LATE LONDON TELEGRAMS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5007, 11 April 1877, Page 2

LATE LONDON TELEGRAMS.

The following telegrams from London appear in the Ceylon papers, but have not been published in Wellington : Constantinople, February 26.

The Shah of Persia has assured the Porte that the massing of his troops on the frontier is simply to punish the Turcomans. March 3. The elections commenced yesterday, and Parliament is convoked for the 12th inst. The Cretans refuse to send deputies. London, February 20. The English newspapers are discussing the likelihood of Russia chiefly attacking the Asiatic territory of Turkey in the event of war. Midhat Pasha is staying at 'Naples. February 26. The decrease in Mr. Hardy’s army estimates is due to nominal credit being taken for the whole payment by the Indian Government for the British troops serving in India. Among notices of motion in the House of Commons is one by Alderman McArthur, proposing to call attention to the state of affairs in Ceylon in relation to the ecclesiastical endowments, and to move a resolution. March 3. Lord Hamilton, in replying to a series of questions fram Sir G. Campbell, said that the title of Kaisar, as applied to her Majesty in Indii, was Arabic, and not German. Mr. Gerald Fitzgerald, he also said, had simply . chosen to spend a year’s leave in the Khedive’s service, in carrying out Sir. Goschen’s scheme for the reorganisation of the finances of Egypt. Mr. Hibbert, the Liberal candidate, after a closely-contested election, has been returned for Oldham. The reason assigned for the British fleet quitting the Piraeus is that the state of politics does not require its presence in the East. March 5. The Chefoo Convention remains unratified, and Lord Derby has requested Sir Thomas Wade to prepare a memorandum giving reasons for every concesssion made. March 6. In the House of Commons last night, Sir Stafford Northcote, replying to a question by Sir H. Wolff, said the first reduction in the Suez Canal dues had been postponed till the 15th April. The Canal Company, he said, objects to England voting, because the shares held by the English Government do not bear coupons. Government has protested against this objection, and declares its right t > vote as shareholders. Mr. Ward Hunt estimates the expense of the Navy for the coming year at lOf millions. In the House of Commons last night, Mr. Hardy, in presenting his army estimates, said that the condition of the army was at present excellent, and that would shortly present a plan for the promotion and retirement of officers.