LONDON April 2.3 11.... . *■

Waikato Times, Volume VI, Issue 317, 26 May 1874, Page 2

LONDON April 2.3 11.... . *■

The Grand T)uke Alexis is the only member of tho Imperial family who will accompany the Czar on his visit to England. The Marquis of Salisbury, Secretary of State for i India, stated in the Lords that tho harvest in India promised to bo so abundant that the present provisiou. against famine was undoubtedly ample. In the House of Commons Mr Smollett moved a resolution to the effect that the suddenness of tho late dissolution deserved the censnre of the House in the late Ministry ; he characterized the act as a coup detat by which the late Government sought unconstitutionally to hold power; be declared that Mr Gladstone had resorted to a stratagem that was uugenerous to friends and insolent to the Opposition — barely honest to the nation ; Mr Whalley Becouded the motion ; Mr Gladstone stigmatised the assertion as untrue ; he challenged the member to repeat the word trickster as applied to him ; on the refusal of Smollett to repeat he charged him with a lack of decency. The steamer Atratoa, after repairs and passinginspection, left with fonr hundred emigrants for Canterbury and Otago. Several emigrants who lelt in her the first time refused to proceed, and returned to their homes after enjoying the trip and several days free rations. Joseph Arch is about to arrange extensive emigration from England to America. The steamship Farraday has commenced to load with new Atlant ; c cable, which is to be laid direct to the United States. Mr Gladstone is recovering Said he regarded the reduction of a penuy in the Income Tax as an important step towards the abolition of taxes. A. Bill abolishing sugar duties has finally passed the House of Commons. At a special meeting of the Committee of the Af?ri<-ii!intal Labourers' Union, ,£lOOO was granted fin i 1i 1 c !.• iefoflocked-out labourer*. Four thousand isi •• -w on Union's funds in London. A letter si.. < - ,a in the Eastern Counties a bitter conflict is in .-^ure between farmers and labourers. The latter demand an. advance of Is per week. This has been rofused, consequently the labourers have struck on two farms. The farmers generally retaliate by locking-out all Union men, and declining henceforth to employ any but non-Unionist men. The landlords are supporting the farmers and threaten to eject tenants who do not hold aloof from all Unionists. The Parliamentary vote to defray the cost of the Ashantee war amounted to J£'COO,OOO A new movement is on foot in London to fouud i u Parliament of working men i

An organisation has been formed for the introduction a Bill into Parlianent at the instigation of the Early-closing Associaion for the closing of all shops at 8 p.m Dr Keneally is excluded fpm the mess of the Oxford Circuit for want of etjuette in his conduct of the Tichborne case. This deprives him of professional status, as no junior is allowed to engage with him In a letter to tie press Dr Keneally denies the charge made agaist him. He says that he dissents from the verdictof the jury, and that he still believed the claiinan to be Tichborne, and that the real Arthur Orton vonld be in England within twelve months and acknowledged as such as defendant believed, The British steamship, ?neen Elizabeth, has become a total wreck at J uuU Arenas, Spain, twenty-three lives lost. Sixty millions have beenvoted for the repair of French fortifications With reference to the eaape of Rochefort and his companions the Paris hir says, " The escape of French convicts has alre.dy lead to exchange of notes between the colonits at Versailles and St. James. According 1 tonformation received by the English Government, :he vessel was French, fitted out by the friends ol'the prisoners, she had on board twenty-five men mite determined to fight if necessary. .Seventeen convicts were to have been carried off, but when the noment arrived only five \ were ready, the others vere at work assigned | them. The English authorities declare that the captain fraudulently hoisted the British flag, but the French believe that they can prove that the vessel was equipped and prepared for sea in a British port, and consider that the British Government .should be held lespcnsible. Upon reaching Sydney, Rochefort telegraphed lor 25,000 francs to M. Adam, formerly prefect of Paris police, and Ofuartlian to his children, who forwarded the money. M. Victor Hugo contributed G3OO francs A large number of Italian noblemen attended the Vatican on the 23rd larch to pay homage to the Pope as a counter demonstration to the celebration of the King's accession ; his Holiness made au energetic speech, praising the unalterable devotion of the Roman nobility, who had given the world an unique example )f faithfulness.