IRISH AND CANADIAN QUESTIONS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2715, 3 October 1887, Page 2

IRISH AND CANADIAN QUESTIONS.

London, September 80. Mr Chamberlain, in.a speech at Birmingham, referring to the fisheries dispute, said that England was bound to support a fair and reasonable presentment of Canadian claims, and although thetfederation of the Empire was not yet within the scope of practical politics, anything which would tend "to draw closer the ties which unite England and her dependencies, and which would. also guarantee tho peace and civilisation of the world, was ■to be commended. Alluding to Irish matters, he said that since there was no agreement in Ireland ■as to the adviSableness of Homo' Rule, the Government ought to deal with the subject by iiisfcitutiug religious equality, local government, economy in the piiblic service, and adopting the line 3 of Lord Randolph! Churchill's Irish Land Settlement; Scheme, without pledging British credit. | Later. In his speech at Birmingham, Mr Chainborlain said that two-fifths of the Irish people were opposed to Home Rule, and Mr Gladstone was to blame for the unsettled state- of Parliament in regard to Irish affairs. Instead of agitating for Home Rule, Mr Gladstone should devote his attention to the questions of local government and economy iu official administration. FRANCE AND GERMANY. London, September 80. The irritation on the Franoo-Ger-nian frontier is extreme, and a feeling is prevalent at Metz that war is near and inevitable. German generals are reported to be actually inspecting forts.