ENGLISH NEWS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 359, 27 May 1874, Page 3

ENGLISH NEWS.

April 22. In the House of Lords, the Marquis of Salisbury, Secretary of State for India, said that the harvest in India promised to be abundant, and' that the present provisions against famine were undoubtedly ample. In the House of Commons, Mr. Smollett moved that the suddenness of the late dissolution of Parliament was deserving of the censure of the House, and characterised the act as a coup d'ttat by which the last Government sought unconstitutionally to retain power. He declared that Mr. Gladstone had resorted to a stratagem which was ungenerous to his friends, insolent to his opponents, and barely honest to the nation. Mr. Whalley seconded the motion. Mr. Gladstone stigmatised the assertion that the dissolution was secretly planned as untrue, absurd, and impossible, and challenged a repetition of the word " trickster " applied to him. Upon the refusal of Mr. Smollett to repeat it, he charged him with a lack of decency and manliness, and defended the act of dissolution, which he declared would have been more inconvenient had it been postponed. Upon concluding his speech, Mr. Gladstone left the House, and the motion was negatived without a division. Much excitement was manifested during and at the close of the debate. The death of John Phillips, the geologist, is announced to-day, at the age of 73. His death was caused by accident. A prospectus has been issued in London containing proposals for the formation of a company to take over Hall's Australian steam ship line. The proposed capital is £600,000, in 30,000 shares of £20 each. The seven promoters take one share each, four of whom, ' including Hall, stipulate for a salary of £1000 ■ a year. : A break-out [lock-out?] of 15,000 miners is expected in Cornwall. ' The expectation of another rise of the Thames, and overflow, caused thousands of persons to throng its banks, and fill the bridges which cross it. The water rose an immense height, but no damage was done. Placards are posted up in the agricultural ' districts of England, cautioning intending immigrants to the United States, on the authority of Consul Archibald, of New York, ■ that 40,000 persons are ready to return to ' England.