BRITISH AND FOREIGN. London, December 15th.

Otago Witness, 25 December 1880, Page 13

BRITISH AND FOREIGN. London, December 15th.

The intimidation of landlords in Ireland by the evicted tenants and Leaguers continues without abatement, and fresh forms of outrage are heard of almost daily, especially against the landlords who have been ostracised by the people of their districts.

The latest form of intimidation by the Leaguers is the prevention of the export of cattle by the landlords against whom they have a spite ; and several cases in which cattle iutendod for export have been prevented from leaving the farms are reported.

The Judges of the Irish Supreme Court have received letters threatening them with murder if they convict the Land Leaguers at their approaching trial for conspiracy.

The Ministry continue to meet daily in Cabinet for the consideration of various measures to be introduced when Parliament reassembles. At yesterday's Council meeting the question of bringing forward an Irish Land Bill was discussed for some time, and the various points of the proposed measures were gone into by Ministers.

Professor Fawcett, Postmaster-general, has now under consideration a project for the institution of a parcel post between England and the Colonies.

December 16th. inrkey has issued a circular note invoking the Great Powers to urge Greece

fco fi'onndon her armament and negotiate instead.

Tne Times, in a leading article, announces that England is willing to join the Great Powers for the purpose of set 1 ling the Greek question if France agrees.

Mr T. M. Healy, who accompanied Mr Parnell on his American tour, and Mr J. W. Walsh, one of the prominent Leaguers who were committed for intimidating a farmer named Manning, and were recently brought uo for trial, have now been acquitted of the charge brought against them.

The barque Melanesia, 1224 tons, which left Port Pirie, South Australia, on the 23rd September for England, liaa pub in to Pernambuco, Brazil, for re-st'>wasje> of her cargo, which had badly shifted. Owing to the danger she was in, part of the cargo was thrown overboard before reaching Pernambuco.

News has been received that the negotiations which have been proceeding at Pekin between M. Butzow, the Russian Minister, .md the Chinese Government for the settlement of questions in dispute in regard to Kuldja territory, are progressing satisfactorily. The deliberations of the Russian and Chinese delegates have assumed a most peaceable phase, and it ia considered there is every prospect of a complete understanding being arrived at by the two countries.

The total reserve in notes and bullion in the Bank of England is £14,250,000. Consols have further declined, and are now again quoted at par. Adelaide wheat (ex warehouse), 50s 6d. New Zealand wheat (ex ship), remains at 445.

There is a fair demand for most descriptions of Australian hides at prices generally about one-eighth of a penny lower.

December 17fch.

Notwithstanding the large additions which have recently been made to the forces in Ireland, the Imperial authorities in that country have asked for further reinforcements in the disturbed districts. Accordingly, more troops are to be de« spatched to Ireland without delay. The arrival of the Orient steamship from Australia with a shipment of Australian fresh meat was made by the owners of the Orient Company the occasion of a grand lunchnou to-day, when the various dishea served consisted of imported meat. A number of guests were invited, including many leading colonists. Sir Julius Vogei, Sir Arthur Blyth, Mr Stanton, and Sir Daniel Cooper were present, and made speeches on the occasion. Sir Daniel Cooper advised steps being taken to steadily develop a trade in fresh meat from the Colonies, without attempting to force its sale in the London market.

It is announced that Messrs Watson and Hughes will be knighted. The total quantity of wheat afloat for the United Kingdom is 2,000,000 quarters.

Best Australian beef tallow per cwt., 33a 6d ; beat mutton tallow, 365 ; best Sydney copra, £16; best Australian leather, lid.

The sum of £10,000 has been subscribed for the defence of Mr Parnell and the other Land Leaguers to be tried in Dublin.

The Government has thanked Admiral Seymour for the manner in which he conducted the movements of the combined fleet when engaged in the demonstration against Turkey for delivering up Dulcigno to Montenegro.

December 20th. Obituary.— 1 he Duchess of Westminster and Frank Buckland.

The Viceroy of Ireland ha 3 prohibited meetings being held in Queen's County, and haa despatched troops there in order to preserve the peace. The Right Hon. G. J. Goschen, ambassador extraordinary to the Porte, haa arrived in London.

The Telephone Company lost the case versus the Post-office on the question of the legality of erecting wires. London, December 21st. Latest advices from the Cape state that the Boers have occupied Heidelberg and formed a republic. Burger has been elected President without violence, the citizens not using any resistance. Three hundred London constables are going to Ireland to assist in preserving order. &

The Postmaster-general is now prepared to establish telephones. Amsterdam, December 17th. The Dutch Government is making preparations for sending out an Arctic expedition. St. Petersburg, December 17th. Four hundred students have been arrested at Mqscow on suspicion of being connected with. Nihilism. Athens, December 17th. Greece has declined to negotiate with Turkey, and England has proposed that the difficulty between the two countries be settled by arbitration on the part of the Great Powers.

up to the Orange Eiver has bean cleared of hostile natives.

December 11th.

December 13bh.