GENERAL SUMMARY. Volunteer Capitation. London, March 26.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 153, 8 May 1886, Page 3

GENERAL SUMMARY. Volunteer Capitation. London, March 26.

A long and animated debate took place in the House of Commons on the 22nd for the resolution of Mr Howard Vincent on an immediate increase of 10a in the capitation grant to Volunteers, entailing an addi-j tional £100,000 to the army estimates. The resolution was defended by Mr Vincent in a speech of great ability, and was supported by several members. Mr Gladstone opposed the proposal as unconstitutional, in energetic and almost passionate terms, declaring that if the House wished to find a Minister to accept orders from the House of Commons to increase the public expenditure, he would not be the man, The resolution was finally negatived by 187 to Ifi6. The narrow majority was furnished by the Irish members, nearly 40 of whom took part in the division. A number of Liberals left the House without voting. The " Pall Mall Gazette," in commenting upon the debate, regrets that the Liberal Government so often appear resolved, and yet never go an inch out of their way, to show any enlightened sympathy for the forces or the colonies. Mr Vincent's motion may have been irregular, but Mr Gladstone, adds the "Pall Mall Gazette," ehould not have" left the impression that he cared nothing for the Volunteers, the one force of all others with which the Liberals should have the keenest sympathy. Earlier in the same evening Mr Gladstone gave a vety chilling answer on the subject of colonial federation. In his remarks on Egypt during the debate on the army estimate s',5 ', the Secretary for War said that the estimates were framed on the supposition that the British army of occupation in Egypt would be reduced from 17,000 to 8,000 men, but should this reduction prove impossible, then supplementary estimates would be presented. I Colonial Defence. Mr Morgan, in replying to a question from Mr Baden Powell, said that the Australian colonies having navies of their own, have expressed their willingness to co operate with the Home Government in measures necessary for the defence of Australia. Lord Derby, when Colonial Minister, formulated a Bcheme of naval defence for the Australian colonies, which was adopted, with some slight modification, by the then War Secretary. The scheme will be submitted and explained by Admiral Tryon at a meeting to be held at Melbourne, at which most of the Australasian colonies will be represented. The colonial Governments, which w ill not be then represented, are considering the subject separately. Loyal Irish. Appeal to the Colonies. The Irish Loyal Patriotic Union has resolved to appeal to the colonies for support The Union is making arrangements to place arguments against the Pa,rnellite demands before the colonists at a series of meetings in Australia and Canada.

Deplorable, Condition of Western Ireland. The "Irish Times" has sent a special commissioner to investigate the condition of the people on the western coast and islands. The picture he draws is deploiable. There are in Acliill Island over 2,000 people who, but for charitable relief, would be in a state of absolute starvation. The condition of these people is lamentable ; their resources are entirely exhausted, and they are utterly helpless. They have no money, no credit, and no potatoes, and they are living in wretched huts utterly unfit for human habitation. Sickness has been prevalent for some months, and many have perished. Nearly all the seed potatoes have been consumed, and thus the future is as dark as the past. Unless fresh assistance comes immediately, the relief fund will be exhausted, and hundreds of families will literally die from hunger. Several gentlemen are at present in the West of Ireland inquiring into Che reported distress. A. resident in the district wrote up to Dublin that notice was received in several townlands that the commissioners would visit them that day, and it was wonderful what distress the inhabitants got up with such short notice. Wads of straw were substituted for the little cabin windows, parts of the doors were broken off ready to be popped on the fire on the approach of the commissioners, dirty old bags speedily took the place of the everyday bed clothing, while the number of children and women who suddenly were taken to their beds sick and weak was extraordinary, and every cow in the parish was driven off to mountains for the day.