LATEST AFGHAN NEWS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 237, 17 October 1879, Page 2

LATEST AFGHAN NEWS.

The following special telegrams appear in the Posh— October 11. Intelligence from Cabul states that on the Bth instant, when active preparations were being made for the immediate attack on Cabul, large numbers of Afghaus were found to be entrenched on the heights commanding the city on the north. General Massey, who was despatched with the column under his command to cut off their retreat in the rear, came upon a park of artillery, numbering 80 guns, together with a quantity of stores and ammunition, which it was their intention to have brought into operation on the heights, where their main forces were concentrated.' The movement of General Massey was made with such rapidity and secreoy that the Afghans were quite unaware of his approach, and had left the guns without an armed guard. The artillery and stores therefore fell an easy capture to the British. Almost simultaneously an attack on the front was commenced by General Baker Later intelligence states lhat the Afghans had taken up a strong position in the citadel of Bala Hissar, but being without the support oi the artillery, they had been compelled to evacuate the fortification. The complete subjection of the rebels is confidently expected to take place "immediately. x *„• L „ I3th October. Intelligence has been received from Cabul of the city having been successfully stormed and taken by the British. The attack was commenced from three different quarters While Baker was attacking the city on the south-west, aud Massey was despatched to the rear to cut off the retreat of the enemy General Roberts attacked the mass of Afghans who had taken up their position on the ridge overlooking the town on the north They were driven from that position without much difficulty, escaping to the hills, and leaving 140 guns to fall into the possession of the British. The entrance into Cabul was effected on Saturday, and the Citadel of Bala Ilissar, which was reduced with scarcely any resistance, was occupied within a few hours. I The insurrection is now considered practj- i cally at an end, aud prom.pt measures will be taken to exact reparation for the massacres and substantial guarantees for the future maintenance of peace. It is not known yet whether the towu \yilL be dismantled. ... , Later. A triumphant entry of the combined British forces into Cabul took place on Suuday. The English flag was hoisted at the citadel, and a salute fired. Intelligence has been received that the Guiliaais, a very warlike people, are obstructing the passes between Cabul and Jellalabad attempting to cut off the British communications. It is probable that further fighting will take place with these tribes before the iusuireptiou \a finally suppressed..

A young man who knows all about ie states that his experience has taught him that a flirt is a fool, who delights in fooling fools and the fool who is fooled by such a fool is the foolishest kind of a fool. Salt is of great advantage in strawberry culture. From six to eight busheis to the jj^re sown at thn time of blossoming will be found beneficial, jft kills grubs arid ■ keeps the ground 'moist, Increasing the yield and quantity o* tL l * frnih . The West Coast (says the Hokilika paper) generally bears a reputation of being most prolific in children, but Giiiespie's Beach, near Okarito, will certainly take"the palm for exceeding lv this respect, and would be instanced by Malthus, uo doubt, as a shocking example, if that estimable gentleman were in the iand of the living. There are only nine married couples living at Gillespie's, and no couple has borne the married yoke for more than seven years, yet they have brought into the world no less than fifty ohildre'n. This is increasing and multiplying with a vengeance. •

Mr Woolley and his party retnrned to Keefton on Saturday (says the Inangshua Herald), after having been employed for some weeks exploring the country" in the vicinity of Cannibal Gorge, for the purpose of ascertaining the engineering facilities for a line of railway. So far as having attained the object with which the survey party started, we believe that their labors have resulted most successfully. Altogether the party have been absent about a month, but the progress of the work was much interfered with by the severe weather, but for which it would have been completed earlier. Examination of the country has proved beyond all doubt that a line of railway can be earned on to the Hanmer Plains with a gradient so easy as to require scarcely an appreciable rise, so that in the event of other circumstances rendering it desirable that the coal traffic should be carried by that route, no difficulties of construction would have to be encountered; and so far the problem has been satisfactorily solved to find an easy pass for a line of railway connecting the East and West Coast. The following extract from a letter written by Mr Masters, M.H.R., to a gentleman in Ureymouth, some four or five days before the division took place shows that he had fully made up his mind as to the course he would pursue:— •• I have fully determined in my own mind that the present Opposition is beyond all comparison the best for us and the couutry, and that I must support them. Ihe Government I consider are inclined to hang up the matter of railways altogether, though they tell Keeves such is not the case On the other side, to which I gravitate instinc ■ Uvely, I have the most positive assurances of support to both railways, harbor works, &c, from most of the leaders, viz:-John Hall, M'Lean, Rolleston, Oliver, Atkinson, Ham, and others; these are men whose word you may rely upon without the slightest shadow of doubt. The Canterbury and Nelson members will also give support to railway. I have also had many hours private conversation with leaders upon harbor works and railway, with the view of obtaining a pledge before giving my support. It is extremely unfortunate, and much to be regretted, that there should be this division between the Grey Valley members, and I tried to show Reeves that the Opposition was the proper side for us to take."

A New Plymounth telegram of Thursday last says:— At the native meeting at Punehu on Tuesday, Te Motu, the rival prophet to Te Whiti, addressed an assembly in his t«mple, decorated with carved images, which were mostly draped. He was robed in white ; over his robe were skins, and over these a silk scarf and a Forester's regalia. He preached on the lost sheep and the lost piece of silver, drawing lessons of contentment, and concluded by exhorting to forgetful nesss of all distinctions and the pursuit of unity and peace. The prophet has been fasting, and is very weak. He was very hospitable to his European and Maori guests. The telegraph operators on the duplex cable between Wellington and Blenheim did some rather quick work on Tuesday. Up to 3in the afternoon, 90 messages had been transmitted from both ends ; the speed being at the rate of 3S words per minute. From 3 to 6 m., the messages increased to 130, and the speed to 43 words per minute. Duriug these latter 3 hour?, Messrs Clayton and Kirker were the Wellington operators, and Messrs Wilson and Williams the Blenheim. Dr Talmage is in England " starriug it," aa the theatricals say. He obtains £100 anight, so says his "agent," in reply to a request from a small town anxious to hear the Brooklyn sensationalist. He writes-.— "I have upwards of one thousand letters, all wanting Dr Talmage to lecture for them. Some contain fabulous offers. Now there is but one way of gettiDg the doctor. If your society can afford to pay what larger places offer I may be able to drop out a larger place and give you a date in July. The lowest terms I care to take are £100. I know it is a big price, but Dr Talmage is a big man." A candid confession is made by a writer in the Manawatu Times. In the course of an article on Sir William Fox and licensing, he Bays:— "We do not know whether Sir William Fox has ever been unfortunate enough to be the victim of the degrading vice he holds in such abhorrence. With shame and humiliation we confess we have. In fact we have not sufficient presumption to say that of ourselves alone we would never again succumb to the weakness.", Flostline !~For the' Teeth and Breath — A few drops of the liquid " Fioriline " sprinkled on a wet tooth-brush produce a pleasant lather, which thoroughly cleanses the teeth from all parasites and impuitriea hardens the gums, prevents tartar, Btops decay, 'gives to the teeth a peculiar pearly *hiteaess, and a delightful fragrance to the breath. It removes all unpleasant odour arising from decayed teeth or tobacci smoke. " The Fragrant Floriliie." being composed in part of honey and sweet herbs, is delicious to the taste, and the greatest toilet discovery of the age. Hold everywhere &t 2s. 6d. Prepared by Henry C. Gallup, 493 Oxford-street, London. Valuable Discovert for the tiAiß.— l your Hair is turning grey or white, or lalling off. u«e « The Mexican Hair ftenewer," for it will positively restore in every case Grey or White hair to its original colour, without leaving tne disagreeable smell of most 'Restorers.' It makes the hair charmingly beautiful, as ■well as promoting the growth 'of the hair on bald spots where the glaud * are not decayed. Ask your nearest chemist for " The Mexican Hair Keoewer," prepared by Henry C. Gallup, 493, Oxford-jtreet, London,"and sold everywhere at 3s. 6d. per bottle. Advice to Mothebs ! — Are you broken in your rest by a sick child suffering with the pain of cuttiog teeth ? Go at once to a Chemist, and get abottle of Mrs Winslow's Soothing Syrup. It will relieve the poor sufferer immediately. It is perfectly harmless and pleasant to taste. It produces natural q.uist sleep, by relieving the child from pain, and the little cherub awakes " aa bright as a button. It soothes the child, ie soitens the guine, allays all pain, relieves wind, regulates the bowels, and is the best known remedy for dysen.ery ami diarrliaa, whether arising from teething or other catnes. hold everywhere at Is. l§d. per bottle. Manufactory 493, Oxford-street, London.