NEWS BY THE MAIL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 796, 20 July 1877, Page 3

NEWS BY THE MAIL.

the s.s. City of Sydney arrived at Auckland on Sunday last. The following are some of the principal items of English and war nows, via San Francisco. General Grant arrived at Liverpool on May 28. His reception was most enthusiastic. On the Stock Exchange on the 19th June, prices dcch'ned in consequence of rumors regarding the attitude of England. Lady Stirling Maxwell, better known as the Hon. Mrs Norton, poetess, died on the 15th Juno. She had only been married a few months to her second husband. The engineers, after making geological explorations and soiu dings for the Dover Submarine Tunnel, report the Tunnel perfectly practicable. There is a continuous bed of chalk between the two shores. Since the prosecution of Bradlaugh and Besant, the alleged offensive pamphlet has increased in circulation from 700 to 100,000. News from the famine districts in India is more cheerful. The rainfall has gradually improved the prospects. A New York paper says, the Princess of Wales will proceed as soon as possible to to take up her permanent residence at her father’s Court, Copenhagen. The alleged cause of this serious step is an unpleasantdifficulty in which a lady of title is concerned. In the Chamber of Deputies and Senate a message was presented from M ‘Mahon, asking an immediate dissolution of both Houses. Interpolations were moved, and a vote of want of confidence was carried against the Government by 3G3 ayes to 143 noes. The Minister of Public Works said the Government were indifferent what order of the day passed, when Gamhotta exclaimed, “ Yes, the country will chooso between ns.” The members of the Budget Committee agreed to support the rejection of the budget, if the Ministry refused to resign in obedience to a vote of censure. Public sentiment is strongly against Mac Mahon sitting, and the Chamber of Deputies has boon Very turbulent. In the House of Commons a motion for the abolition of capital punishment was rejeete 1 by 155 to 50. In a robbery from the mail car in transit from London to Paris, bonds to the value of L 70,000 wore stolen.

AM Ki: If AN NEWS. Letters desirous of eliciting‘'information on emigration to Auatrnlm {and New Zealand appear in the .San Francisco papers, and unfavorable and untruthful replies are given in order to discourage emigration. Tho Pacific Mail Go’s splendid steamer City of San Francisco was totally wrecked near Acapulco, on tho coast of Mexico. She was bound for San Francisco from Panama with 137 passengers, and a crew of 100. No lives were lost. WAR NEWS. A largo subscription has been raised at P.orlin for the wounded Russians. Nobles are encouraging tho movement. reinforcements sent from Erzeroum to Ardahan effected a junction with a portion of tho former garrison. The combined force, by a coup da main, succeeded in recapturing the town. The Turks numbered 8000. A Vienna despatch states that Count Schouvaloff has informed Prince Bismarck that tho Russians, as an indemnification for their war expenses, would eventually claim Upper Armenia, as far as Kars. A Turkish monitor has gone down on the Danube with a torpedo. The operation was a very daring one. A Russian officer conducted the torpedo to the Monitor in open daylight under fire of the Russians. The boat was almost submerged by the explosion of the torpedo. Another was struck by a shot. General Totdlebcn, of Crimean fame, has arrived at Sebastopol to take command of tho defences. Popular excitement in favour of war has taken place in Greece and Sorvia. In the latter principality public prayers were offered in the presence of tho Prince, for the success of the Russian arms. In Greece, the King, yielding to the clamours of the people, formed a Ministry possessing the sympathies of the people. Five millions roubles of exemption money, paid by voluntary subscription in Russia for the war, has been accepted. Instructions have been issued to Hobart Pasha to bombard Odessa. Some Bashi Bazouks crossed the Danube, and slaughtered a party of Roumanians. On May 31st Mr Gladstone received an ovation in Birmingham. Business was suspended. 30,000 people attended a night meeting at which tho Liberal loader made an eloquent attack on Turkey. He challenged the Government to dissolve and to test the feeling of the country'. Enthusiastic resolutions were passed, calling on the Government to demand guarantees for the Christians in Turkey. Tho Times correspondent estimates the Turkish army in Europe at 200,000, well armed, but short of artillery and cavalry'. He says tho Danube fortresses have been placed in a wonderful state of efficiency by earthworks on the modern principle, hut there is a total want of military organisation. Prince Gortschakoff’s note to Lord Derby, of which Count Schouvaloff is bearer, states that the Czar does not want territorial increase in Europe, but only desires autonomy for Bulgaria, and the independence of Iloumania and Sorvia. A despatch from Erzeroum states that Mukhtar Pasha’s army is being decimated by sickness. Tho commissariat is in a frightful condition, and the roads are swarming with deserters from the army. Subsequent telegrams arc more hopeful. Twenty battalions of reinforcements arrived from Trobizond. A Turkish detachment entered tho Russian district of Akhalzik, and threatened Russian communication with Ardahan. Three flying columns wore at once sent by Mukhtar Pasha against tho Russian right wing. The Russians not only evacuated Olti, but Pennok, at tho foot of tho pass over tho Suvanli Range leading to Ardahan. Both Olti and Pennok wore rcoccupiod by the Turks, who also pursued the Russians. Three attacks Were made by the Russians against Fort Sinez, erected to strengthen tho defences of Fort Valepach, the key to Kars. The Russians massed round Kars all troops brought from Ardahan, Gonnie, Kagcsman, and Sorikamiche,. For several days they attempted to storm Fort Sinoz and Karadagh, but on every occasion were repulsed. On Saturday they made a desperate effort to take possession of tho heights, whoa the garrison made a sortie with field artillery, and repulsed tho Russians with great loss. There are no Russian soldiers between Olti and Erzeroum. Muktar Pasha’s pickets extend from his camp at Zoowin to Olti on one side, and Erzeroum on the other. At Batoura the Russians are pushing on tho sea works. Reinforcements are greatly needed, and without relief the Turkish troops will become tired out. Turkish officers arc despondent. At Constantinople, affairs arc said to bo in a bad condition. Tho Sultan is morose, and railing against England. People are getting discouraged, and treasonable speech is hoard on all sides. A change in tho administration is likely. The policy of Hobart Pasha is opening denounced. BashiBazouks have committed outrages in Constantinople. Tho Gorman ironclad squadron on their way to tho East have been ordered to proceed with greater speed. A second practice squadron of seven vessels is about to he formed. Tho Amiralty are preparing to enlist additional seamen. No persons liable to service in the navy arc allowed to leave their districts. A Tribune London special says i—“ The attitude of Austria is getting moreaUd more hostile to Russia. Starting out with friendly feelings, and expecting to share in the territorial distribution when Turkey should bo dismembered, she lias since boon driven to an opposite stand-point by internal influence and outward pressure. The alliance of Russia with Germany is one cause of dissatisfaction. Recent overtures Worn made witli England for an offensive and defensive alliance. Prince Milan’s visit to the Czar was in opposition to the express desire of Austria.