ENGLISH NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume IX, Issue 338, 22 August 1868, Page 3

ENGLISH NEWS.

[From the Panama Star <fc Herald, July 21.3 It is said Parliament will probably be prorogued m the third week of July. The clerical petition m favor of the disestablishment of the Irish Church lias been presented to the House of Lords by Lord Lyttelton. The number of beneficed clergymen who have signed it bears a considerable proportion of the whole. Among the signatures are the Deans of Canterbury and Bristol, the masters of Harrow, Rugby, Winchester, Clifton, and the city of London schools ; the master of St John's College, Cambridge ; Professors Kingsley, Maurice, Plumpter and Jowett, and Dr Maziere Brady — at least a hundred of the petitioners are beneficed, clergymen. j A great public meeting and a very uproarious one as the result proved, hns been held m the Guildhall of the City of London, the object being to afford the citizens at large an opportunity of expressing their sentiments m reference to the bill now before Paliament for disestablishing and disendowing the Irish Church. The conspicnous part taken by the Lord Mayor against the measure appears to have given rise to dissatisfaction and adverse comments m various quarters, and an apprehension obtained that it might go forth to the country that tbe chief . magistrate of the city had spoken the sentiments of the citizens at large on this important subject; than which, it was by many believed, nothing could be more erroneous. It is right at the same time to state that the Lord Mayor has since publicly disclaimed his own individual opinions 011 the matter. From beginning to end the factions m the Hall maintained an unseemly and incessant clamour, and the result was that the object of the \ meeting so far as free discussion or the prevailing feeling of the citizens went was rendered useless. The volunteers were reviewed on the 20th June by the Queen m Windsor Park m the presence of an immense assemblage of spectators. The number of the citizen soldiers on the ground was estimated at 27,000. The weather, which at one time threatened to mar the pageant, fortunately cleared up as the hour of four approached, and the showers which fell at intervals during the afternoon only served to refresh the verdure of the grass and tress, and to allay the dust on the roads, this contributing to the comfort of all concerned. It is stated that on the way to the review at Windsor, the Royal train which conveyed the Prince and the Princess : of Wales had a Harrow escape, it seems from some cause or other shortly after leaving the Slough station the Royal train was by some mistake turned on to the up line, and just as it was getting up steam a train of empty carriages was seen coming up on the same line from Windsor. Fortunately the engine ' driver m charge of the Royal train discovered the mistake and took steps to rectify ti, but only just m time to save a collision. An address from a body of influential gentlemen having property m, or connected with, the commerce of the British West India .Islands has been E resented to ex-Governor Eyre at Wal-rook-house, Walbrook Street City. The address which was drawn up m 1866 and offered to Mr Eyre, but declined by him on the ground that the prosecutions against him were still pending, was signed by 240 gentlemen largely interested m our West India Colonies. Mr Ej're made a suitable reply to the address. >y The Queen has sent a-message of congratulation to the King of Prussia on the occasion ot the inaugeration of the Luther monument, m which her -Majesty says that Protestant England cordially sympathises with an occasion which unites the Protestant Princes and people of Germany. A declaration signed by more than twenty thousand clergy and laity of the Church of England has been represented by an influential deputation to the Archbishdp of Canterbury. - It renounced _ all Christian communion with Dr Colenso until lie repented of and abjured his error m denying that large portions of Scripture are the. Word of God, &c. His Grace, m bis reply, said he considered Dr Colenso to be spiritually deposed, but, as the judgment of the Church on that matter had not been expressed distinctly, it was satisfactory to know that the question would receive the immediate attention of the Convocation which assembles to-day. A large fire has occurred at Bremen. The conflagration began while taking cotton samples. The Stephani church, although several times caught by the flame's, was ultimately- saved. The warehouse belonging to the firms of

Fritz, Boyes aud Oetling & Son, con--1 taining cotton and considerable stocks of fine tobacco were consumed. Two large timber-yards were also destroyed. The sparks were carried to the farthest houses m the suburbs. The amount of damage is estimated at a million aud a half thalers, and all the principal insurance companies are involved m the loss. From the official returns just published it appears that the quarter ending 1 , June 30th, there has been as compared with the corresponding quarter last year, a decrease of revenues m Customs of £46,000; Excise, £l7l,ooo; Stamps, £175,000; Taxes, £30,000; making a total decrease of £452,000. On the other hand we have an increase, £692,000 ; m Property tax, and Miscellaneous items, £262,078 ; mating a net increase of £502,677. The net increase on the year is £349,468. Leave has been given to Mr Adderley to bring m a bill to make provision for the appointment of the Legislative Council of New Zealand, and to remove doubts m respect to past appointments. Mr Clive m reply to Sir J. Grey, stated the Irish Church Commissioners had concluded their inquiry ; it would be published as scion as some schedules which were of a complicated and voluminous character had been revised. The report would probably be ready m a fortnight.