NEWS BY THE MAIL.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 53, 31 July 1874, Page 3

NEWS BY THE MAIL.

We take the following telegrams from the “ Argus ” : INDIA AND THE EAST. Ceylon, July 2. The Colombo Harbor Loan Bill has passed through Parliament, by which the Lords of the Treasury lend the Ceylon Government £250,000 at lire per cent, to cover interest and repayment in 35 years for the construction of the breakwater and other works, which will cost altogether £050,000. Sir John Goode’s staff oi' engineers has now arrived, and active operations will be commenced as soon as the force of the southwest monsoon has abated.

Governor Gregory returns to Ceylon in August. At the Colombo gasworks it has been proved that Australian coal is far better suited for gas purposes than English kinds.

Potatoes are at present selling in the Colombo market at Od per lb. Coflee is rising in price, and is expected to go as high as it did towards the end of last

year. A united conference of Christians of all denominations has been arranged to be held at Colombo this mouth. The latest news from India is re-assuring. Favorable rains had fallen, the crop prospects were good, and all danger of widespread famine was at an end. The Government had begun to take steps to guard against the ill effects of pauperisation. Some of the relief works were costing far too much. The numbers employed still remained very large, but would be gradually reduced.

The Home Government considers that Sir P. Wodchouse did not act promptly enough in suppressing the Bombay riots, and his recall is not unlikely. Dr Beatson, head of the Indian medical service, has died at Simla : Dr Inglis succeeds him.

Affairs iu Affghanistan are threatening, and attract attention. Russia's attitude towards China and Turkestan, too, is not very assuring. LATE SPECIAL TELEGRAMS. London, June IG. In the House of Lords last night Lord Halifax, in reviewing the provisions of the New India Council Bill, expressed a doubt as

to whether it would be found effectual. Lord Stanley believed that the result would bo to prevent much wasteful expenditure in India. The Marquis of Salisbury' considered it was necessary to check unsatisfactory expenditure on public works in India, and that the remedy was supplied by the present bill, which had been approved by the Karl of Mayo. Lord Lawrence recommended the postponement of the bill until the Government had obtained the opinion of the Viceroy. The bill was read a third time. June IS. In the House of Commons, Mr Fawcett moved that, it was inexpedient to proceed with the Indian Council Bill until the correspondence between Lord Northbrook and Lord •Salisbury had been produced. June lib The report of the Royal Commission appointed to enquire into the grievances of officers on account of the abolition of purchase was published to-day, and is a very leugthy document. It recommends the removal of the prohibition against exchange, but that officers on leaving regiments should bo permitted to retire on full pay, and should be allowed the bonuses paid under the order system. The commissioners recognised the justice of the grievances of officers of infantry regiments who arc debarred from selling the commissions obtained without purchase, and recommends a scale of compensation to them, but considers that officers of the guards and cavalry, except those who have risen from the ranks, have no claim. The commissioners recommend that the infantry captains promoted should be allowed to sell for the regulation value of the commissions they obtain without purchase after five years’ service in that rank with the over regulation value of their former commissions. They also propose a graduated scale of compensation for officers below the rank of captain on half-pay. June 21. The recent strike of 7000 iron miners at Cleveland has terminated, the men having accepted the masters’ terms of 12', per cent, reduction on their former wages.

Both Houses of Congress have finally passed the Currency Bill, which limits the number of greenbacks in circulation to 382 millions. No provision is made for the resumption ot specie payments. June 25.

Owing to the maltreatment of Persian pilgrims by the Turks, the Persians have attacked the Turkish frontier garrison, and refused to surrender some Turkish nobles who escaped into Persia, and were subsequently made prisoners. The Porto threatens force unless its demands are complied with. The position is very critical. In the House of Lords last nignt, the Harbour of Colombo Loan Bill was passed. Lord Carnarvon explained that it was considered advisable to make Colombo a harbor of call for steamers, instead of Gallo. The House of Commons, by a large majority, has voted the funds for the new administration of the Gold Coast.

The Marquis of Salisbury ' was yesterday examined before the Indian finances committee- lie said nothing justified the view taken of Indian affairs, that India was insufficiently represented in the Cabinet, because the Secretary of State for India was only one among several members. He said there were actually three Cabinet Ministers who had formerly been Secretaries of State for India. Measures, he said were occasionally taken by the War Office, without consulting the Indian Office, but such occasions were rare, and were not inconvenient to the India Office, since they generally obtained information from other departments. He, however, said that constant vigilance was necessary against the danger of other departments encroaching upon the rights of the Indian exchequer. The only objection to a standing of officials for investigating important matters consisted in the difficulty of getting a competent chairman. In conclusion, he attached great importance to the sympathy shown by the House of Commons for the welfare of India.

Paris, June 211. Marshal MacMahon reviewed 70,000 troops in the Bois dc Boulogne yesterday.

The Grand Duke Constantine and three Russian generals have arrived at Vienna, The “Nord,” of Brussels, alleges that the object of the visit is to congratulate the Emperor on the anniversary of the Battle of Eaab, when the Hungarian insurgents were defeated.