GENERAL SUMMARY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 202, 14 December 1871, Page 6

GENERAL SUMMARY.

Londow, November Bth.

At a recent Cabinet meeting held to consider questions relating to the Eoyal family, tbe Queen was asked to give her consent to the marriage of the Duke of Edinburgh with a Prussian princess, and also to consent -to the establishment of a Regency under the Prince of Wales. She gave a refusal to both propositions, and subsequently refused to affix the Eoyal signature to a document presented to her. The Cabinet continued the discussion of the Eegency question, and a proposition was introduced to appoint a Chancellor to sign documents in the place of the Queen.

It is reported that a, combination has been formed between the aristocracy and the labouring classes against the manufacturing interest. The English papers discuss the movement. The Times is not disposed to believe the report. Lord Derby and Mr. Disraeli have pledged themselves to tbe programme of the working men. A lettet published in the " Daily Telegraph" alleged thot the signatures of a number of lords were in the possession of a Mr. Russel. Sir (Stafford Northcote and several peers deny that any alliance for a new social movement was entered into. They say that all that was done was the giving by some peers of an expression of their willingness to consider the well-being of the working classes.

The Mansion House Fund in aid of the snfferers by the Chicago fire amounts to £4:6_,000. At Manchester £16,000 has been collected, and munificent donations have been made in other English towns, as well as uptowns on the Continent.

Mr. Gladstone addressed 12,000 persons at Greenwich, and was received with great enthusiasm. He said that the present administration had had the longest life of any since 1832, and he believed its vitality to be, unimpaired. Late mail advices show that a financial crisis exists' in great Britain, B_ismarck demanding gold for the English subscriptions for loans, and no such amount of gold existing as that demanded by Prussia. The total deposits of gold and silver in Europe and America" are.less than £200,000,000— not half the indemnity. It is proposed to give Bismarck Bank of England notes. It is believed that he wants to hoard tho world's finances, so as to touch England's vitality through gold. The organisation of the British army is proceeding actively. The regiments are being brought up to the war standard, and war material is being accumulated in immense quantities. The Gazette contains the -new- regulations for the abolition of the purchase system. The main feature of- the regulations is the severe examination to which candidates for commissions will be subjected.

The trial of Kelly, at Dublin, is causing excitement. The. mob attasked the police, who were escoi-ting him to the court, and one soldier was wounded.

Early changes in the Ministry, by the elevation of some of the Ministers to the peerage, are contemplated."

The mechanics and labourers eraj ployed in the ship, building yard of Mr. Laird, at Birkenhead, are resolved to insist on the adoption 6f tihe nine hours system there. [' Parliament is prorogued to -Decemi ber 27th.