SUEZ MAIL NEWS.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3325, 19 August 1879, Page 2

SUEZ MAIL NEWS.

The weather in the British Islands, and of Europe generally, has been the most extraordinary and unseasonable experienced for many . years past. The crops, everywhere are seriously endangered by continuous rain. There is no present sign of change; everything is very backward. There ;is widespread distress in the agricultural districts, causing a reduction in the rents of all large estates.

Mr Gladstone, reply ing to a letter from the i Warwickshire Tenant Farmer's Association, alluded with favor to the proposal mooted for an, enquiry into the existing agricultural distress.

Mr Bright, in replying to the letter of a ; Scotch tenant farmer on the same subject, says-—" The land question is moving on rapidly—l mean the whole question of progeniture, entail, and settlement of rights of tenants and interests of the public. Bad harvests are the cause of the present pressure and distress, but beyond this is the question of what influence American crops and importations will hare upon England, and indeed upon ; Europe. If we are to belieVe what we hear from the States,, we are, nearing great changes, which will ffffect, not only bnr agricultural but our political condition and institutions, and I can assure you there is a rapidly growing opinion among the leaders of the.Liberal party in favor of a change, in which cultivators of the soil hare a great interest. \ • ... „ Goulson and East, accompanied by Captain Barry, who has.just returned after a long residence in Australia and New Zealand, m. few days i ago paid 'avisit to Arthur t)rton at Portsea Island convict prison. Captain Barry states that he was intimately acquainted with both Orton and Castro, and recognised the prisoner as Tom Castro, ; ; 5 ;