N.Z. MAIL. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 1891. THE WEEK’S SUMMARY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 994, 20 March 1891, Page 18

N.Z. MAIL. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 1891. THE WEEK’S SUMMARY.

The cable news of the past week have been full of exciting events. A seveie blizzard has been experienced over the greater part of England. Railway trains were snow-bound for days, and the whole passenger traffic disorganised. The loss of life from the intense cold was very great. Baron Hirsch has given half a million of money to assist the poor Jews to emigrate t.o America. The Liberal leaders are incensed at Sir C. DilkG’s candidature for the Forest of Dean seat. The Government are still opposing the English Channel Tuunel Bill. A line of fast steamers is being arranged to run from New York to Milford Haven within five days. It is proposed to construct a Colonial Council of Advice. The Times doubtß whether Australia will assist Imperial Federation. A financial panic has set in in Paris, and large failures are reported in consequence. In Newfoundland the fisheries difficulty is not yet settled. The French are building new lobster canneries. There are hopes of a speedy end of the troubles by arbitration. It is feared that a political crisis will take place in Germany before long. The Labour strikes in England, in some cases, show signs of a collapse. The Bank of England is paying a dividend of 5§ per cent, and business is reported to have improved. King Leopold will probably act as arbitrator to the Behring Sea dispute. The Portuguese Have been acting illegally in Africa by seizing a British steamer on the Limpopo river, and the British Government are taking steps to call the Portuguese to a knowledge of their true position in that part of the world. A series of marine disasters is reported. An American man-of-war has been wrecked off the American eastern coast. A British steamer foundered off the Scilly Isles, and tweuty-t,vo lives were lost. The s.s. Fifeshire, a New Zealand trader, has been injured in a collision in the river Thames. A terrible vendetta by Sicilians in New Orleans brought out the citizens in arms against them, and in the riot several of the Sicilians were shot. Their friends vow vengeance, and some considerable trouble is feared. Irish affdrs are still much mixed. Mr W. O’Brien has been declared a bankrupt. Sir M. HicksBeach declares that he still considers Parnell a popular leader. Mr Parnell has issued a manifesto to the Irish Americans, asking them to assist him in quelling the mutiny and disloyalty of the Irish party in England. Mr Parnell says he is contented with the past, and hopes in the future to secure the one min one. vote system. He denies that he attempted to dissuade Mr Davitt from becoming a member of the Labour League. In Sydney the Federal Convention still drags out its weary length. Captain Russell has spoken but little, while Sir George Grey has opened his mind freely on several occasions. Sir Harry Atkinson has not yet spoken at the Convention. Great storms have been experienced lately on the Australian coast, and several steamers have been in peril. In New Zealand, matters have been quite during the week. The Govesnor and Lady Onslow are enjoying, with Lady Scott, a trip to the Hot Lakes. The Governor is penetrating the almost unknown territory of the Uriwera tribe. The death sentence on the Flannagans, mother and daughter, for the child murder at Christchurch, has been commuted, and they will now suffer penal servitude for life.