GENERAL SUMMARY.

Southland Times, Issue 1265, 14 June 1870, Page 2

GENERAL SUMMARY.

_A portion of the following appeared in an Extraordinary issued on Sunday afternoon]]: — London April 23. Sir Philip Wodehouse's speech before the Cape Parliament, counselling the colony not to accept responsible government, since that would involve ultimate separation from the mother country, is attracting much attention. Canada and New Zealand were cited as examples of what would happen at the Cape. Explanations have been demanded in the Imperial Parliament, but have been deferred till the debate on Mr Torrens's motion takes place. The captain of the Alexander Duthie reports having observed fires on the Auckland Islands on January 6, which he believed to have been lighted by crews from missing castaway vessels. The Admiralty has telegraphed to Commodore Lambert to search the Auckland Islands for the supposed castaways from the missing ship Matoaka. Congress has decided to refer to the Committee on Foreign Affairs resolutions demanding the immediate settlement of the Alabama question. Eight counties in Ireland have been placed under the Peace Preservation Act. Fenian attempts are apprehended in London. Several rendezvous of Fenians have been discovered. The railway parcels from Sheffield and Birmingham have been searched for arms. Strikes continue amongst the trades in France. It is rumored that a marriage has been arranged between the Prince of Orange and the Princess Louise. Lord Minto succeeds the Marquis of Ailsa as Elnight of the Thistle. # Mr Francis Bonalds, the original inventor of the electric telegraph, has been knighted. Sir Stafford Northcote has gone to Canada on a mission, it is believed, to the Bed Biver. The rumors of Ministerial changes which were in circulation have died away. The missing West Indian' steamer Venezuelan, has been spoken, and her passengers taken off. The captain and crew remained on board, in order to bring the ship in. Keshub Chunder, the great Hindoo reformer, is attracting crowded audiences to his lectures in London. The decision of the jury in the Mordaunt divorce case has been appealed from to the full court. It is uncertain whether the case will be argued during thr present term. Prince Arthur has been appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St. George. Murphy, the anti- Popery lecturer, has been exciting a commotion at Woolwich by delivering lectures. Mr Disraeli's new hovel is to appear on the 2nd of May. • Another great polar expedition is preparing in Sweden. The Irish Peace Preservation Act has already produced salutary effects. The national journals are more. cautious in their tone, and agrarian outrages have diminished. The House of Commons is working hard in committee upon the Irish Land Bill. Several morning sittings have been held. An educational controversy is raging with great violence. Meetings and newspaper discussions are ripening public opinion, which is tending towards religious instruction under certain conditions. A general desire is felt for the passing of tbe Government measure on the subject this session. Notice has been given of a number of amendments, mainly referring to the religious difficulty. -Mr Newdegate's motion for a select committee of inquiry into the conventual institutions of Great Britain has been passed, the Boman Catholics loudly protesting against it. A second motion by Mr Newdegate, for the international inspection of convents, was negatived. Mr Fawcett, aided by Mr Plunkett, Q.C., the member for Dublin University, has produced great excitement by attempting to force the Government to commit itself to undenominational education in Trinity College, Dublin. Mr Gladstone's attitude towards the Boman Catholics is disapproved of by many Liberals. The Government has consented to the repeal of the Irish Party Processions Act. The outrages by the Bed Biver rebels were mentioned in the House of Commons, but no steps were taken. Sir Butherford Alcock's Chinese Convention is not to be ratified. A bill for disfranchising Bridgewater and Beverley is promised by the Attorney General. Mr Hardment, the Norfolk bribery agent, has been sentenced to six months' imprisonment. Many persons equally culpable escaped. The Bribery Act is so flagrant a failure that Mr Gladstone moved for a select committee to inquire into the corrupt practices of members of the House of Commons, especially in connexion with the recent elections. Mr Bobinson, a Liberal, has been returned for Bristol; and Mr Bristowe, Q.C., also a Liberal, for Newark. Colonel Ponsonby succeeds the late General Charles Grey as the Queen's private secretary. Both the Prince of Wales and Prince

Christian have presided over conference* which have been held for organising, the forthcoming series of international exhibitions. Prince Christian also presided over the anniversary festival of theßoyal Society of Musicians. A second public sale of Australian meat has taken place at the Hop Exchange, Borough, and the result waa encouraging. ! The Post-office authorities have resolved to make 4oz. the maximum weight of newspapers for the colonies, and to reduce the weight of parcels to 48oz. Loud complaints have been made against the new regulations. At a meeting of theßoyal Geographical Society, Sir Charles Nicholson read, a report on Mr Forrest's explorations in Western Australia. During a subsequent discussion the* Imperial Government wae condemned for assigning the Northern" Territory to South Australia. Commander Palmer's conduct in connexion with the recent kidnapping in the South Seas has been rewarded by promotion. Emigration is increasing. Excellent buildings at Plymouth have been prej pared for the reception of emigrants for j Victoria. Provision has been made for 1,000 people. The personalty of the late Lord Derby bas been sworn under -£250,000. The Bishop of London has, resolved [ to enforce the legal regulations against the Bitualistic clergy in his diocese. They threaten resistance. Two fresh agrarian murders have been committed in Ireland. One assassin has been captured, and has confessed. More imported arms, have been seized. . One thousand colliers in Bhonda Valley struck for an advance on their wages of 10 per cent. Six hundred pitmen, near Sunderland, have taken a similar step. The miners in the north of England are agitating for an advance in their wages. A great miners' demonstration has taken place on Huuslet Moor, Leeds, for the discussion of the labor question ; 3,000 were present. The Thorncliffe colliery dispute is progressing towards settlement. The volunteer field-day at Brighton, on Easter Monday, was an eminent success. 27,000 volunteers mustered on the Downs. The weather -was beautiful, and the military evolutions were splendidly performed in the presence of an enormous number of spectators. Sir Francis Crossley, since his recent return from the East, has improved ia health. He has made a series of munificent gifts, including £20,000 to tho London Missionary Society, £10,000 to the Pastors' fietiring Fund, £10,000 to the widow! of Congregational ministers, £10,000 towards the new infirmary at Halifax, and £10,000 towards the local loan fund. A petition has been filed against the return of Mr Bobinson for Bristol. A man has been arrested at Killarney for writing threatening letters, signed "Eory of the Hills." The steamer City of Beaton has been written off Lloyd's list as loßt.^ There are gloomy forebodings respecting three other Liverpool steamers. London, April 29. Mr Monsell, replying to Colonel Torrens in the House of Commons, said | that the 18th Begiment would remain in Australia until August next. On the 27th April Colonel Torrens moved that a select^ommittee be appointed to inquire into the relations between 1 England and the colonies. Mr "Monsell defended the policy of the Colonial Office, urging that diplomatic representations from the colonies would tend to separate them, that the resolution was too abstract, and such an inquiry would generate confusion and ill-feeling. 'Mr Gladstone also denied that their policy was new ; it was merely a progressive development of former policy. He would prolong to the utmost the continuance of the connexion, which he regarded as secure ; but if separation ever took place, he trusted that it would be an amicable one. Even then, the burden of defence must be thrown upon the colonies in their own interest. On a division, the previous question was carried, by 110 against 67. It is definitely decided that the Australian cable shall start from Madras, instead of from Galle. Sir William Mansfield will probably, succeed Lord Strathnairn in the command of the troops in Ireland. An attempt to introduce Spanish bullfights at the Agricultural-hall, Islington, was frustrated. Summonses were issued, at the instance of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the offenders were fined and compelled to return to Spain. The ship Jumna, 4,000 tons, successfully passed through the Suez Canal. Sir B. D. Tichborne, the Australian claimant of the Tichborne estates has appeared in the Bankruptcy Court, but it has been agreed to suspend proceedings pending the settlement of the. claim. A billiard match was played on April 14, between John Boberts, jun., and William Cooke, who lately beat Boberts, sen., the late champion!. Young Boberts won easily by nearly 500 points.