CONTINENTAL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1163, 15 June 1894, Page 31

CONTINENTAL.

Brussels, June 7. Tho Lower House has finally passed the Electoral Bill by 70 votes to 44. Paris, June 6. In the Chamber of Deputies M. Gusset, a Socialist member, challenged the allegations of General Gulliffet, head of the French Army, as te the condition of the troops, and questioned their fighting capacity. His speech provoked a storm of protest from other members, who cheered M. GulJiffet. Paris, June 11. The Vatican has placed M. Zola's new book, describing the pilgrimages to Lourdes, in the Index Expurgatorius. The author has retorted that he considers it a high compliment. Vienna, June 8. Tho city has visited by hailstorms of fearful severity. Half a million windows have been smashed, while parks and gardens have beon devastated in all directions. Telegraph wires were razed during the storm, and buildings damaged. Thousands of birds were caught by the storm, and killed before they could reach shelter. Similar storms passed over Presburg, Obenburg and Croatia. The hailstones were as large as pigeons' eggs, and came down in thick showers. A battery of artillery which was overtaken by the storm in Vienna suffered severely, thirty of the men being disabled and one killed. Several other deaths and casualties are reported. Berlin, June 9. The Government threaten to retaliate if the sugar duties are enforced in the United States. Buda-Pesth, June 11. The Premier, Dr Wekerle, has outmanoeuvred the clerical intriguers who are on the side of the Court, and has re-formed his Cabinet. The Upper House, fearing a popular rising if they offer further resistance, will now pass the CiYil Marriage Bill,

Rome, Juno 11. Tho Czar has promised the Popo to desist from closing Roman Catholic Convents in Russia.