IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2497, 2 May 1893, Page 1

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

London, April 2T

The majority of the Belfast rioters were fined and a few were sentenced to terms of imprisonment. Investors in Ireland are petitioning against autonomy. Mr Asquith, Home Secretary, in the House of Commons denied that the Dowager Duchess of Sutherland, who was committed to prison for contempt of court, was allowed qausual privileges. The Railway Hoqrs Bill has passed through all its stages. „ A man has been arrested for firing a pistol in St. James Park at midnight. It is alleged that he was shadowing the Queen°and Mr Gladstone. He proved to be a man named Wi 1.1 igm Henry Townsend, who also had been firing a pistol in Downing street, the official residence of the Premier. A pocket book was found on him containing incoherent entries about shooting Mr Gladstone, and the Home Rule Bill, He was brought up at Bqw afreet and remanded The mail Tpwnsend, who was arrested in consequence of his eccentric behaviour in St. James’ Park, lived for seven years iu Sydney. The charge preferred against him, of intent to shoot Mr Gladstone, rests upon rambling memoranda found in his possession, stating that the speeches of Colonel Saundei'don and Sir Henry James on the Home Rule Bill justified homicide.

Apr! 1 28. The Pall Mai 1 Gazette states that when Mr Gladstone loft Downing street on the clay on which tho Home liulo Bill was read n second time, Townsend was lying in wait close at hand to shoot him, blit the strong resemblance the Premier bore to Townsend’s father caused his would-be assailant to pauce. Enquiries as to Townsend’s antecedents show that there is insanity in the family. Townsend, who was charged with intent to shoot Mr Gladstone, has boon examined by medical men and pronounced to be insane. Accused saidthat when in Sydney he hud a mission to finish tho Governor, whom he followed about from place to place.

Mr Fronde, the historian, is of opinion lhat there will bo a desperate war over Ireland, in which other countries wifi take part. Apr! 29.

Mr Sydney Buxton, Under-Secretary for the Colonies, in reply to the Hon. W. St. J. Broderick, promised to lay a return on the table showing the cost of erection of Parliament Houses in Sydney aud Melbourne aud other Parliamentary expenditure.

Mr Gerald M. B. Loder, member for Brighton in the House of Commons, moved in favor of the penny postage throughorrt the Empire, but withdrew his motion on the Postmaster-General declaring that rt would involve a loss of revenue of £IOO,OOO beyond the loss resulting from the recent reduction to 2|d. Mr Gladstone, in speaking to the motion, said that many of the colonies would not concur in the penny postage, aud with the doubtful British surplus and the present postal wants at Home, it was impossible for the Govormhent to now make concessions. Possibly,lre said, the situation might be different in three years. Moonlight outrages are growing frequent in Kerry. The Catholics resume work in Harland’s yards iu Belfast on Monday.