LONDON.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3248, 29 November 1881, Page 3

LONDON.

November 16

M. Gamb.tta has announced his political programme. It will include the reform of the judicial system by the abolition of 'unnecessary tribunals, perfecting the system of national education by further declericalisingin affording additional facilities for children to perfect themselves in the higher educational grades, the completion of the military laws by the adoption of universal military services, the re-organisation of finance and the reduction of the national expenditure, the extension of trade in France by means of mutually advantageous commercial treaties with foreign countries, and the maintenance of peace both at home and abroad. M. Bent, the Minister of Public Instruction in M. Gambetta's Cabinet, will also take the portfolio of Public Worship. The German press redicule both M. Gambetta's Ministry and their programme. Throughout Europe the Ministry is regarded as weak, and not likely to be of long duration. The Fenians have recently exhibited considerable activity in the North of England. At Bradford, Yorkshire, tbey have been especially bold, arms having been obtained by many members of the organisation, and drillings have been frequent. The arrest at Bradford of a Fenian named Tobin a few days ago has caused a panic, and numbers are flying from the district in wild haste. Earl Granville has written a despatch to the British Consul-General at Egypt, which states that the existence of a condition of anarchy in Egypt would justify the intervention ot the foreign powers interested in the good government of that country. Mr J. Sendall, one of the assistant secretaries of the Local Government Board, has been appointed Governor of Natal in succession to Sir Evelyn Wood. Mr John Bright, Chancellor of tbe Duchy of Lancaster, has received many addresses to-day congratulating him on having attained his seventieth birthday. The American wheat harvest shows a deficiency of 1,000,000,000 bushels. William Rathbone Grego, the wellknown writer on political and social science, died yesterday at the age of 72. The epidemic of cholera is spreading with alarming rapidity at Mecca, and the pilgrims and residents in that city are dying at the rate of fifty a day. November 17. The newly-elected German Reichstag was opened to-day. The Imperial message announced that the Government intended to include the free port of Hamburg in the Customs union of tbe empire, that the workmen's Accident Assurance Bill would be again submitted, and that the Government would propose that the State should make provision for invalid workmen by means of the tobacco monopoly enjoyed by the Government. The programme has been received with disfavor by the progressionists and other opponents of the Government, and Prince Bismarck's supremacy in the Chamber is considered decidedly precarious The steamer Solway 702 tons of Hartlepool, has been destroyed by an explosion which occurred on the voyage from Bristol to Glasgow. It was at first supposed that the vessel had been destroyed by dynamite, which had been wilfully placed on board for that purpose, but the investigation showed that the occurrence was accidental, and was caused by the explosion of a consignment of naptha which formed part of the cargo. Twelve persons on board lost their lives. The merchants interested in the colonial trade who are resident in London, in conjunction with the colonists now visiting England, are preparing to present a testimonial to Alderman McArthur, ex-Lord Mayor of London, in recognition of his hospitality to colonists generally, and his valuable efforts to adVance colonial interests. The inhabitants of Herz»ovina, one of the provinces of European Turkey which ' Austria was permitted to occupy under the Berlin treaty of 1878, are exhibiting much uneasiness and irritation at the policy of annexation recently announced by Austria, aud conflicts have occurred in several parts of the province between the Austrian troops and the Herzgovinians. The chief Mapoch, who occupies a strong position north-east of the Transvaal, has again risen against the Volunteers, and a general rising of the Kaffir tribes is anticipated. Tbe prosecution instituted by the Anti-Vivisection Society against Dr Ferrier, the well-known experimentalist, for conducting experiments upon living animals without a license under the AntiVivisection Act, has resulted in the acquittal of Dr Ferrier. Outrages in Ireland, which had become less frequent since the passing of the Land Act, are being renewed. The Custom House of Valparaiso, Chili, has been destroyed by fire. The loss is estimated at 100,000 dollars. The Arabs, who for some time have greatly harassed the French forces in Tunis, are now leaving the territory in great numbers. November 20. The thieves who succeeded in carrying £4000 worth of diamonds from the Hatton Garden Post Office, have not yet been discovered. The occurrence of this robbery has directed attention to the fact that many post offices are left solely in charge of women, and there is a great outcry against the system. The Admiralty authorities have directed the detached squadron under ViceAdmiral the Earl of Clanwilliam to visit China, and subsequently India, and their Royal Highnesses Prince Edward and Prince George will both remain attached to the squadron during the prolongation of the cruise. I Mr Fawcett, the British Consul and ] Judge of the Supreme Consular Court at

Constantinople, has directed the release of fourteen English boys who for some time have been enslaved by persons residen in the Turkish capital. The lads are all Londoners.

The selection of Mr Paul Bert as Minister of Publw Instruction and Public Worship in tbe Gampetta Ministry, has occasioned much indignation in France, especially amongst the Roman Catholics.

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