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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5029, 7 May 1877, Page 2

Tub telegram wo publish this morning, giving further intelligence from tho seat of war, shows that active hostilities have commenced in Europe. Tho meaning of tho telegram is probably this : The Russians, as wo have learned, have occupied Galatz and Ismail on tho north bank of the Danube above tho Dobrudseha. A little further south, though higher up the

river than the former town, on the same bank of tho river, is Brahilow, the place which our telegram of this morning informs us has been bombarded. or Ibrail, is a fortified town in Boumania, about ninoty-nino miles from tho mouth of the Danube, and can bo reached by vessels of ordinary tonnage. Wo had previously boon told that Hobart Pasha had run past tho batteries at Galatz with ironclad gunboats, and tho telegram which appears in our issue to-day probably informs us that his vessels have bombarded Brahilow. Tho fact that the bombarding fleet is telegraphed as having boon under the command of a Turk does not imply the absence of Hobart Pasha. He might be the real, the Turk tho nominal, commander, in order to suit the fancies of tho faithful. Such a matter has not been uncommon in tho past, as tho histories of former wars show.

Tho Colonial Legislatures can learn a lesson from tho action of tho British Parliament. In times of State difficulty here the programme is for tho Opposition to unite in giving tho Government all possible annoyance, oven though by doing so they damage tho external credit of tho country. With a war possible it will bo seen that the Opposition in the British House of Commons absolutely refuse, oven at the bidding of Mr. Gladstone, to have disunion in tho National Councils, and to lot any foreign nation think that tho people of tho country are divided in supporting the national honor and the national interests.