ENGLISH AND CONTINENTAL ITEMS.

Auckland Star, Volume X, Issue 2771, 13 March 1879, Page 2

ENGLISH AND CONTINENTAL ITEMS.

LONDON, February 18th.

Stanley is announced for another African expedition. Rowel), the Cambridge athlete, sails in the steamship Parthia to-day for New ifork, for the purpose of contesting tho pedeitrian championship with O'Leary. PARLIAMENT IN SESSION.

London, February 13.—Sir Stafford Northcote, Chancellor of the Exchequer, iv the House of Commons this afternoon said it was not desirable to either exaggerate or deprecate unduly tho severe blow in Sonth Africa. There exists a general admiration for the gallantry of the troops and a uuivorsnl sympathy for the sulleieis. The Cabinet is resolved to repair and wipe out tho disaster, and the first batch of reinforcements will leave before Thursday next. He recommended abstinence from an expression of views upon the disaster, until further details wero received. The papers in tho case have been already laid on the table, aud others will shortly follow ; then it will be possible to state the intended course to provide for expenses. The expedition to Afghanistan may bo said to have accomplished its object, and satisfactory arrangements for the protection of tlie Northwestern frontier while preserving the independence of Afghanistan are now possible Iv regard to the present distress prevalent iv England, ho liopcd the improvement iv the weather would diminish it. The scheme of pacification relative to Greece is progrosing fairly. Ho said tho list of measures to be presented by the Government includes a bill'for the reform of the Irish Grand Jury system, aud probably one relative to banking. Lord Ilartington criticised generally tho policy of the Government touching upon the"extension of the Indian frontier, the imperativeness of the proposed reforms in Asia Minor and tlie neglect of Irish University education.

Tlie Irish members generally complained of the Government's neglect of Ireland.

Sir Stafford Northcote, replying to a question of Lord Hartington, said that the expediency of the joint occupation of Roumelia, in the event af disturbances after Russian evacuation, had been mooted, but the discussion had not advanced in consequence of tho Powers excepting Austria and England. In regard to tho cost of the Afghanistan war, he said that the Government of India had proposed that England should lend india £2,000,000 for a term of years without iuterest. In the House of Lords, Lord 'Beaconslield particularly defended the Sultan against the charges of unwillingness to reform the administration of bis Government, and announced that the Commission appointed by tho Sultan to examine the needs of tho various provinces has just presented its report. Of the Afghanistan troubles, he said, " The object of the Government's interference in Afghanistan has been completely accomplished. We now hold the three great highways connecting Afghanistan aud India, and I hope wo shall always retain them. We have received a frontier wliitsii I hope, and believe, will render India invulnerable in a way which will trench an little as possible on the independence of Afghanistan.".

Lord Umnvillo criticised the anuexationist lone ni ollic.iul iiUomucuM in regard lo tin; colonial policy of tlio Cuyoruuiout. llu

declared that tho opposition would cordially support all oltbrts to maintain the honour and safety of the troops aud colonists at tho Capo. Lord Carnarvon declared that he, when • in office, was aware o£ the insolence find aggressiveness of Ciiicf Cctawa/a, and suggested that the Government now send troops I from India to tho Cape. : I In the House of Commons the motion of ; | Meldon, in favour of tho assimilation of Irish borough franchises to those of Eugland and Scotladd, was rejected by a vote of 250 , to 187. Charles Lewis, Conservative inenl- > berfor Londonderry, violently oppovod the ' motion iv debate, declaring that it favoured the maintenance- of n system of dinorganiza- ; tiou and ilisallbclion, and would hand over , political power to classes subservient to , priests and demagogues. Forester, Lord j llarlington, Chamberlain and .Sir Charles Dilke warmly supported tho motion. Low- | ther, Chief" Secretary for Ireland, and j Northroto admitted that the franchises might be raised at the proper time, but they objected to perpetual tinkering at the constitution. MountZiou Convent, Waterfoid, has been burned by an incendiary. The new French Cable Company proposes to lay two cables—one from Brest to Cape Cod, and the other two from Land's.End to Nova Scotia, both by way of Saint Pierre. A huge quarry in the suburbs of Oporto caved in, burying several houses. The ruins took lire, and many persons perished. Til 15 EMPEROR WILLIAM'S SPEECH. Uerlin, February 12.—The German Reichstag was to-day opened by Emperor William in person. In his speech from the throne he said he thanked tho members for assisting in the suppression of the Socialist agitation, and hoped they would continue to support the Government as far as it may he necessary for the cure of the Socialist evil. He announced the abolition of Article 5 of tho Treaty of Plague, and referred with pleasure to the frfetully relations with Austria and 'he results of tho Berlin Congress. He declared the relations between Germany and all other Powers are satisfactory, and that she would continue her iniluenco in behalf of European puaco. The Emperor referred to theßplagne iv Russia. He Haid the latest reports justify the hope that that the energetic measures of the Russian Government will shortly suppress tlie epidemic, when trallic on the frontier will be restored on the neighbourly footing which belits friendly countrii's. Referring to the customs policy of tho Government, the Kmperor said: <'ur commerce has a : right to ciaim that protection which legislation regarding customs taxes can afford, and which in .afforded perhaps beyond what is necessary in countries with which we trade. My duty is to preserve the German market for articles of home production. We should revert to the well-tried principles which we in our commercial policy, since 1 18GT), have abandoned. Clause sof the Treaty of l'laguo was abrogated to relievo the uncertainty of the people of North Schleswig respecting their future destiny. The .speech closed with the following .sentence : " The promotion and development of friendly relations with and among the Powers is a tusk to which should be devoted the great power achieved by German unity." DISASTROUS FIRE. The lire which devastated the favourlto tourist!.' resort of Meyriugen, Geneva, spread to and destroyed the hamlets of ilansensteiii aud KiseulK>lgen. A thousand portions wero rendered homeless. Interlaaken at one time was threatened. AN OCEAN STEAMER LOST. The steamer Wycklilib, from Philadelphia for Ht. Nuzaire, was lost to-day at Loire. '1 he crew was saved. MOROCCO IN A STATE OF ANARCY. A letter from Tangier, Morocco, says the Governor of Fez has taken refuge in the '• sanctuary to escape tho populace, who have i risen against him. Tho Sultan has had a 1 stroke of paralysis. Anarchy reigns throughout the Empire. FAMINE IN MOROCCO. It is feared that before next year half the inhabitants of tho southern provinces of Morocco will have perished of starvation and disease on account "f the scarcity caused by last year's drought. BLACK PLAGUE IN BRAZIL. It is reported that the black plagne has made its appearance in the province of Ceara. Five doctors have been aeut tbero. EMANCIPATION OF THE JEWS IN SERVIA. Bills for the emancipation of the Jews have passed the Sknptschiua. They must still pass the Great Skuptsohina. BLOODY INSURRECTION IN GUINEA. A Paris dispatch states that tho rebellious natives of Bolor, in Guinea, have defeated the Portuguese troops, A private telegram states that tho Portuguese lost ;i()0 men, including r>o Europeans and two officers, The Governor of Guinea has been superseded. A corvette, with 200 men, has been dispatched from Lisbon. SIX HUNDRED PERSONS REPORTED SLAUGHTERED. A Vienna dispatch pays a party of insurgent Arabs attacked a caravan near Hodjaz, and killed six hundred persons. FAMINE IN KGYPT. ', The famine iv upper Egypt is reported terrible. RAVAGES OF THE PLAGUE. j The Austrian and German Governments I have arrived at an understanding in regard to taking precautions against the plague. | Germany and Austria have resolved to cend physioians to watch the epidemic. Conj sideraMe alarm was caused in Moscow by ' the arrival there from the plague district of recruits for the Imperial Guard. They . were isolated, disinfected, and their clothing j burned.

The origin of the plague in Russia is thus given : A Cossack returning from tho war to Wetlinka, brought his lady a shawl, which who wore for two days and sickened with, all the plague symptoms and died. The following four days other members of her family died. Tne disease spread rapidly, the local authorities not payingl uuy attention toit till lmlf the inhabitants died and tho remainder wero unable to bury the victims. Tho panic in Russia is almost incredible. Every class and station of lifo have petitioned for tho eutiro cessation of all intercourse, even postal communication, between the rest of Russia and the Volga. Lottcrs sent from Astrachau and Zaritzin aro not received by persons to whom they are addressed. Some people even refuse to take paper money, fearing the germ of infection might ho communicated through it. It is impossible to describe the terror which has taken possession of the people.

Quarantine at Italian ports has bceu increased to twenty days.

Of 2,000 persons who WOI'O itttickcil in SiUcvia, 1,000 purishcul. Mnl'a lias established :i quaiiiiitiiie ii^.iinst TripolL It is s:iid that mi buried uoiUcs of persons who died of tho plaguoin Aslrnknn still reinaiu. All the European Governments havo taken precautions, uuJ have established quarantines. February IS. Italy has discontinued the line of steamers to Effypt. Militury cordons hnye been osiabusued throughout ttussia, The plague luis appeared iv Bossaiabia in Turkey. The Russian plague excites great alarm in Germany, Austria, and Hungary; nearly all patients died ; six army Hurgoons, and nearly all who came iv contact with tho dead had died, although disinfectants wero freely used. Tho mortality iv some places was equal to one hundred per cent. la raris sixteen sohliors in barracks near the military scliool died of typhus fever within a few days. The reports from central Russia, couched in tho mildest form aas they may be considered, indicate couclusively that the black plague, the most terrible of scourges known to humanity. Tho progress of the people is more rapid by far than noted at the time of its last general occurrence two centuries ago. Great mortality is reported in Tver,' a province midway between Moscow and St Petersburg. The plague has appeared in a village ou the KiefF Railway, which runs due north from Odessa. It lias appeared iv two villages of Tambor and iv Restor, and in a closo vicinity to Moscow. The Greek Consul at Kavali, on the yKgean sea, conh'rmn a report.of the outbreak of the plague at that point. The report received indicate a feeling of consternation throughout Knrope.

The Admiralty announces that it has chartered fifteen steamers to carry troops and supplies to the Cape of Good Hope. This fleet includes tho transatlantic steamers Egypt,' France, Spain, Russia, England, China, Olympus, Palmyra, and City of Paris.

The Fifty-scventli regiment, stationed at Ceylon, has beeu ordered to the Cape of Good Hope.

Captain fcjtafiord and Lieutenant Davics, of the Natal contingent,.who escaped from the disaster at Colonel Glyu's camp, speak highly of the conduct of all engaged, and the courage <iud iirmness of the native contingent.

A GRAVE IN THE DEEP,

Madrid, L'eb. 15.—A severe storm visited the coast of Galicia yesterday. Two vessels went ashore, and 28 persons were drowned.

GISKMANY AND THE VATICAN.

1 oiuion, if oh I.—A dispatch from Borliu

says : There is a credible rumour that Dr Falk, Minister of Public Worship, has proposed, and tlio Pope has accosted, a scheme of reconciliation, making Prussia, instead ;of South Germany, the centre of gravity i" ecclesiastical affairs, and detaching Metz and Strasburg from the church of France.