GENERAL SUMMARY.

Timaru Herald, Volume X, Issue 415, 19 May 1869, Page 2

GENERAL SUMMARY.

Loxuo.v, March 26. Tlie Queen visited London and held a levee, council, and drawing-room. iSlie visited the Zoological Gardens and Kensington Museum. Prince Leopold has recovered. On the 15th March Mr Newdgate's motion to reject the Irish Church Bill was brought on, but was not supported by Mr Disraeli. The motion was rejected, after a noisy debate, by 355 against 2-9, and the House went into '. Committee. On the 10th March Mr Disraeli's , amendment to omit clause 2 m the Bill was rejected by 244 against 221. Mr Disraeli gave notice of other amendments. The debate on the second reading terminated on the 2ml of March. Mr Gathone Hardy, and Mr VValpole strongly opposed the dises--1 tabiishmeiit of die Irish Church. Mr Hardy said that the policy of the Government was disuniting, instead of assimilating England anl Ireland. Mr Gl.idsfonn ably defended tlie poiicy, and gave notivu ot a im-usure, the de- , tails ot which would, however, be subject to modification wh«n the H^use went into co uniiifeo on the Bill. Tlie secon.l reeling w.is afWwirds passed by a majority o.'lls vo^-s, -iO! having' voted for, and 2oJ agiuijt the motion. Mr Chichustcr Fortescue announced that no further Fi-ui^u convicts would be release.! than those already determined upon. Mr Lowe's financial statement shows v revenue of £?2,.555,000. The expenditure, i;iincluding the cost of the Abyssinian war, was stated at £<J8,22:3,0(JU. He proposes to deduct Id from the present income tax, to repeal the duty on fire insurance, and reduce several other taxes. The Budget was favourably received. The negotiations between France and Belgium have made little progress. The proposals made by Belgium were declared unacceptable by France. Mr Eastvviclc postponed the motion relative to Central Asia. Mr Gladstone said the discussioii was inopportune, considering that no engagement had been entered into by the ludian Government to pay an annual subsidy to Ameer, Afghanistan. Friendly comluunicatious, he said, had been exchanged with .Russia. The Italian Government has presented a Bill for the purpose of reorganising its army ; the .maximum strength to be 02,UU0 men, and the active strength 4UU,UUU men. Russian sailors are now granted an unlimited furlough. Turkey and Persia have agreed to refer their differences to a mixed Commission. The Nawab of Bengal has been received oy the -fcjuiperor .Napoleon. A plot to assassiuate the Viceroy of Egyj't, by placing an exploding macnine under his box m the theatre, was discovered. The Orieutal Bank has declared a halt-yearly dividend of 6 per cent. The Chartered Mercantile Bank of India, Australia, and China has declared a dividend of ti per cent. The Government has introduced a bankruptcy bill, based on the Scotch* system. A bill, increasing Lord JVapier's salary, has passed the House of Commons. A bill has been introduced to repeal the Brazilian Slave Trade Act. The House of Commons has appointed a Select Committee on Elections, to ascertain whether a system of secret voting cannot be devised equivalent to the adoption of voting by ballot. Messrs Kingslake and Vanderburge have been unseated for Bridgewater. Sir Henry Edwards, and Captain Kinnard has been unseated for Beverly. Mr Weguelin was declared duly elected for Youghal. The Beudley election was won by Cunliife. Oldbam and Dover election petitions were withdrawn,

Messrs Clive and Wyllie have been unseated for Hereford. Sir Sydney H. Waterlow, member for Dumfries, lms been declared disqualified to sit m Parliament. Tbe Blackburn elections were annulled. Mr Miall was elected for Bradford. The bailiff of Lord Antrim was assassinated at Donegal. Several Irish Fenian convicts have been released. Mahony is to be detained until his sentence has expired Sir John Lawrence has received the title of Baron Lawrence of Punjaub. A strike has taken place amongst the Preston operatives. The opening 1 of the Suez Canal took place on the l?th March, when the waters of the Mediterranean Sea were admitted. The Admiralty officials who were charged with receiving money from tenders have been committed for trial. Mr Starfield is the new official assignee, m the place of Mr Edwards, who was dismissed. The Indian budget called forth some criticism ot an adverse character from the Liberal press. Mr Veruor Hnrcourt was elected m place of Whewell to the Professorship of International Law, Cambridge. A second submarine cable is to be laid between Sicily and Malta. Captain Tyler is inspecting the railway between Susa and Brindisi, with the view of accelerating the despatch oi the Indian mails. Failures are announced m the cotton trade of Lancashire. Seventy miles of the Persian Gulf Cables, which was thrown overboard, has beeu recovered. The Duchy of Lanerberg is now incorporated with the Russian Kingdom. The steamer Cambrea was wrecked on the coast of Sicily with a loss of '20 lives. The Scarborough Radicals invited Mr Milner Gibson to oppose Mr Harcourt Johnstone. Mr Gibson declined. Great Warwickshire Handicap won by Lord Calthorpe's Knight of the Garter. Grand National Steeplechase, Liverpool, won by Weirgnn's Colonel. An inquest was held on the body of Emerson Tennent. The jury returned a verdict of death from apoplexy. A buttle took place at Cuba, between the troops and 4000 insurgents, which resulted m the defeat of the latter, who had been aided from New York. The Emigration movement m England has acquired considerable importance from the growing distress of the working classes. A meeting was held m the Agricultural Hall, London, advocating Government aid. The cotton operatives joined the movement. The Q-ieen has contribute-1 £150 to the Eminigration Fund. The proposed line of sfearners via the Cape is approved of; but. numerous protests have heen made against mixing postal services with tlie new line. Arrangements have been made for the sale of preserved Australian meat at eighty shojis of the Bread Company of London. Mr Frond*' line been installed Rector of iSf. Andrew's University. A testimonial of £'>H)()0 was preseii'ed fo Mr Roebuck. Tlie Bishop of London is not disposed fo continue- proceedings against the Rev. Mr Bennett oi FroniH. Murphy riots have taken place at North Shields. Two hundred Irish Catholics were armed with bludgeons, the military were called out, and serious injuries inflicted. Some atrocious murders have been committed m Ireland. Sir Roger Tichbourne the Australian claimant to title and estate (lately reported murdered m South America) has returned to England. An action will be tried on the earliest possible day. Obituary. — Earl of Wicklow, Earl of Glasgow, Lord Lincolnfield, General Ormsby, Sir William Clay, Lord Wyntbrd, General Jutniue, Sir John Peter Boileau, Duke Christian ot Schleswig Holstein, Stephen Simpson, and the Earl of Radnor. A terrible explosion has taken place at some chemical works m Paris. Numerous deaths resulted from the catastrophe. Don Ferdinand, of Portugal, has positively refused to accept the Crown of Spain. There is a growing friendship between Berlin and Rome. Four German vessels are preparing for the polar expedition. The Emperor and Empress of Ausstria visited Crotia, and were received with marked enthusiasm. The united flag of Austria and H ingary is now adopted by the merchant vessels of both cou n tries. Negotiations for a treaty of commerce between England and Austria is progressing favourably.