YESTERDAY'S TELEGRAMS

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1097, 4 January 1878, Page 2

YESTERDAY'S TELEGRAMS

# [BY SUBMARINE CABLE.] [special TELEGRAM JO THE press agency.] Russia Refuses England’s Mediation The Russians in the Balkans. English Feeling Against War. Reported Burning of Sophia by the Turks. London, January 1. Russia has refused Lord Luftus’s proposal of mediation, and states that if Turkey desires an armistice,, she must apply direct to the Russian cPSßWsdepia’oliisi.

General Gourka’s vanguard has occupied 1 the Balkan passes between Arab Knak and Sophia. It is reported at Bucharest that the Turks abandoned and burned Sophia, Midhat Pasha has left Rome for London. The Czarewitch remains in Bulgaria with Q-eneral Todleben as chief of the staff. The Servians are advancing on Pristova. Numerous meetings have been held in England regarding Earl Beaconsfield’s supposed war policy. An anti-war feeling predominates. The San Francisco mail has been delivered [bbuter’s telegrams to the press AGENCY.] London, January 1. The Russian Government, replying to an intimation from England that the Porte is prepared for peace negotiations, declared that if the Porte desired an armistice it will be necessary to treat directly with the Russian commander-in- chief. All English war vessels being refitted have been ordered to be immediately got ready for sea.

Renewal of Kaffir Troubles.

Troops Ordered to the CapeKaffir troubles have been renewed, and the situation is alarming. British troops have crossed the Kei River. The 90th Regiment has been ordered for service at the Cape.

AUSTRALIAN.

The Political Crisis in Victoria. Sydney, January 3. Dr. Somerville, having completed his lour of New South Wales, left for New Zealand to-day. Mr Fitzpatrick, Colonial Secretary, has been re-elected. This completes the Ministerial elections, all having been returned. Arrived —Hero. Sailed—Australia. [Per Tararua, via Bluff.] Melbouene, December 24. The principal event in politics has been the rejection by the Council of the Appropriation Bill. It was thought that the majority would not have exceeded two or three, but its rejection was unanimous, and there was no one to call for a division. The Council stood very firm. Their rights and privileges had been assailed by the inclusion of the payment of members vote on the estimates, and they declined to discuss the merits of the question, but simply voted against the Bill as containing an objectionable item purposely placed in it in order to bounce that chamber into passing it. Nothing is yet known as to the intentions of the Government. Probably no steps will be taken until after the Christmas holidays. There was a great deal of talk about stopping the mails and trains, dispensing with the police and letting loose the prisoners, but all that has ceased, and it is believed that matters will go on pretty much the same as at present and that before long there will be a dissolution. Though the Assembly has adjourned to the sth February, the Council only adjourned till January Bth, in the event of any emergency arising in the meantime by the action ot the Assembly adjourning before the Council. Numbers of important Bills have lapsed, including a Bill for the eradication of the disease in vines and the Toll Bill. All tolls therefore now cease at the end of the year. All hope of a conference between the Houses on the Railway Bills is at an end, the committee of both Houses showing no inclination towards a compromise Sir Samuel Wilson’s salmon experiment is so far very successful, and the young salmon have been deposited in their new home with a very small percentage of loss. A man named Smith, yesterday evening, accidentally shot his wife dead, at Yarraville, while examining a loaded pistol. Four theatres are now open in Melbourne, and Bailey and Cooper’s Circus opens on Thursday. Owing to the news from home the Cerberus has been properly equipped and placed on a war footing. The Indian Famine Fund closed at over £26,000. The International Exhibition project has been finally abandoned.

INTERPROYINOIAL.

[per press agency.] Auckland, January 3. The bar of the Globe Hotel, Wakefield street, was broken into and £l2O stolen. The thieves have not been captured. Geahamstown, January 3,

The Premier and the Hon. Native Minister visited ’the Thames yesterday, and transacted business with the Borough, County, and [Harbour authorities. They left in the Hinemoa last night for Tauranga, intending to call at Coromandel. The Hon. Mr Sheehan is suffering from a broken rijj, which prevented him from carrying out his intention of proceeding to Tauranga via Ohinemuir. New Plymouth, January 3.

Great anxiety is beginning to be felt as to the crops, owing to the scarcity of labour in the place. The immigrants by the last vessel were all absorbed and more are required. Wellington, January 3.

The Customs duties collected during the last 'four years were —For 1871, £124,706 ; for 1875, £153,825 ; for 1876, £162,346 ; for 1877, £177,386. Masteeton, January 3.

Mr Beetham addressed his constituents, reviewing the events of the session, and explaining why he supported the Atkinson party. A vote of thanks and confidence was unanimously passed. Hokitika, January 3. The Union Bank shipped 3167 ounces of gold by the steamer Alhambra. The first prize in Evans and Hansen's sweep on the Champion Stakes was won by a miner named Gidden at Kumara; second prize won by Leartnonth and Co., Hokitika ; third by Marks and Groves, Hokitika. Geeymouth, January 3. The customs’ receipts for 1877 are £11,116 11s, being an increase of £IB6Q 13s on the previous year. The gold exported during 1877 was 80,250 ounces, value £320,920, showing 1 an increase on the previous year of 11 010 ounces, value £15,210. Mr Woclcock has addressed his constituents. There was a sjno.il attendance. He received a vote of confidence. Oamaru, January 3, it a meeting of the committee of the North Otsgo Coursing Club, to-day, it was resolved the first coursing meet% ihoulfi held

on May 21st, the second on June 18th, and Waterlow on January 16th. A sub-com-mittee was appointed to prepare a programme. Dunedin, January 3. The Hon. Mr Reynolds will address his constituents early next week at Port Chalmers. Mr W. A. Young is about to stock the Shag river with a portion of the consignment of American salmon, lately received by the Christchurch Acclimatisation Society, Thirteen criminal cases are down for trial at the Supreme Court on Monday next, forgery and larceny being the principal crimes. In Cameron’s “Consultation,” on the Melbourne Champion race, the winners are all Dunedin men. Bight thousand persons visited the Caledonian sports yesterday. Five thousand travelled by rail. [from the correspondent op the press.] Dunedin, January 3. The “ Star’s” special reporter, who has been personally over the lines, says there is no difficulty in opening the northern section for traffic as far as Palmerston by the end of February, and the whole line by the middle of April. The Balclutha section will be ready for passenger traffic on the 10th inst. There is considerable activity on all save the Kartigi sections. Mr W. H. Gaw, of the Central Department here, has been promoted to the head of the Goods Department at Christchurch.