LATEST TELEGRAPHIC

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 387, 12 February 1880, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAPHIC

[from our own correspondent] WELLINGTON. Wednesday, The Royal Commission of Native Affairs commenced sittings at-Hawera this day, at 2 o'clock, when two Commissioners read their commission. The session was formally opened, The preliminary business will be disposed of before the successor to Tawhia is appointed, which will not be for several days.

The Native Contingent of A.O.'s will relieve the garrison at. White' Cliffs so that the latter may be free to be • gin the road-making on the Wairiiate Plains, Everything quiet, A long meeting'of the Executive Council took place at Government House today to deal with various matters which' required attending to before the Governor's departure for Christchurch. The Governor and suite left for Lyttelton by the Hinemoa this.afternoon for short visit to Canterbury. The Taiaroa, with the 'Frisco Mail, will probably be here to-morrow night. It is reported that Curtis, M.H.R. for Nelson, has been offered and has accepted a seat on the Royal Commission on Public Works, LONDON. Feb. 10, Frightful gales, of unexampled severity, have occurred within the last few days in the Bay of Biscay and 'the. English Channel.

The Orient steamer Chimborazo, which left Plymouth with a large number of passengers, encountered a terrific hurricane. The vessel was considerably damaged, and six boats were lost. Four of the crew were washed overboard, and drowned, and sixteen persons sustained

serious injury from being knocked about during the storm, The Captain deemed it advisable to return to Plymouth, and refit, and put back, reaching .that point to-day; with considerable difficulty.

The debate in the House of Commons on the address in reply was continued to-day. Several Irish members vehemently reproached the : Government with having shown apathy to the distress among . i the peasantry of Ireland, and they 'quoted Lord Beaconsfield's speech at the Mansion House, as showing that the Government 1 appeared indifferent: to. suffering that existed, They urged that vigorous atepa miglit.be taken at once, not only to relieve the existing distress, but to introduce such, amelioration'of law as would

I prevent ita:recurrenco.v;3orae> of the ad- ■> \v y 11 , v > ' v i vancedfvEnglish; Liberals joined m the attdck,'but..the leader;of .the party, the and W. E, Foster'defended the Government. .• •The Russian forceshave been reduced by the.disbandment'of 12,000 marines.