LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 112, 31 March 1870, Page 5

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Februai

Parliament opened on the Bth February by Commission. In her speech, the Queen stated that she regretted- that, owing to indisposition, she was prevented from opening Parliament personally.

The present time was a period of remarkable public interest. The Crown cordially reciprocated the friendly sentiments received from all quarters towards England, and the growing disposition to resort to the good offices of allies in cases of international difference, which encouraged confidence in the maintenance of tranquillity. The estimates are in a forward state, and diminished charges will be imposed. The Queen trusts that Parliament will complete the enquiry already commenced into the mode of conducting both parliamentry and municipal elections, thus preparing material for useful legislation. The Ministry propose to amend the laws relating to the occupation and acquisition of land in Ireland in a manner adapted to the peculiar circumstances of the country, and calculated to I bring about improved relations between the several classes concerned. These [ provisions, matured by the impartiality and wisdom of Parliament, will tend to inspire that steady confidence in law, and desire to render assistance in its administration, which mark Her Majesty's subjects generally. The following measures are announced : — The comprehensive enlargement of the means for national education ; Bills to elucidate religious tests ; the rating of the Oxford University ; and the transfer of land. The extension of agrarian crime in Ireland has filled the Queen with painful concern, but the Executive have freely adopted means for preventing further outrages . Her Majesty relies mainly on the permanent operation of wise and necessary changes in the law ; she will not hesitate to recommend the adoption of special provisions, should the paramount interests of peace and order require them. Lord Cairns severely criticised the speech. He chiefly condemned the proposed policy with regard to Ireland, which, he said, was unsound, unsatisfactory, and calculated to excite discontent and disorder. Mr. Gladstone has announced his intention to introduce a Bill having reference to the Irish land question. On the 10th inst., Mr. Disraeli declared that the Government was responsible for the recent agitation and excesses in Ireland. Mr. Gladstone defended the policy of the Government. The House of Commons annulled O'Donovan Rossa's election by 301 votes to 8. Mr. John Bright has been seriously ill, but is now better. Mr. Disraeli is also indisposed. A conspiracy against the Emperor's life has been discovered in Paris. The British Government has taken over the telegraph lines. A slight disturbance in Pari3 is reported. M. Emile Ollivier, in replying to M. Keratry. said that preparations were being made to rescue M. Rochefort. Eight barricades had been erected, and a gunsmith's shop pillaged. Numbers had been injured, and 200 men arrested. 35 were arrested for plotting against the Government. The prospectus of a company to lay a cable from Calcutta to Signapore has been issued. The French Chambers have negatived the proposal to abrogate the commercial treaty with England, saying that France desired peace and friendship with England, and the Chambers would adopt the best means for the attainment of those objects. M. Lesseps telegraphs that tho rock at Serapeum has been removed. Sir Charles Darling, late Governor of Victoria, is dead. Mr. Forster has introduced an Education Scheme Bill, dividing England into districts. It does not interfere where the education imparted is sufficient. It proposes to make Government grants to schools of all denominations, oft condition of their attaining a certain degree of efficiency, and admitting the exercise of conscience on religious topics, A clause is to be inserted to allow for inspection. The districts are to be supplied with schools by compulsion and local taxation under local management. The funds are to be augmented by Government grants under central supervision. The school fees are to be retained generally, and free admission is to be granted to the destitute. The Bill empowers School Boards to frame bye-laws compelling the attendance of children between the ages of five and twelve years. The second reading has been fixed for the 14th March. The French Corps Le*gislatif has rejected a motion -annulling the arrest of Rochefort, and has refused to surrender him. He was arrested while going to attend a public meeting, but made no resistance. The Red River rebellion is subsiding. The man Dyer, who surrendered himself to the police on self-accusation of murdering his mate (Wilson) at the Loddon diggings, Victoria, in 1857, is believed to be disordered in mind. He has been remanded, pending the result of enquiries in Victoria.

Martin, the Fenian candidate, was hopelessly beaten for Longford county by Mr. Greville Nugent, the Liberal candidate, who polled 1487 votes to Martin's 440.

The political stagnation of the s.eason has been broken by speeches from Messrs Bright, Forster, Miall, Stansfield, Sir C. Dilke, and others, but the Cabinet secrets have been well kept by the Ministerial speakers. Mr. Bright has been loudly censured for his excessive reticence.

No protracted opposition is anticipated to the Irish Land Bill.

At a meeting on the subject of colonial emigration, letters were read from Mr. Carlyle, Mr. Tennyson, and Mr. Froude, forwarding their signatures to the petition against breaking i-p the British Empire. The (Ecumenical Council continues sitting, but is evidently a failure. The Fathers are not so tractable as they were expected to be. The Council has not yet come to any definite conclusion on any question. A serious strike has taken place at Artizan's great ironworks, Creusot, instigated by an agent of the International Association, which supplies funds from England and Switzerland, 3500 soldiers were sent for the protection of the town. New workmen were introduced, but the dispute was amicably settled, and the strike terminated.

A collision occurred on the 24th of January off Yokohama, between the P. and O, steamer Bombay and the United

States corvette Oneida, which was leaving Japan on her homeward voyage. The Oneida sank almost immediately and only 56 lives were saved out of 176. Capt. Eyre, of the Bombay, has been blamed for not rendering assistance, but an investigation shows that he was not aware, owing to the darkness of the night, of the extent of the harm done. A great fire took place at Yeddo on the 29th January. Over 1000 houses were destroyed. The Great Eastern arrived at Bombay on 27th January. She is now engaged in laying the cable at Aden. The Duke of Edinburgh has visited Agra and Benares, and is now hunting up-country. His tent was robbed of 15,000 rupees. A severe cyclone has visited the Bay of Bengal. One ship went down with all hands. The" Times " of 2nd February published a letter from Captain Cochrane, of the war steamer Petrel, dated 9th January, stating that Dr. Livingstone has been killed. The report says that the inhabitants of a native town 90 days' journey from the Congo River, accused the Doctor of bewitching their king, who died three days after. They pursued the doctor, captured him, and burned him. The news was brought by some Portuguese to Congo. On the day after the publication of the letter, Sir Roderick Murchison wrote to the " Times " discrediting the report. February 18. Lord Carnarvon arraigned the colonial policy of the Government, and protested against the withdrawal of British troops from the colonies. Earl Granville declared that there was no desire on the part of the Government to severe the connection between England and her colonies. The withdrawal of the troops was onty intended to enable them to learn the habits of self-defence. In case of attack from without, England would defend them with her last shilling. Arrived — Great Britain, s.s., from Mel. bourne. Mr. Gladstone introduced his Irish Land Bill into the House of Commons on the 15th inst. The basis of it is the legalisation of usage, He denounced the perpetuity of tenure, and proposed prompt sales between landlord and tenant, by giving power to the landlord to sell property in fee simple, and to advance money to the tenant ; such moneys to be repayable by annual instalments. Two courts are to be established for all arbitration in civil cases, and to settle differences. Any landlord evicting a tenant, without being able to justify the step, will be required to pay compensation, varying from two to seven years' rent. The tenant may also claim compensation for permanent improvements. Landlords granting leases for 31 years will be exempted from claims for compensation. The second reading of the Bill has been fixed for the 7th March. The Opposition promised to deal with the measure in a conciliatory spirit. Mr. Card well has introduced a Bill to reorganise the War Office, creating the new office of Financial Under-Secretary. Mr. Gladstone is about to introduce a separate Bill for the acquisition of land in Ireland, such Bill to be also applicable in England and Scotland.