SUEZ MAIL NEWS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2618, 11 August 1881, Page 2

SUEZ MAIL NEWS.

(Per s.s., Wakatipu at Wellington.) London, July 1. The House of Commons is now engaged on the 7th clause of the Land BiU. ° This is the most critical portion of the measure, as it deals with the powers of the Land Court in regard to arbitration between landlords .and tenants. The rate of progress which the Bill is making is greater than was anticipated, but nevertheless it is doubtful whether the whole measure will pass the Commons and got returned from the Lords in time to realise Mr Gladstone's

expectations of adj umuucnt early in August. The Govorntm nt have, already obtained priority for the land Bill over all other business, and it is hinted will demand for it urgency it its progress in committee is not accelerated.

The House of Commons rejected by 1 75 votes to 79 a Bill introduced by Mr pease for the abolition of capital punishment. Mr Grant Duff, after having received forty eight hours to consider an offer of the Governorship of Madras, has accepted (ho post. He takes up the appointment at the end of the year. It is expected that Evelyn Ashley, who is now at the Board of Trade, will succeed Mr Grant Duff in the Colonial Office.

The Government of the Province of Buenos Ayres intends to send a commissioner to Australia to study the system of wool-washing adopted in the Australian Colonies.

Great preparations are being made for the Volunteer Review by her Majesty at Windsor Great Park, on July 9, at which 50,000 volunteers, divided into three army corps, will take part. The murder on the Brighton railway created a deep sensation,only comparable to that caused hy the murder of Briggs hy Muller, under similar circumstances M years ago. The full name of the supposed murderer is Percy Lefroy Mnpicton, and ho is very respectably connected. He visited Australia and remained there a year, and returned to England two years ago. He had spent a small patrimony, and had lately dabbled in literary work. Mr Grant Duff, replying in the House of Commons to a question by Sir M. Hicks Beach, said that Sir Arthur Gordon still retained the supervision of various matters in Fiji, especially those relating to the native population and titles to land. Sir A. Gordon he believed could perform the duties connected with Fiji as well from New Zealand, as if he were in Fiji itself. Government had not yet seen any way of overcoming the difficulties of the proposed arrangement for entrusting the powers of High Commissioner to a naval commander in the Pacific.

The census returns show the* population of Ireland to have fallen 250,000 since last census. It now stands at 4,907,000. The population declined is twenty-nine out of thirty-two counties. Dublin, Antrim, Kerry were un-dimini.-died. The decline was greater in Ulster than in Munster and Connaught, principally due to immigration. The total popiihuion.of the United Kingdom is about 35,250,000, or an increase of 4,000,000. Scotland gained 500,000. The population of London is 4,000,000 ; Nottingham has doubled its population since last census, and Manchester has declined 10,000. Fierce antagonism lias lately been prevalent between the German and Czech students at Prague University, resulting in serious disorder. The Czech students, aided by the Czech population, attacked the Germans, many ot whom were, badly wonnled. The Prague journals are so anti-German that all of them have been seize 1, and the University of Prague closed. Prince Rudolph declared that ho would leave tin city if the disturbance continues.

The balance of the indemnity (2000 oz of gold) imposed upon the King of Ashantce, has arrived at Madeira. A gold axe, which the Ashantce King sent to the Queen as a token of peace and amity from his Majesty, has already reached Windsor. Two now claimants for the Tlchborne estates have appeared, one from Winnipig, Manitoba, and the other from San Francisco. The latter seems to be the most plausable. Ho has been interviewed by the Duke of Sutherland, and Dr W. H. Hassell lately transmitted a report of his case to England from San Francisco. The claimant has an ardent wealthy supporter, who declares it to bo his intention to carry the matter before the English Court.

The anti-French demonstration in Italy, produced by the anti-Italian riots at .Marseilles, is calming down, but there is no doubt that the occurrences at Marseilles, following the Tunisian affair, have deeply embittered the Italians against Franco, and produced* soreness between the two nations which will take a long time to heal. The Italian Press now unanimously demand the strengthening of Italian armaments. The existing irritability seems destined to be farther increased by the evident intention of the French to pursue in ■ Tripoli a system of aggression as in Tunis. Meanwhile the Arab insurrection in the southern part of the' province of Iran is extending under the leadership of a daring young chieftain named Bon Armena, who has hitherto eluded the French columns. The forces under his command surprised an extensive Spanish colony at Saida, and killed four or live hundred men, women, and children, under circumstances of great barbarity. They curried off several hundred others, and the Spaniards are now flying from Algeria and arriving in Spain. The Spanish Government has complained to the French Government relative to the Siida affair. The Arabian insurrectionary movement is not only extending in Algeria, but a fanatical ferment is reported also from parts of Morocco, boarding on Algeria.