LATE CABLE NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6493, 19 December 1881, Page 5

LATE CABLE NEWS.

[Peb Press Association,] (Per s.s. Alhambra vik the Bluff.) [Abotti Spboiais.] LONDON, Deo, 6.

la connection with the enquiry now being prosecuted by the Royal Commission on the defence of British possessions and commerce abroad, the War ones has decided to despatch Lieut.-Oolonel Grossman, Boyal Engineers, to report upon the best means of providing for the defence of Colonial harbours. The importance of Sydney as a point of defence is specially recognised ia Oolonel Grossman's instructions.

At the instigation of " suspects ” confined in Kilmainbam gaol, the candidate standing for Londonderry in the interests of the Irish National Land League, has consented to retire in favour of Sir Samuel Wilson, for the ex* press purpose of endeavouring to secure the defeat of Mr Moore Johnston Solicitor General for Ireland It is now considered that Sir Samuel has a good chance of success. When the result of the election for Lon* donderry became known, the defeated party created a serious disturbance, and pelted the Solloitor*General with stones. Sir Samuel Wilson, on the other haltd, was loudly cheered, and was carried to his hotel on the shoulders of some of bis enthusiastic supporters. He threatens to resort to petition. A rumour which has been extensively circulated, that Italy and Bussia were likely shortly to commence hostilities against Austria, is now found to be purely fictitious. Major-General Wood, who, since the death of General Colley, hoi acted as the Governor of Natal, has been offered the permanent position, with increased salary, in place of Mr Sendall, who has been re-called in deference to the wishes of the Natal colonists. In flagrant defiance of Articles 12 and 26 of the Transvaal Convention, the Boers are endeavouring to ruin Xn(lish traders who remain in the country, by subjecting them to a species of Boycotting similar to that practised in Ireland. !

Two mwiti employed at Brynkiuslt, Lord Hill Trevor’s country residence, Chirk, Den* bighshire, have been arrested on suspicion et having committed a great jewel robbery. The, family jewels which nave been abstracted are estimated to be worth £40,000.

In consequence of recent outrages by slavers, the Philomel has been ordered to blockade the Island of Zanzibar. The Dutch Government announces that it has received assurances from Great Britain that she does not contemplate assuming the sovereignty of Borneo. The authorities have discovered that the Irish National Land Leogue arc endeavouring to perfect their military organisation. Numbers of their adherents are secretly drilled at midnight in various parts of the country by recognised military chiefs. An attempt has been made to destroy the Court-house at Montreal, one of the principal buildings of the city, by the sxplosion of a machine charged with dynamite* The outrage is attributed to American Fenians. , ■ The Convention of Irish-Americans now sitting in Chicago have organised a rebellion fund amounting to 250,000d01, to be expended in assisting the Irish people to obtain their national independence. In connection with the proposed visit of an Australian Sloven to England next season, matches have been arranged with 17 County teams, with the Gentlemen of England, the Universities, the Players of England, and an All England Sloven. It is proposed that the Australian Sloven should receive half the gate money; and the promoters in England ate awaiting the acceptance of the terms offered. , . , An anonymous letter has been received from one of the accomplices in the outrage committed in the mausoleum attached to Duneoh House, Aberdeen, in which the writer confessed that ho was hired by two men, who were strangers to him, to steal the body of the late Karl of Crawford from the family vault, to enable them to leam the art of embalming. Bear-Admiral Sullivan hae been appointed to succeed Sari Olanwilliam in the command of the detached squadron. The trial of the man Tobin, who was was arrested at Middlesborongh, on Deo. 14 on suspicion of boin# connected with tbe Fenian Lodge at Bradford, Yorkshire, is now proceeding. The evidence shows that tbe Bradford “ centre " comprises 260 Fenians.

It is understood that if it i« the wish of tha Zulu people that Getawayo ahould return to hia native country, the British Government will direct his release. Another unsuccessful attempt has been made to blow up the Court-house, Montreal, by moans of an infernal machine. In consequence of the great increase of outrages in Ireland, Government are raising a temporary force of 1000 men who have belonged to the army reserve and who have been constabulary recruits. It is proposed to employ these men in patrolling tip most disaffected districts during the night, with the view of affording protection to properly. Hie Council of Administration in Russia have expressed themselves satisfied that the Turkish Government can offer them a suffialent prospect of ultimately liquidating the war indemnity payable under the treaty of Ban Stephsno, to justify the abandonment of the scheme for obtaining equivalent territory in Armenia. Mr Bourse, the representative of Turkish bondholders, has induced the Commissioners for the liquidation of the Ottoman debt to secure the bondholders £1,6(30.000, which is equivalent to about 14 per cent interest on the nominal amount of the public debt. A number of ofllcials connected with the Imperial Court havo been placed on their trial lor having neglected to toko proper precautions for the safety of the late Emperor Alexander 11., who was assassinated at St Fetersburgh on March 18. Messrs Wigram and Sons, shipowners, Leadonbail street, have entered into contract* <

for the construction of three powerful steamers of 4000 tens each, to bo employed in tho London and Australian trade, A great fire ha* occurred in Minnesota, one of the chief wheat-producing states of tho American Union. Four Hour mill* and one cotton mill have been completely destroyed, end four men perished in tho flames. Tho loss occasioned by tho fire is estimated at £BO.OOO. Hix men have hero been rescued from the ruins of CeU Hook lighthouse, Bontry Bay, which was destroyed during the gales which prevailed on tho Irish coast on Nov. 27 and 28.

[AOB 8r HOI Alß.] LONDON, Deo. 6. The statement that M. Boustan, the ConsulGeneral of France, and Besident Minister at Tunis under the new treaty, bad been superledod in consequence of the uneatiefactory condition of affaire in that country, hae been officially denied. The rumour arose in con* eequenoo of the visit of M, Boustan to Paris to confer with the Ministers, but he will shortly return to his post. A difficulty has ariion between the German Government and the Porte, A German captain woe seized in Turkey and detained for some time, and ho now demands, through the German Government, JS6ODO compensation for outrage. The Porte domm a paying this amount as being exorbitant. Another murder is reported from Ireland. A farmer in Athlono, a town on the borders of the Counties Westmeath and Roscommon, has been brutally murdered, it is supposed, at the instigation of the Land League. Terrible storms have been raging over the Atlantic during the last few days, and it is feared that numbers of ships will be reported lost. Sixteen steamers are overdue from New York, and groat fears are felt for their safety. , The police authorities in Ireland have issued circulars offering rewards for any secret information which may lead to the arrest of persons guilty of acts of sedition. This stop has been taken in pursuance of a determination of Government to nse the most strenuous efforts to suppress the state of terrorism established in Ireland by the numerous outrages committed at the instigation of the Land League. A memorial has been presented to the Home Secretary praying that Her Majesty might be moved to commute the severe sentences of several persons recently convicted of bribery and corrupt practices in connection with the elections at Macclesfield and Sandwich. The Russian Government at St Petersburg has received a memorial from the Governor of Eastern Siberia, urging that emigration to that Province should be encouraged. It is pointed out that much misconception exists concerning the severity of the climate, and assurance is given that persons removing there will be able to establish comfortable homes. The main object, however, of this proposal is that the influx of Chinese into the Province may be checked, as it is assuming proportions which are considered to constitute a serious danger. The Governor requests that in furtherance of this object a grant in aid of emigration may be given. During the excitement of the election contests serums rioting took place in Londonderry.' Antagonistic feeling ran high between the opposing parties, and several persona were injured and one man was shot. The police bad much difficulty in suppressing the disturbances. THb London Press in commenting on the result of the Londonderry election, express great gratification at the victory of the Solicitor-General. The conduct of Sir Samuel Wilson, the Conservative candidate, coquetting with the Land League was condemned, and his decisive defeat, notwithstanding the aid given him by his new allies, is regarded as inflicting a crushing blow to the League, and showing a desire on the port of the people of Ireland to give a fair trial to the new'remedial legislation. Great alarm is felt among the vine-growers in Spain at the progress of the phylloxera, in Catalonia it has been spreading rapidly, and has caused great destruction among the vines. Attention has been directed to the distressing state of affaire in Armenia, owing to the continued postponement by the Turkish Government of the promised reforms by Government in that Province. Settled government has ceased to exist and the Province is in a condition of utter anarchy. Bari Dufferin, the British Ambassador at Constantinople, has been instructed to make strong representations on the subject to the Forte.