FIGHTING AT PLEVNA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 241, 11 October 1877, Page 2

FIGHTING AT PLEVNA.

[San Francisco correspondent iW Z. Times.~\

A London special, dated Poredin August 31, contains the following :— Osman Pasha's attack on the Russian position at Peliset and its vicinity was one of the most hardly fought battles of the war. The Turks early in the fight captured a Russian redoubt one mile south of Peliset. In the course of an hour this redoubt was taken by the Turks, retaken by the Russians and again taken by the Turks. The Russian left wing was driven back on Pelisefc in front of which trenches had been dug, andifc was lined with troops. The Turks advanced as though determined to drive our left out of Peliset, and turn it. The Turks began 10 desceud the hill in that direction, not with a rush, but leisurely, aud without firing, scattered and diffused. They came down about half way in this manner, the Russian artillery tearing up groups of men all the time in the most savage manner. The Russiau infantry fire, which had for the last five minutes been very heavy about Sagalance, now began to roll along the hill crest in our direction, and the Turks who, in wheeling, were just coming into range began to drop' rapidly. The Turkish advance now veered to the left, aud went at the Russiau trenches on the crest of the hills between Peliset and Sagalance with shot. At the same time the Turks descended into a little hollow, aud were lost to sight fop a time, while the Russian trenches flamed and smoked, and a storm of balls poured into the advancing Turks. This lasted fifteen or twentyminutes, during which time a fearful loss of life occurred. Then we saw the Turks bpgin to withdraw, carrying off their wounded. The Tnrks had go sooner withdrawn from the Russian fire than they formed and advanced again. Many dead bodies of the Turks were found within teu feet of the Russian trenches. The little slope ou the crest of which the trenches were situated was literally covered with dead. I counted seven on a space of not more than ten feet square. The battle here was terrible, but the Turks were again repulsed. Jt will hardly be believed that they went at it agaiu. It seemed madness, because we could see that the Russiaus fire never slacked for an instant, aud the Russian line never wavered, while reserves were waiting behind ready to fall in at the least signal of wavering. This scene of carnage was again repeated, but only lasted a moment. The Turks, completely broken, withdrew suddenly, firing, aud carrying off their wounded and many of their dead. They fell back on the reboubt which they had first taken, apparently with the intention of holding it, but were not allowed to remain there long. Their attack on the Russian centre had been equally unsuccessful with that on the Russian trenches on the left. The Russians pursued the retreating Turks with a murderous fire, and then six companies went at them with the bayonet, and swept them out of the redoubt like a whirlwind. At 4 o'clock the Turks were in full retreat everywhere. The Russians occupied the whole of their positions, besides pursuing tho Turks for a short distauce with their cavalry. The Russiaus were about 20,000 strong, aud their loss may be estimated at 500, and the Turkish loss at 2000 killed and wounded.

Miss de Rothschild, the daughter and heiress of Baron Meyer de Rothschild, ifc is said.is causing a small revolution in the family by insisting on managing her own great fortnne in her own way. A correspondent informs the Ballarat Star that he has just received his first mining dividend. He says that he began todig there a quarter of a century ago, is now more than half a century old, and his dividend was just a quarter of a century of shillings. He never had a golden claim, and all his previous mining speculations and investments were losses. Hi 3 first dividend he has given away with the pious hope that he may be repaid a thousand fold.

.The New Zealand Police Force consists of 788 men, of whom 177 are officers of some kind For this financial year the sum of £108,616 is asked for ths maintenance of the force.

In excavating for the stone work of the Graving Dock at Auckland, the workmen came across the timbers of a vessel embedded from eight to niue feet under the present surface. The Herald says that about thirty years ago a vessel which had been wrecked was thrown up on the beach at this place, and after the copper, &c, had been removed, the hull was allowed to remain. In driving the piles for the coffer last year, an unusual resistance was met with at this' place, and one of the piles, on being drawn, after an unsuccessful attempt to drive it home, was found to have a quantity of rope attached to the end of it. Should this be the wreck of the vessel referred to, says that paper, it is evident that the silting of the harbor must be progressing very rapidly, when at least eight feet of hard clay has accumulated over this wreck in the course of thirty years.

Holloway's Pitts.— Pure blood.— When the blood is pure, its circulation perfect, und the nerves in good order, we are well. The«e Pills possess a marvellous power in securing thesi great s.crtts of health by purify iug, regulating, and strengthening fluids and flolida. Holloway'a Pills ein ba confidrntly recunmended to all persons suffering fr.rn disordered digestion, or worried by nervous fantifg, or neuraqic pvn-. They rorrect acidity and heart-burn, disp i sick headache quiijken the action of tlie iiver, and act as alternates and gentle apsrients. The weak and delicate m»y tafce them without fear Holloway'd Pilla are eminently serviceable to invalids or irriuble constitution, as they raise the action of every organ to its naturul standard, and universally exercise a calming and sedative iuflience. 3999