GENERAL SUMMARY. London, December 1 to 23.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 33, 19 January 1884, Page 3

GENERAL SUMMARY. London, December 1 to 23.

" Ouida " denies that she is converted to the Catholic Church. The Sultan of Turkey has despatched an aide-de-camp to Hebjaza, and two court dervishes to Soudan, on errands relating to El Mahdi's revolt. Thomas Burt, the workingmen's Member of Parliament, writing of American trades unions, regrets two things in particular : That so many are secret and that they rush into strikes. The Portuguese papers write against the Queen, Prince of Wales, and English society generally, for neglecting their Crown Prince, allowing him to go toan'hotel and not giving him a single reception or ball. The "Times" retorts that the Prince came at the wrong time of the year, and must not expect English society to revise all its arrangements on his special behalf. A Calcutta despatch says ;— The Marquis of Ilipon, Viceroy of India, returned Saturday, and was welcomed by an immense crowd of natives. The banners of the natives, on which " God bless the Viceroy " was inscribed, were destroyed by Europeans, and a European mob of 2,000 assembled at the Government House and hissed the Marquis and his wife when they drove to the gate. At a banquet on Friday 200 Europeans were present, and a toast to the Viceroy was received in silence. Only 24 persons stood up. Orange Lodges continue to pass resolutions strongly condemning the supervision of Lord Rossmore. Public meetings will be held in various parts of County Ulster to pass resolutions of a like tenor. At Newry Protestants on their way to church were assaulted. Four companies of infantry, with twenty rounds of ammunition per man, are posted about town, which the police are patroling. The statue of Gladstone was unveiled in the City Liberal Club -rooms on December 13th. Earl Granville delivered a 1 strong personal eulogium upon Gladstone. Referring to| foreign affairs, he believed all the Powers folt confidence in England, thereby making the path of the Government smoother than it would be otherwise. The London " Times " thinks President Arthur's message somewhat careless, and sees a tribute to the Irish vote in the language used in regard to pauper immigrants. The press generally, express, disappointment that the President 'didn't recommend reduction, in the tariff. The " Standard " says : ' ' The most important part is that containing the recommendation to use heroic measures for the suppression of polygamy." The " Telegraph " denounces the President's "recommendation to use heroic measures for the suppression of polygamy, and describes the proposal as an attempt to erect a political despotism upon the ruins of a proscribed faith. Lord Lome delivered a long lecture at Birmingham upon Canada and its products. He particularly praised the salubrity of the olimate, and said fevers, whiph were too common in the United States, were unknown within the boundaries of ijhe Dominion, He^ lauded. Canada as & field

for emigration, and expatiated upon the marvellous progress' made by various towns. Lord Lome concluded by saying that the Canadian people are thoroughly devoted to their connection with the Mother Country, otherwise they would long ago have discarded an allegiance of which they aro proud. With the Dominion of Canada and the Australian Colonies in close relations, England will never fear that her proud position in the world would be shaken or questioned. At the Dublin Assizes on December sth, Elliott was indicted for the murder of Mrs Smyth, wife of a landlord at Westmeath, shot dead while returning from church. True bills were also founcl for conspiracy in the same murder against fourteen persons. Three persons arrested werb discharged. T. M. Healy, M.P., presided at the fortnightly meeting of the Irish National League on December 5. The Secretary announced that £1,000 had been received from America since the last meeting. Biggar referred to J. O'Connor Power, M,P.-, for Mayo, as the James Carey of Irish politics, and added that no Irishman had choice of a Government situation who had not first become a traitor to the interests of Ireland. International measures are mooted for the control of the sale of explosives in order to prevent their use by conspirators. Another Chinese ironclad was launched at Stettin on December 1. The Chinese Legation and many invited guests were present. The Legation is entering into contracts for material of war, which is being sent to China in immense quantities. Alderman Meagher (Parnellite) was elected Lord Mayor of Dublin to-day. The Liberal and Conservative members of the corporation abstained from voting. The gunbout Nautilus is to reinforce the German squadron in Chinese waters. It is stated the Ulema of Mecca, a body of learned men, has formally condemned El Mahdi as an impostor. Agrarian crimes in the Government of Kief, Russia, are increasing. Much property of landlords has been damaged by acts of incendiarism and pillage. The gunboat Nautilus has been ordered to Hongkong to leinforce the German squadron. Matthews, editor of the Tyrone " Courier," has been arrested on a charge of exciting Orangemen against Nationalists. j The annual report of the Parnell Fund shows £30,435, of which Ireland gave £25,820 ; America, £2,541 ; England, £1,045 ; Scotland, £.376 ; and from other places, £653. At the trial of McDermott and others at Edinburgh on December 19th, for complicity in the dynamite outrages at Glasgow, ' Dr. Dupre, Adviser of the Governmental Chemical Works, testified that the materials in the box of Dasey, when arrested at Liverpool, were similar to those found in the box exploded at the canal bridge, over Rossil Park Road, Glasgow. A policeman testified to finding Li the house of the prisoners several newspapers and documents showing sympathy with li-ish agitators. William Lamier, who testified in Dublin against his brother-in-law, Poole, who was executed yesterday, explained the native Fenian oath and the object of the organization. The case for the prosecution closed with Lamier's testimony. The declarations of the prisoners are a general denial of the charges. Mr Gladstone -«as attended by a policeman while at prayers in Howardon Church on December IS. A fearful easterly gale has done great damage to the town and shipping at Gibraltar. Cobk, December 17. — Andrew Coleman, the principal witness for the prosecution in the trial of the conspirators, testified today to the existence of a branch of the Fenian Brotherhood in County Mayo. He said he had given information to the police while assisting the men now on trial. He once accompanied the men now prisoners to murder a certain gentleman, who escaped because he had previously warned him. The crisis in the shipbuilding trade on the Clyde is growing more and more intense. Three large firms, including Denny, have notified their employe's that wages will be reduced in January, and several other firms will follow their example. Details have been received from Cape Town of the hanging of Chief Mampoer of Pretoria. Mampoer was led naked to the jailyard. First the rope broke when the trap was sprung and Mampoer fell into the yard below. The second attempt at hanging was successful. Ruchonnet, head of the Political Department of the Swiss Federal Council, at a military banquet to-night, said: "Be on your guard ; let the Swiss people prepare to defend their country. Many black clouds are gathering on the European horizon, and war, long avoided, cannot be escaped after 1884. It may even come next spring." The Duke of Albany has composed a waltz. The Empress of Russia is said to be dying with consumption, and the Empress of Austria to have given up hunting for sonnet- writing. Colmbier, once the confidant of Sarah Bernhardt, has published Sarah's life, under the title of " Sarah Barnum." Its keen satire is amusing, Mr Bradlaugh is meeting with a warm reception in Pans. The French Republicans have dined andfC'ted him, but he holds aloof from the Anarchists. The refusal of Mr Goschen to accept the Speakership of the House of Commons is the result of his aspiration to succeed the Marquis of Ripon as Viceroy of India. The executrix of the dowager Lady Lytton threatens to publish three hundred letters of the late Lord Lytton, unless his son will do justice to the memory of his mother. The English and American residents of Nice are much disturbed at the prevalence of typhoid fever there, 265 cases having occurred within three months. The Americans are leaving and going to Cannes. The London police have begun to raid fashionable gambling houses. They have already entered the Baccarat Club, Jenks Club, Park Club and others known as swell hells, and warned the players and proprietors. Sign&r Mario, before dying, repeated his request to Prince Odescalchi that his remains should be cremated. The prince opposed the request. A few moments before Mario drew his last breath he asked that his burial might be at Cagliari. Khabtoum, December 17.— A well-known native with Hicks Pasha's army has returned from El Obeid, whence he was enabled to escape because of his black colour, and because he wore no uniform. He says that Hicks Pasha fought like a lion, and was the last officer to fall. The members of his staff fell in one group. After the battle 150 soldiers were found wounded. El Mahdi gave orders that none of the wounded be ill-treated. The bodies of Egyptian and English 'bfficers being decapitated, and their neads hung over the gates of El Obeid. The Arabs determined to erect monuments for Hicks Pasha on account of his great bravery, but El Mahdi forbade it. El Mahdi threatened to punish Zargalls because he failed to join him. The sheik sent defiance, saying he has 15,000 warriors and seven years' provisions,