BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2699, 12 November 1881, Page 2

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

[Rbdtbr’s Agency.j English Politics. London, Nor. 9. At the annual banquet giren by the Lord Mayor at Guildhall to-day, the Eight Hon. W. E. Gladstone made a speech in which he referred at length to the position of affairs in Ireland. He stated that the Irish people were fully utilising the benefits sought to be pro* rided by the Land Act, and that the situ, ation in Ireland had materially improved. Mr Gladstone further said that one of the earliest measures of next session would be a Bill for the reform of the procedure of Parliament. Such reform he stated was urgently necessary and he asked the assistance of all political parties in bringing it into effect. Earl Granville also made an important speech. He stated th&t a cordial agreement continued between England and France in regard to Egypt. Alluding to the Anglo-French treaty negotiations, he said that Government attached no magnified economic importance to the conclusion of a treaty of commerce with France, although politically such would be valuable. His Lordship concluded by stating emphatically that it was impossible for England to conclude a treaty with Prance of a retrograde character. Frozen MeatThe cargo of frozen meat brought by Messrs E. M. Solomon and Co’s, steamship Catania, arrived in excellent condition, and was submitted at auction at the Smithfield market to day. No demand was, however, experienced, and the meat realised an average of only 3d to 4d all round. Wheat. New Zealand wheat has declined Is 6d, and is now mentioned at 52s fid. Adelaide wheat has declined Is to 565. The French Government resigned. Paris, Nov. 10. In the Chamber of Deputies last night a vote of censure was proposed on the Ferry Government for its policy in tunis, but was rejected by a substantial majority, and a resolution was farther adopted at the instance of M. Gambetta that the French should loyally abide by the treaty concluded with the Bey of Tunis. M. Ferry, President of the Council of Ministers, to-day tendered his resignation and that of his colleagues to President Grevy, and M. Gambetta has since been summoned to form a New Ministry. Russian Claims on Turkey. Constantinople, Not. 10. M. Novikoff,the Russian Ambassador, has sent a communication to the Porte declaring that the Russian Government will oppose any agreement that may be arrived at between bondholders’ delegates and the Turkish Financial Commission for the settlement of the Turkish finances and the claims of foreign creditors 'of the Porte, unless the question of the Russian war indemnity is simultaneously considered and some arrangement come to for its payment. The Porte has sent a communication to M. Novikoff, the Russian Ambassador, stating that it cannot agree to the demand of his Government that the question of payment of the Russian war indemnity should be considered simultaneously with the claims of foreign bondholders.