j Trade Returns. London, May 6. The Board of Trade returns for last month, show the imports to hare amounted to £35,200,000, being a decrease of £5,377,000, compared with the month of April, 1880; the exports amounted to £18,115,000, or a decrease of £500,000 compared with last year. Earl Dufferin. May 7. It is officially announced that the Earl of Dufferin, at present the British Ambassador at St. Petersburg, will succeed the Right Hon Gr. G-oschen as Ambassador at Constantinople, after the Turco-Greek difficulty has received a final settlement. The Eight Hon. Sir Edward Thornton, at present British Minister to the United States, will succeed Lord Dufferin at the Russian Court. The New LeaderThe Marquis of Salisbury has assumed the leadership of the Conservative party in the House of Lords. Frank and Moor. Paris, May 7. M. Barthelemy St. Hiliare, Minister for Foreign Affairs, made a statement to-day regarding the of Government towards Tunis. He announced that after the Tunisian tribe of Krottmirs had been punished by the French troops the expedition would terminate, and diplomatic negotiations with the Bey would follow. London, May 8.. Intelligence has been received from

the headquarters of the French army in Tunis stating that the force.is slowly advancing towards the capital. The Porte and the Bey have issued a further protest to the Powers against . * the action of the French Government in sending an expedition to Tunis. f '- ; ' :, Eiots in Ireland. News has been received that several • riots have occurred in Ireland over the , service of writs for the eviction of ~.-,; tenants Collisions between the police ; '- ! and the'people have occurred of a ssrious ';, character. The Cape Ministry. On the retirement of the Hon. J. Gordon Sprigg and hi* colleagues, Mr Scanlon was sent for, and has since formed a new Ministry.