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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5083, 9 July 1877, Page 2

The Chinese Immigration Question is assuming a very important aspect in the Australian colonies. In no instance has a Government withheld sympathy with the Queensland people. The Victorian Premier has declared it to be a question on which it was necessary for the united Governments of the colonies to speak firmly. In New South Wales three motions are before the Legislative Assembly on the subject. In connection with the motion standing in the name of Mr. Buchanan, expressing sympathy with Queensland in regard to the influx of Chinese, and regretting that the British Government should have disallowed a Bill to restrict Chinese immigration (says the Herald), Sir John Robertson has given the following contingent notice of amendment; — “ That this House, having had brought under its consideration the despatch of the Vice-Pre-sident of the Executive Council of Queensland, of date the 20th of April last, and its enclosures, addressed to the Chief Secretary of the Government of this colony, is of opinion that it is desirable, in the interests of the whole of the Australasias, that the Government of New South Wales should represent to the Government in England the expediency of endeavoring to obtain from the Government of China such a modification of the terms of existing treaties between her Majesty the Queen and the Emperor of China as will enable restrictions to be placed on the present exceedingly undesirable flood of Chinese people coming into the Anstralias.” Sir Henry Parkes has also given a contingent notice of amendment, to the following effect:—“That this House, having had under its consideration the despatches and other papers relating to the reservation of the Queensland Goldfields Act Amendment Bill by his Excellency Governor Cairns, desire to express its sympathy with the Government and people of Queensland in their efforts to protect themselves from the danger of excessive Chinese immigration, and will be prepared to support any well-devised and temperate measure calculated to restrict or mitigate the evils to be apprehended from any such influx of Asiatic and African classes. That the foregoing resolution be transmitted by address to his Excellency the Governor.”

Important telegrams from the seat of war were received on Saturday, and were issued as an extra. They show that in Asia the Russians have been completely routed. Telegrams were received yesterday, in reference to the situation in Europe, from which it appears that the Turkish troops have been driven from Sistova. The Bulgarians have risen and sacked the place. Of course, the statement as to the cause of the British fleet being ordered to Besika Bay is one of those diplomatic fictions such as have been frequent between England and Russia lately. The fleet may have been ordered for the purpose mentioned. It remains to protect British interests. Whilst on the subject of the war, we may notice that the current number of the Revue Scientiftque contains a remarkably clear description, based upon information the trustworthiness of which it vouches for, of the roads which traverse the theatre of war in Asia Minor. Four main roads, it states, lead from the Russian province of Georgia to Constantinople. The first of these, however, which, starting from Poti, the terminus of the railway from Tiflis to the Black Sea-, runs along the coast, is only really practicable as far as the Turkish harbor of Batum. Beyond this point it becomes impassable for wheeled vehicles, answering apparently to the description given by a French traveller of the Caucassian highways—•“ use route de poste en Caucasus c’est on il y a ni route ni chevaux.” The other three roads entering Turkish territory from Georgia converge and unite atErzerum,from which latter place again three roads run towards Constantinople. Of the former three roads, the first, passing through Tiflis, runs by Gori, Suram, through the pass of Bordjum, then, entering Turkish territory, continues by way of Ardahan, Olti, and Nariman. With the exception of a little bit near Ardahan, this road is said to be good throughout. The second road, coming from Tiflis by Tsallci and over the col of Godehaur, joins the first at Ardahan. The col of Godehaur is the only difficult part of this route. The third road runs from Alexandropol through Kars to Ezrerum. From Alexandropol three roads branch away, all leading to Tiflis; while atKars the main road bifurcates, the two routes reuniting at Erzorum, whither the one runs through Delimussa, the other by way of Kizil-Kelissa. Two other roads run from Erivan to Kars—the one by Koschevanka, the other by Kaghism ; while two more, starting likewise from Erivan, unite at Bajezid and, running thence by Djadin and Teranos, join the main highway from Kars to Erzerum. Lateral communication between the chief routes which thus lead from Tiflis to Erzerum is afforded by transverse roads from Akhaltsich to Alexandropol, from Akhalkakkai to Kars, from Ardahan to Kars, from Kars to Olti, and from Koprikoi to Nariman.