CABLEGRAM.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 2976, 8 January 1881, Page 3

CABLEGRAM.

[Retjteb's Special to Twlegbaph.J

LONDON

January 6, afternoon

Parliament was opened to-day. The Queen's speech referred to the continued maintenance of the European concert, and said that there was every reason to hope that a peaceful solution of the Turko-Greek difficulty would be arrived at. Alluding to the state of affairs in Southern Africa, the speech said that, owing to the rebellion of the Boers.it was now necessary to take strong measures to re-assert the British authority in the Transvaal. The outbreak in Basutoland would soon, ie was hoped, be suppressed. Regarding Afghanistan the speech announced that it was not intended to retain Candabar, and, referring to the unsettled state of Ireland, stated that Her Majesty's Government would introduce bills to provide for the necessary coercive measures for the suppression of the existing agitation, and a bill would at the same time be brought forward dealing with the Irish Land question. Later. The forecast of the Queen's speech, as previously telegraphed, is fully confirmed by the speech as delivered, except in regard to the Greek frontier question, referring to which the speech states that the Great Powers and England will determine the delimitation of the frontier. Regarding the Transvaal the speech states that the rebellion there has indefinitely postponed the plans which were to have been instituted for securing an administrative autonomy to the settlers. Regarding Ireland it is said that the social condition of the country is alarming, it being, in fact, an extensive system of terrorism. Additional powers are requisite to deil with the state of affairs, and the Government will recommend the development of the Land Act. The speech further states that it will be proposed to abolish corporal punishment in the army and navy.

January 7. Mr Parnell has taken his seat in the House of Commons, and has given notice of an amendment on the Address in Reply to the Queen's speech, stating that he is convinced that peace in Ireland will not be promoted by suspending the existing laws.

The introduction of bills for the adoption of county government in Ireland, to secure protection to person and property, and to restrict the sale and possession of arms, has been notified, and Mr Gladstoae will move that the discussion of these measures shall take precedence of everything until they are pasaed. The first batch of engineers to undertake the construction of the isthmus canal has embarked for Panama.

In the House of Lords to-day the Address in Reply to the speech from the throne was voted after a short debate. In the course of the latter Earl Beaconsfield said that the Government, by reversing the policy of his administration, had endangerered the peace of Ireland, and he blamed Ministers for not having earlier adopted a coercive policy. He advised them not to weaken the hands of the Executive in Ireland. Earl Granville, in reply, denied the assertions of Lord

Beaconsfield, arid argued that the Governmsnt were not alone answerable for the state of Ireland. Ministers were, he said, determined to enforce respect for the law in that country.

In the House of Commons the debate on the Address in Reply is proceeding. Sir Stafford Northcote attacked, and Mr Gladstone defended, the policy of the Government in Ireland. The latter admitted that the condition of the country was shameful, but urged that earlier action was not justified for the repression of the disorder without steps being taken to redress the grievances of the people. The debate has been adjourned to the next sitting.

The Pope has written a letter to the Archbishop of Dublin, in which he strongly condemns the method of agitation of the Irish to obtain the redress of their grievances. His Holiness trusts that justice will be done them by the Government, but expects that Irishmen will respect the laws of their country.