SPECIAL CABLEGRAMS TO MELBOURNE PAPERS.

Kumara Times, Issue 1369, 19 February 1881, Page 2

SPECIAL CABLEGRAMS TO MELBOURNE PAPERS.

London, February 7. At Wakkerstroom, in the Transvaal, where there is a beleaguered British garrison, food is becoming scarce. Two sorties have been made without loss to the garrison.

The next attack by the Boers on Sir G. Pomeroy-Colley's force at Laingsnek id expected to be a desperate affair. The Times holds that the Governraent, by the prompt and vigorous a'ction which is recently adopted in fch'e House of Commons, has crushed the obstructions of the Honie Rule party. Michael Davitt, the Fenian, whose ticket-of-leave has been cancelled, and who has been ordered to complete the unexpired portion of the sentence df 15 years' penal servitude passed upon him for his connexion with the Fenian disturbances in 1870, is being treated with indulgence Sir R. Graves M'Donnell, K.aM.G M who was Governor of South Australia from the Bth June, 1855, to 4th March, 1862, is dead. Mr G. J. Goschen, the British Ambassador at Constantinople, has held a conference with Prince Bisraark, the German Chancellor, at Berlin, which is likely to have an. important effect upon Eastern affairs: A Russian Land League nas been formed. The manifesto which has been issued declares that crime will be resorted to if necessary to attain the ends in view. February 8. The debate on the Irish Coercion Bill has been quietly conducted since the suppression of the recent disdrderly outbreak of the Home Rulers; and is now adjourned. The Irish National Land League suspect that the Government will apprehend Mr Parnell, and advise him td es l cape to America. Intelligence has been received from the Transvaal that the Boers are in sufficient force to threaten a serious invasion of Natal. The latest intelligence received from South Africa represents the situation in the Transvaal and Natal as alarming. The secret correspondence of the Rus-' sian Government with the Ameer of Afghanistan, which was seized by the British on their entry into Cabul, has been printed. It shows 'Russian intrigue in a very bad light. Germany continues to resist the desire of Greece to invade the provinces of Thessaly aud Epirus, with the view of acquiring by force the districts which the Berlin Cdnference recommended Turkey to cede to" her. The steamer Bohemian; S'oM tdns, which trades between Liverpool and Boston, has been totally wrecked off Cudkhaven, a village on th 3 Irish coast, about 60 miles S.W. df Cork: Thirtythree lives we're lost; Reinforcements for Cape Coast Castle will be despatched from the regiments stationed in the West Indies; The Oxford University has conferred the degree of D.C.L., honoris causa, upon General Sir F. S. Roberts, in recognitiou of his brilliant achievements in Afghanistan. February 9. Sir George Pomeroy-Colley, who, since the last engagement with the Boers, has been entrenched at Laingsnek, awaiting reinforcements, has again attacked the Boers at the Ingoge River and defeated them. The British loss numbers 150, including many officers. The Boers lost heavily. Two ships and a quantity of grain, sVigar, and tea, have been burned at the Victoria docks, London.