THE Thames Advertiser. MONDAY, AUGUST 16, 1875.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VIII, Issue 2122, 16 August 1875, Page 2

THE Thames Advertiser. MONDAY, AUGUST 16, 1875.

A long summary of English news, compiled by our Auckland correspondent, will bo found in another column, together with cable messages from London, received via the Bluff., It will be gratifying to many people, in New Zealand, to find that Mr Plimsoil has at length succeeded in getting a Bill passed to prevent unseaworthy ships from proceeding to sea. His first Bill was opposed by the Government, who promised to deal with the matter, but failed to fulfil their ptomise. This annoyed Mr Plimaoll greatly, , and we recently heard of tbo introduction of a second Bill by him into the House of Commons. This was also thrown out through the opposition of Mr Disraeli, and tho Government decliued to deal with the matter. Meetings were subsequently held in Exeter Hall, and in other parts of England, and a few weeks since we were informed that the British Government had teen compelled to take up the matter owing to the pressure of public opinion. Mr Plimsoll, on one or two

occasions made use of some rather strong expressions in the House of Commons, but his facts were so startling that the language was fully justified. Ho appears, however, to havo gone a step further, and tho

Government brought down a motion to reprimand him. Ho apologised to the House, and tho motion was withdrawn. But the British sailor is now protected againsb dishonest shipowners. . Storms have been raging in various localities on tho Continent, and a frightful volcanic eruption has occurrcd in Iceland. At Toulouse, in France, there was a large loss of lifo through a flood. In Iceland an extinct volcano suddenly burst into activity, aud devastated the country for twenty miles round. It ceased,?and another one opened a hundred miles away, and devastated the country for fifty miles around. Several hundred people I perished, and ten thousand persons woro rendered. homeless. Farms, villages, aud towns have been buried or destroyed, and the famous geysers havo heen dried up. It is [ stated to havo been the " most widely-extended vol-1 canic action ever knowu in tho world. 1 Tlie last great eruption In this island occurred in 1783. It was accompanied by violent wind aud rain, and dried up twelve rivers and completely destroyed tweuty-ouo villages. But the eruption then was confined to one mountain. Mr Be'echer Is deolarod to bo innocent by public opinion, His stipend has been raised to £20,000 a-yoar, but tho trial has cost him £15,000. Three of tho jury are said to have been tampered with. Messrs Moody and Saukey have left London, and their work has been recognised as benefioial by a.largo number of ministers. Tho Carlist war is almost over, and tho rebels are likely to bo driven Into France.