LATE CABLE NEWS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4173, 5 September 1881, Page 3

LATE CABLE NEWS.

.» [Bi Thmsiuph.J (Per e.f. Te Anau, vii Bluif.) [Aaa Speoiii.] LONDON, August 23. Sir C. Cl. Duffy, in a published address, has announced his opinion of the new Irish Land Act. After eulogising in warm language the courage displayed by Mr Gladstone and his colleagues in grappling firmly with a subject surrounded with difficulties, he characterises the Act as a glorious measure, and one from which he anticipates great results. He maintains, however, that it will still be desirable to continuo the agitation in Ireland, in order that an active public opinion shall secure the fruits of the measure from being lost. Intelligence has been received by the police authorities from the United States, warning them that the Fenian conspirators have despatched a cargo of infernal machines to Ireland. The information states that the veißel is expected to go to Limerick, and all arrivals from the United States at that port are being closely watched. Tho Financial Secretary for India has submitted his budget. The Viceroy's Oouncil shows a surplus for the year of £855,000. The total expenses of the Afghan war are found to have exceeded £20.0t0,000. He is unable to recommend a substantial remission of taxation, and, notwithstanding the objections raised by the Mercantile Community of England, the import duties imposed some time since will be continued. Ausust 24. The Standard ma leading article discusses the settlement of the reform question in Victoria, and expresses an opinion that the compromise effected is one, on the whole, creditable to the moderation of both parties. The removal of this cause of political strife ia believed to be likely to promote the prosperity of the Oolony. Another eviction riot of a serious character has taken place in Ireland. A large number of tbe peasantry attacked the police and military who were engaged in carrying out evictions, at . Bathkeale, a place 17 miles from Limerick, on the east bank of the Deel. Some personß were severely injured before the riot was repressed. The Dynamite Convention, whioh is still sitting in Chicago, hatching its schemes for the employment of infernal machines, iB ridiculed by the New York Presß as unworthy of serious consideration. The idea that any dangerous action ia likely to emanate from suoh a worthless source is scouted. Another attempted outrage, which is attributed to Fenian agents, has been discovered at Birmingham. At the railway station in that city the attention of the authorities waa directed to a package forwarded for transmission, and which purported to contain boots. There were, however, suspicious circumstances connected therewith, and the package was opened and examined. It was found to contain a considerable quantity of gunpowder, and the matter haa been placed in the hands of the polioe. The Government have released Denis Hannigan, the Secretary of the Drumgollogber branch of tho Land League. He waa arrested as a "Buspect" undor the provisions of the Protection of Persons and Property Act on March 9, and has since that date been con- | fined in Kilmuinham gaol. Owing to the activity recently displayed by the NihiUt organisation, the SwißS Government, acting upon representations made to them, havo expelled from their country one of tho prominent Nihilist leaders, on the ground that he waa guilty of an infringement of International law, and had abused the rights of hospitality extended to him. August L's. A Bill for the amendment of the law of libel has been introduced by Mr Hutchinson, M.P. for Halifax, which has received the assent of the House of Commons an I alao thnt of the Houso of Lords. The Bill, vhich provides that no criminal prosecution fitlibel shall in future be instituted against tlie proprietor of any journal without the leavo of tho Attomoy-Generul, has met with general approval. After discussion in tho House of Lords the msasure was passed, and it ?iow awuita tho Rojal n«Bont. Tho Russian Ambassador at Washington, ftding under instructions from his Government, has demanded from tho United Statos tho extradition of Hartmann, the Bussian j Nihilist. It is maintained that the effonco j with which Hartmann was charged is of a criming character and that he ia not en li tiod

to the protection afforded to political offenders. The handirp over (he territory cpded under the recent convention between Greece ani Turkey is being carried out, but, some difficulties have arisen owing lothe outrages committed by the Turks before retiring. The Turkish troops when abandoning the town of Kailza Bet firo to tbe place, and a large number of buildings were destroyed before the conflagration was Btayed. August 26. It has been officially announced thafc the expense* of the trial of Mr Parnell, the Irish Home Rule leader, and the other traversers held before the Court of Queen's Bench at Dublin, amounted to £9000. The expenses of the defendants were defrayed in great part by public subscription. August 27. A proposal has beeu made by Mr Gladstone to the German Government, that the island of Heligoland, situated in the North Sea, 40 miles from the mouth of the Elbe, shall be recognised as neutral territory. The island, which is only about 2, 2.3 mi.c in circumference, is one of the moat favourite German watering-places. The island has been held by Great Britain since its oapture from Denmark in 1827. Owing to the incessant wet weather which prevailed during the review of the Scotch volunteers at Edinburgh, a large number of the men who took part in it have been placed on the sick Hat. The troops were exposed for hours in the rain, and suffered severely from their wetting. The Iriah Land League purpose making the presentation of a farm to Michael Davitt, one of their most prominent agitators. Davitt, who was at large on a ticket of leave, was rearrested a few months ago on account of his aeditious utterances, and is now confined in dmainham Gaol. The Bueaian Government haa decided to considerably increase the duties on all goods imported into the country, and the trade between Great Britain and Bussia is likely to be severely affected. An epidemic of yellow fever is raging in Barbadoes, one of the Windward Islands in the West Indies, and has oaused a very large number of deaths. The reßult of the general eleotion in France has been altogether favourable to the Eepublican constitution. The number of votes recorded was 6,000,000. Of these the Bepublican candidates obtained 4,500,000; Buonapartists, 600,000 ; and the representatives of the Legitimists, Orleaniste, and other parties. 1,000,000. A destructive fire haa ooourred in Ohicago, by whioh several buildings were burnt and a large amount of property destroyed. The losb ia estimated at 1,000,000d015. A destructive fire has alao occurred in Canada, the town of Villeyage having been nearly destroyed. Fully one-half of the place was burnt down. The continuation of heavy rain has been moat disastrous to the proipects of the harvest throughout Great Britain. The crops on the Continent have also suffered severely. Mr Saul Samuels— the Agent-General for New South Wales— has obtained promises of a number of valuable presents for the new Museum recently established in New South Wales.