EUROPEAN.

Westport Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 3276, 5 December 1884, Page 2

EUROPEAN.

(Received Dec. 1—11.20 a.m.( Loxnnx, November 2d. James French, one of the accused in the Dublin scandals, and who was acquitted, has resigned County Inspectorshipowing to ill-health. An attempt, which proved partially successful, has been made to destroy a house occupied by a land agent in Kerry, Ireland, by an explosion of dynamite. The charge used caused considerable damage to the building, but although the agent's family were on the premises none were injured. So far no arrests have been made in connection with the outrage: (Received December 2—0.50 a.m) December 1. A telegram lias been received from Lord Wolsely stating that Mahdi is short of provisions and his troops are discontented and suffering severely from sickness, and that five hundred of the rebels have tendered their submission to General Gordon. General Lord Wolsely also states that after arriving at Khartoum and relieving the garrison there the British expedition will return by way of Sonakim. (Received Dec. 1—11.20 a.m.) Berlin, Nov. 30. At the sitting of International Conference yesterday a resolution in favor of fre_e trade on the Congo river and in the neighboring country, was adqj ited. (Received December 2—2.30 p.m.) Lon-dox, December 1. In the House of Lords to-day Earl Derby announced that the amendments proposed by the Imperial < toverhmerit in the draft bill to constitute Federal Council of Australasia have been submitted to

the Colonies and an eai'ly reply is expected. Mr Gladstone introduced . the Re-dis-tribution of Seats Bill in the House of ■ Commons to-day. The provisions of the ; measure are as follows : —Boroughs with j a population under fifteen thousand, will I be merged into Counties; those under j fifty thousand will return single members, \ while larger Boroughs will be divided into single member wardships ; while members j for metropolis will be increased by thirty- j seven ; Liverpool, by six ; Birmingham and Glasgow, by four ; and Manchester, by three ; wliile the city of London will be reduced by two. On the whole England gains six members ; Scotland twelve ; Ireland and Wales, unchanged. The Premier announces that after the Bill is read .a second time Parliament adjourns until February next. (Received December 3—l a.m.) December 2. It'is announced that the Right Hon. E. Thornton has been appointed to succeed Lord Dufr'erin as Brit'sh Minister at Stamboul. Sir R. D. B. Moriet will succeed Sir Edward Thornton as Ambassador to the Russian Court. Mr Leonard Courtney, M.P. for Liskiart, Financial Secretary and Treasurer, has resigned, owing to the fact that the Government Bill for the Re-distribution of Seats does not provide for the representation of minorities. (Received December 2—2.30 p.m.) Paris, December 1. M. Ferry has issued a circular announcing that hi France cholera has now entirely ceased. (Received December 3—l a.m.) Washington, December 1. President Arthur's message to Congress urges the extension of neutral laws in order to prevent hostile acts being plotted on American soil against friend!}' nations. (Received November 3—0."45 p.m.) In the House of Lords t --'ay Lord Northbrook, First Lord of the Admiralty, made the promised statement' as to measures which are proposed to adopt with a view to increasing the strength of the Imperial navy. His Lordship stated that the Government had determined to maintain the naval supremacy of England. She now possesses 4(i ironclads, while France, the next naval power, has 31. In view of the constant progress of naval science the Government wished to increase the navy gradually, and for the present only intended to construct four new ironclads, but a number of torpedo vessels will be built without delay. (Received December 3—S p.m.) December 3. In the House of Commons to-day the Hon. Evelyn Ashley stated, in reply to a question, that an amended draft Bill for constituting a Federal Council for the Australasian Colonies would be transmitted to the Colonies this week and the Government hoped to be able to lay the despatches on the subject before Parliament before prorogation of the present session. The ship Birengaria, which left Melbourne for London, on August 9th, wliile proceeding to Sunderland, struck on a rock near Galloper Light, on the coast of Essex, and sank shortly afterwards. The P. and 0. Co.'s steamship Shannon, arrived at Plymouth, to-day, from Melbourne (October 9th). (Received December 4—0.50 a.m.) In the statement, made in the House of Lords to-day, Lord Northbrook also announced that the Government proposed to spend £5,500,000 during the next five years on building and equipping cruisers, and that this sum would be required in addition to the proposed expenditure upon ironclads and harbor defences. (Received December 3—B p.m.) Cairo, December L\ The first of whale boats for conveying troops to the front have arrived at Dong( >la. December 3. News is to hand from Dongola that the Mudir has received intelligence that the Mahdi is dead.