(Special to Asoua.

Otago Witness, Issue 1555, 27 August 1881, Page 11

(Special to Asoua.

The speech made by Mr Gladstone at the recent Ministerial bauquet, in the Guildhall, has been favourably received in Europe. Sir Barfcle Frera haa ntated publicly that the recent speeches of Mr Gladstone with reference to the British Colonial polioy are having a moat disastrous effect in South Africa. Another iufernal machine has been discovered and seized at Dundee. Late reports from Hindostan state that the crops around Bangalore and in Mysore generally are withering, and that the prospects of the food raised being sufficient to supply the wants of the population are very bad* A Fenian convention, attended by numerous delegates, is sitting at Chicago. The policy of the coavention, and the objects it seeks to obtain, are declared to be as follow : — The independence of Australia j resistance to the payment of taxation for the purposes of the Government of India; the annexation ef Canada by the United States ; the formation of a republic at the Cape of G«od Hope, and the federation of the British Isles. An expelled faction of the delegates who were in favour of employing dynamite in carrying out the objectß of the convention met, and passed a series of resolutions which the convention refused to adopt. Subsequently the dynamite faction rejoined tha convention, but the harmony of the procaedibgs was again disturbed by the exhibition of a sample of a dynamite machine. There is also a dispute among the delegates concerning the funds of the convention. The death is announced of Dr John Hill Burton, LL.D., F.RS.E., the historian and biographer, at the age of 72 years. Ayoub Khan's treasury ia reported to be exbauated , . Tha Tekke-Turcomans, who gave in their submission to General Skr>beleff in February la3t, now disown Russian rule. London, Auguat 13th. M. Gambetta, in a public address at Belleville, repudiated the allegation that he was aiming at the dictatorship of France. In the course of his speech he advocated^ reform of the magistracy, and reform in relation to church taxes. As to the foreign policy of France it should, he insisted, be dignified and firm.