General News.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 4043, 13 December 1881, Page 2

General News.

Henry Brisson, a moderate Republican, has been elected President of the French Chamber by ,347 rotes against 95 in a chamber ot 557. A number of office* bearers of the Chamber were also elected, the principle feature being the success of all of Gambetta's friends. The overwhelming rote by which Gambetta was elected to tho provisional Presidency at' the opening of the Chamber has already afforded a test of strength. The "Vakit" is good enough to give its attentiou to British policy in Southern Africa and Afghanistan. Needless to say that the Power 'which shed its blood for the maintenance of the Ottoman Empire in the Crimea, and whose able diplomacy conrerted the Treaty of San Stefano, into that. of Berlin, and saved Macedonia, Roumelia, and Bayazid for Turkey, does not find favour before the " Vakit.".. Les bienfaits ne se pardonnent jamais. "The British generals at the Cape," says our contemporary, "are growing visibly alarmed at the political difficulties which have followed in quick succession on their military reverses. On the other hand, the situation in Afghanistan is scarcely more reassuring, as the present Emir, who is the prtteffS of the English, does not enjoy the goodwill, of the people. The English have shown themselves utterly incapable in their attempt to bolster up the Emir. Instead of advising him to secure the affection of his subject, they have forced him into the fatal path of repression. The recent defeat of Ayoub Khan has not dis« heartened his followers, and though the Emir has entered Candahar in triumph, he has met with nothing but contempt as being the mere creature of the English. The British Government, seeing how its policy outside of Europe earns nothing - but failure on the one hand, and scorn on the other, is obliged to adopt an attitude of reserve with regard to European affairs. The peace of the East will doubtless but gain by this enforced reserve. As for the Emir Abdur Eahman, he is to be pitied for the confidence he has placed in the English. It is needless to show how grievous a mistake he has committed in seeking to establish his government on foreign assistance, instead of founding it on the confidence of his people."—Levant Herald. ./ „ . r It is reported in the Monetary Press that the Government of Victoria is about to place a loan of £4,000,0J0 on the London market. The Times, commenting on the prospects of the proposed Victorian loan, compares Victorian and other Australian colonies, and the comparison is to A the disadvantage of Victoria. The Times regards Sir B. O'Loughlen's financial proposals as open to challenge, and thinks that to take the chance of extricating the colony from the consequences of the Berry disastrous policy by the sale of land will entail, a scandalous sacrifice. It condemns, the effects of protection on the . one hand, and an immigration policy on the other. The Tariff Commission now sitting in Melbourne, South Australia, and New South Wales, 1 especially the latter, are praised for adopting an en* lightened policy on these questions. The small bird nuisance is causing such loss to the farmers in some places that many settlers are beginning to dispair of raising oats. The Hawkes' Bay Herald says:—" Owing to the destructive ravages of the linnet, Mr Gebbie, of Taradale, has had to plough in nearly two acres of what promised to be a very abundant crop of very fine barley. An adjacent two acres of very fine wheat is being rapjdjyidispoiled by the same agency. Myriads of * linnets visit the farm daily to save him . the trouble of reaping his props. It is really sad to see the havoc created, and the hard work of many months totally destroyed by this linnet scourge. Any ' * candidate for Parliament who would pro* mise to take steps in the House to abate this nuisance might safely reckon on Mr Gebbie's rote. N.B.—No member of the Acclimatisation Society past or present need apply." At the London Methodist (Eoumenioal Council, fiev Dr Bigg said: "One of the most serious aspects of the religious question is that, the Church has began to organise amusements for its young people, the wretched performances under the Band of Hope, tor example, being more injurioul than the high class drama itself. f It is reported from Gibraltar that threefourths of the Roman Catholics then - have refused to receive the. new Vicar* ' Apostolic, Dr Canilla, Bishop of Lystra . ihpartibus, because, forsooth, his .father was a Gibraltar tobacconist, while he himself, it is said, began life in the local gas office! The latest phase of the business is the exclusion of the Bishop from the Cathedral Church." If thing« go on at this rate, high-toned' Christians will refuse to worship their Sariour because he was the son of a carpenter.