LATEST ENGLISH NEWS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 36, 11 February 1881, Page 2

LATEST ENGLISH NEWS.

RUSSIAN TREACHERY IN AFGHANISTAN. SEVERE FIGHTING AT THE CAPE. DEFEAT OF THE BOERS. London, February 8. Arrived, shin Lyttelton, from Port Chaltncts, sailed November 15 ; Crusader, from Lyttelton, sailed November 19; Helen Denny, from Auckland, sailed November 6. According to official documents which have been published, General Sir Frederick Roberts discovered, while in occupation at Cubul, a secret treaty for an offensive and defensive alliance signed between Russia and the Ameer, dated August, 1878, also a letter from the Russian Geueral, Skobeloff, dated October of the same year, advisiug Sherc AH to sue for peace with England, but at. the same lime to secretly prepare for war. Other papers which were found, moreover, show that the Russian policy included measures to incite an tinned rebellion of the Mahornmedans in India. February 9. Iv the House of Commons last Light the Irish Coercion Bill was read the second time on a division showing a majority of 300 for the Government. Capetown, Feb. 8. Further news to hand from Natal states that since the stoppage of the mail between Lingsackand Newcastle, Sir George Colley has despatched. a forca to clear the road of Boers. February 9. Later further official intelligence from the Transvaal states that Sir George Colley is advancing with his force to clear the road lo Newcastle. He seized the plateau of Ingogo, when the Boers made a strong attack on the position, and heavy fighting ensued, lasting fully six hours. Both sides suffered severely, but the enemy were finally repulsed with heavy loss, and withdrew at sunset. The British troops then returned to camp, where General Colley hopes to maintain his position until the arrival of reinforcements. Later intelligence from Governor Sir George Colley in tho Transvaal announces that his force has successfully attacked and defeated a large body of Boers, whom it encountered between Newcastle and Ingogo The British loss in the fight was 150 killed and wounded. The enemy suffered very heavy loss, but the extent is not stated. General Colley expects to be able to maintain hia position in Trausvaal until the arrival of reinforcements from Durban. Intelligeoc c has been received from Panama that the first batch of engineers has arrived and that preliminary operations in connection with the construction of Isthmus Canal have been commenced. Constantinople, February 9. The Porte has decided to raise an internal loan and levy a poll tax to defray the cost of the last war.

(SPECIAL TO MKIyBOURNE AGE). London, January 25. I Duriug the past few days tiic police at Chelsea and Windsor have received secret, but apparently trustworthy, information that Fenians were maturing plans for outrages. At these two places the constabulary, there--£~rcrTisvTi~mM raicreasMTaira" ot'ner " pre^ cautionary measures taken by the authorities. The Boer leaders have made overtures to several prominent Zulu chiefs to join them, but none as yet has shown any symptom of dissatisfaction, and every precau ion is being taken to prevent a rising in Zululand. January 27. Several shocks of earthquake have again been felt at Agram, the capital of Croatia, Austria. Numerous meetings are being held throughout the United States for the purpose of expressing sympathy with tbe Irish Land League. The meetings are attended for the most part by the Irish section of the population, and not much importance ig attached to this movement. January 29. It has been decided to introduce a clause into the Irish Coercion Bill, making it retrospective in its operations. Tbis will enable the Government to arrest and imprison persons guilty of crimes committed prior to the passing of the Act. The death is announced of Lieut.-Colonel Lyater, of the Bengal Infantry, who, for bis distinguished service in the field during tbe Indian Mutiny, received the decoration of the Victoria Cross in 1858. (Neios Special.) London, February 1. The greatest alarm, amounting almost to panic, prevailed on receipt of information by the police which led to the belief that au attempt was about to be made by EeDians to destroy several more prominent public buildings in the city. These have now been placed under strong guards of both military and police, and up to the present time no violent acts have been committed. News of a discouraging character has been received from Sir George Colley concerning the Boer rebellion. His Excellency reports that the Boers have been largely reinforced, and now accordingly outnumber all the available colonial troops. The report that the Boers are guilty of atrociously butchering wounded colonials who fell into their hands has been officially contradicted, and it has been ascertained that they treat their prisoners humanely; their attitude, however, is entirely warlike. At the meeting of the Union and English, Scotch, and Australian Banks, the shareholders were jubilant at the satisfactory reports presented.. Latest advices from Natal state that the Basuto rebellion is practically crushed, and the hostile tribes are now suing for peace. Cablegrams from St Petersburg state that General Skobeloff, the Russian commander of the expedition against the Tekke Turcomans, after the victory over the enemy at Geok Tepe, pursued them to Askhaf bad. Her Majesty Queen Victoria sent a cable message of condolence to Governor Colley upon the recent reverse sustained by the British troops in the Boer rebellion, and the serious loss by the deaths of so many officers on his staff, mentioning especially Colonel Denne and Captaiu Inman. The message contains words of encouragement and hope.