NEWS BY THE MAIL

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3380, 22 October 1879, Page 1

NEWS BY THE MAIL

Distress in Ireland. ■- A considerable portion of the Irish h«rrest is lost. Potatoes are sbort, and on many farms the whole crop is gone. ... Lents too high. Meetings hare been held in Ireland demanding immediate redaction of rent and radical reform in existing land law*. John O'Connor Power, M.P. for Mmjo, addressed them. Stares were carried by some of the contingents, which resembled pikes in shape, and a large green banner was displayed with the device of Erin exhorting her sons to the struggle for freedom. Power put it to the Government "whether it was better to recognise the pressure of agitation than to iiaro to recognise the pressure of rebellion.'' A great tenants' rights meeting was held in Mallow, Ireland, on September 13th. Sir Joseph McKenna and other M.P.'b were present, and delivered addresses to nearly 20,000 people* ifesolutions were passed calling the attention of the Government to the distressed condition of Ireland, and suggesting the establishment of a system of State relief. Borne Rulers at Work, Parnell, and other Home Itulers, propose to issue an appeil to the Irish people in all parts of the world to aid in the creation of a class of peasant proprietors in Ireland. They also intended to appoint a committee to arrange for catling a popularly elected convention of 309 members, the same number as composed the former Irish Parliament, to discuss Irish questions before the next session of Parhament. Mitchell Henry, Home Ruler, M.P. for Galway, declines to have anything to do with thii convention. * ' The Lord-Lieutenant of_ Ireland has requested the police authorities of Limerick to make a special report of the circumstances under which Charles Stowarfc Parnell, at a recent banquet, suffered hissing, which greeted the toast " The Queen," to pass unnoticed. The Land Question. The Marquis of. Hartington, speaking in Beadmonshire, South Wales, declared that all laws tending to aggregate vast properties in the hands of a few persons should be carefully inquired into. At Newcastle he said the redistribution of seats in Parliament, and local government and law reforms must soon be under* taken. . ..-• The Mayor of Middleborougli, having appealed to the Home Secretary to relieve the distress in and about that place on account of depression in trade, received for a reply "' no funds." but hit letter would be laid before the Chancellor of the Exchequer for his consideration, 3000 persons are utterly penniless. English' farmers are leaving home, bound for settlement to the Western States of America; also Durham, and Northumberland miners for Pittsburgh, Pa., and Lancaster, Ohio. An order has been received at Middleboro' for 60,000 tons pig-iron for the United States. A Good Market for American and Colonial Produce. Losses sustained by the English farmers this season from bad crops are estimated at £25,000,000 on corn, £15,000,000 on potatoes, £15,000,000 on hay, and £1,250,000 oa hops. England will have to import 16,000,000 quarters of wheat thU year, against 14/500,00 last year. As proof of the depression of trade in England, the Chairman of the Annual Congress of Trades Unions states that four of the principal unions spent £260,000 in relieving members during the past year. . -, The Working: classes in finsland. According to present appearances the distress among the working classes of thickly populated towns in the northeastern portion of England will be most intense. It is estimated that 200,000 persons in the districts referred to have been thrown out of work during three years past. There are thousands of empty houses in Parlington. Stockton mid Newport are also seriously affected. The climax of distress had been reached at Middleborough. A Scandal. The husband of the famous London beauty, Mrs Langtroy, sued for a divorce. The Prince of Wales is set down ns co« respondent. One of the largest firms of agents ill Lancashire claim they hare takeu in a fortnight, recently, more orders for American cloth for India than they received during the same period for all the English tirms they represent. The King of Abyssinia has written-to the Queen a letter of complaint concerning the Egyptians. He says JDrkham, art English General in his service, had been poisoned by them while on his nay to England with a memorial to the Government. Rise in Bread anticipated. Thomas C. Scott, well-known agricultural authority, says the d- ficienuy- of yield in the various grain-producing countries must lead to a material rise in price of breadstuff's. John Henry Pouleston, M.P., .goes to the United States to study mode* ,of agriculture in connection - with British interests. £200,000 gold, recently arrived from Australia, has been purchased in the London market for the United States. Rivalry fcstwiriß^ Canada and the United -3ja*o3, ; ; :-\U The Earl of Bs?aeoireßetd; made the somewhat singular remark. at the Aylesbury banquet, September 13th, that

Canada expected to outstrip the United States in competitions for European'j markets on account of the rapid settling up of her fertile wilderness lands acquired j from the Hudson Bay Company. The j fact is the stream of emigration is to the j United States, not to Canada. ' Elliot has challenged Hanlan, the, Canadian, to row over the Thames or Tyne course for the Sportsman's Challenge Cup and £200 a-s^do. Hanlan is ill, and purposes to surrender the Cup uncontestedi Russia. The St. Petersburg, Gazette holds the following language concerning England and her policy in'the East:—" England has always been the deadly enemy of Russia. The policy of Russia in Asia can J only consist of' reprisals against England. It is necessary to expel the British from Central Asia. This can now be done by tending twenty thousand Russians to defend Afghanistan. Now is the favorable moment to free Russia's eastern frontier forever from danger on the part of England." The Odessa Press charges Turkey with having violated^the treaty obligations by allowing the United States war vessel Wyoming to cruise in the Black Sea with the American Minister on board. The Porte at first refused permission but yielded on the Wyoming first landing a portion of her armament. Geneial Scoboloff has succeeded General Lazareff (said to have been poisoned by a servant) in the command of the Turcoman expedition. The rebellious Kurds have been defeated. KaufFmaun returns to Turkestan immediately.

Danit6ff, the eminent Russian engineer, has commenced works by which it is intended to unite the Black and Caspian Seas by .connecting various rivers. An expedition will be dispatched to Central Asia to investigate the practicability of diverting the river Amu Dana, and causing it toflorr into Caspian Sea. The attendance of students at the Universities is decreasing owing to the Government's prosecution of students. Russian scientists propose to abandon the old method of reckoning time. The Kuldja treaty has been signed. Russians are to evacuate the place in instalments, during three years ; Chinese to pay 5,000,000 roubles. Russia retains a strip of land, including a military road in the direction of Kashgar. Siberian Cossacks will colonise the Chinese frontier. It is rumored thai; Prince Lobandoffhas succeeded Gortschakoff. Germany. Bismarck has presented a memorial to the Emperor demonstrating the necessity of Germany supporting, Austria against Russia in the East Andrassy's newspaper organ in Vienna declares that Austria would be neutral in case of war Between Germany and France. The anniversary of the battle of Sedan was celebrated with great enthsuiasm throughout the Empire. SpainThe Spanish journal Epoca says the country is weary of civil wars, and briefly adds, "If the Democrats stir up strife they will be exterminated." The Pope has been asked to make peace between King Alfonso and Don Carlos, and induce the latter to resign his pretensions to the throne. He refused to interfere; and suggested Count de Chambord as pacificator. King Alfonso and the Austrian Archduchess Marie Christine have been formally betrothed. Ex-Queen Isabella will attead the wedding. Italy. Garibaldi has returned to Caprera to spend the remainder of his life. Brigands, headed by Salpietra, who a year ago escaped from a prison van in Palermo, have been captured after desperate resistance. Salpietra, his lieutenant, and two soldiers were killed. It is proposed to tunnel Mont Blanc. Turkey. ! A telegram from London, dated September 28, says:—" It is thought an | understanding between Greece and Turkey is impossible. Warlike preparations are progressing on both sides. It is the opinion here Austria is obstructing efforts for an understanding, and that in the event of hostilities she would immediately occupy Macedonia." Another despatch says:-—" Prince Lobanoff, now at Constantinople, is. the bearer of a project for an alliance between Russia and Turkey. It is rumoured Russia is williug to renounce 800,000,000 francs of the war indemnity, and to give back some of the former provinces of Turkey in Asia." SwedenA telegram from Professor Nordenakjold f Swedish Arctic navigator, dated Yokohama, August 3, says: —" All are well. We left winter quarters July 18, and doubled East Cape 20 same month. Proceeded thence to Laurence Bay, Port Chrepce, and Behring Island. We had no sickness and no scurvy." BelgiumThe Bishop of Naniur has resigned his See. The Institute of International Law, ia session at Brussels, has passed a resolution recommending the various States to make destrustion or injury of sub-marine telegraph an offence against the law of nation. IndiaIt is believed in Paris and Vienna the outrage at Cabul is due to Russian intrigue. 'The force defending the ."Embassy numbered seventy-nine. They foughfc with the greatest bravery. It is said the Ameer's son is fatally injured. China. The grain crop in the Province of Chekiang is totally destroyed, and the cotton crop materially damaged. The Province has a population of over 26,000,000. Africa. King Mtesa, ruhng near Victoria I Nyanza, bas abolished slavery throughout his dominions. At least half-a-million serviles are thus liberated.