NEWS BY. THE SUEZ MAIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5310, 2 April 1878, Page 2

NEWS BY. THE SUEZ MAIL.

THE EASTERN QUESTION. (per arawata at the bluff.) London, February 15. In the debate on the war. vote all the leading men on both sides took part, and there were some warm scenes, strong language being used by both parties, and severe comments being passed upon the policy of Russia. In London enthusiastic meetings in favor of the Government were held at the Guildhall, under the presidency of tire Lord Mayor, and at the Cannon-street Hotel, the Stock and Corn Exchange, at Lloyds, Exeter Hall, Trafalgar Square, and in all the suburbs. "Meetings of 20,000 persons were held at Sheffield, Leeds, and Manchester; and numerous gatherings which took place at nearly all the principal towns pronounced in favor of the Government and the vote for six millions. For several days Lord Beaconsfield was received with a tremendous ovation on reaching the Parliament Houses, and the excitement was greater than any since the Crimean war. Pursuant to orders, Admiral Hornsby’s fleet left Besika Bay on the 20th January, and entered the Dardanelles, proceeding to Chanak, where a telegram was received directing its return to Besika Bay again. The Sultan had granted a firman for its passage. It was not known, however, whether resistance would be made, and all was ready on board to force the passage, guns being shotted and run out, gatling , guns hoisted into the tops, and upper yards sent down. The orders to the Admiral were not to proceed further than Stamboul, but to keep the waterway open thence to the Dardanelles. No instructions were given as to landing at Gallipoli. A telegram had been received from the Russian Government that that town would not be occupied, unless a Turkish army was concentrated. There it was thought not improbable that the lauding of Sulieman Pasha’s troops at Gallipoli would be made by the Russian authority a pretext for seizing the place by a coup de main. The second order for the Admiral to proceed to Constantinople was given on the 18th, when it was decided to take H.M. ships Alexandra, Temeraire, Swiftsure, Achilles, Ruby, and Salamis. The rest of the vessels were to remain in Besika Bay. Numerous State papers connected with the Eastern Question have been laid before Parliament since the opening of the session. The Russians cut the land telegraph lines on the northern shores of the sea of Marmora on the 31st January, and since then the most direct communication between Loudon and Constantinople has been by way of Alexandria and Bombay. Sulieman Pasha’s army, after abandoning Phillipoppolis, which they set on “fire, the flames being extinguished by the Russians, who speedily arrived, retreated southward, hurried by General Gourko’s corps, leaving behind baggage, and even ‘ guns. They succeeded in outmarching the Russians, who had nevertheless during the pursuit inflicted a loss of between four and five thousand in crossing the Rhodope Blountains. They reached the coast of Ravala about 35,000 strong. Transports and men-of-war were at once sent to remove them, and the main portion of the army was taken to Constantinople. About 15,000, however, with Sulieman, were landed in the Gulf - of Loeros, near the. Balair lines. The army that had before concentrated ,at Adrianople returned to Kirkilisaa, and finally to the lines of Boyuke to Herzkendje, abandoning the whole of the intervening country to the advancing Russians, who speedily occupied every post of importance; from the. Midiavor line to Ends, on the Ogen, includingRodosto and Silivofa, en the Sea of Marmora, but keeping about fifteen miles distance from Bulair. A few unimportant skirmishes took place with the Russian vanguard. - After the capture of Schipka, the army of the Lom also advanced, occupying Rasgrad and Osman Bajaz.without.fighting. GeneralZimmerman’s army also moved forward, entering Bazardjik on the 27th January, and Prayardy on the 3rd instant. - <■ ■, After .the retreat of the Turkish regulars, the Circassians, prior to the arrival of the Russians, pillaged and outraged Mussulmans and Christians alike. Even iu Stamboul their conduct was such that the Ambassador requested the Government to send them away. In numerous instances requests were sent even by Turks to 1 the Russians to hasten to Bougas Vailos, to protect the inhabitants. - ■ On the morning of the 20th January the Russian forces before Batoum attacked that town, believing the majority of the garrison had been sent •by sea on to Constantinople. After nine hours’ fighting they were repulsed with, a loss of 3000 killed and wounded, i Large Russian forces still continue to arrive in Roumania, hut are concentrated on the south of the Danube, in. view of Austrian eventualities. ; The Malta and Gibraltar garrisons number 11,457 men. Immense quantities of supplies and war materials are being sent to both fortresses! ‘ : 1 ; Captain Burnaby has published an account of Baker Pasha’s defence of the Turkish rear guard at Ticbtim. At Gumlachura the Bulgarians attempted to poison both Burnaby and Baker, but failed. ■ ■ A London publisher has received a large order for works on India to be sent to the Grand Duke-Nicholas at Orenberg. Of the £6,000,000 rote, half is for warlike stores, provisions, clothing, transports, &c.; £2,000,000 for naval stores,'coal, purchase of ship transports, &0., and £1,000,000 for contingencies. . The Daily News of the 7th published along telegram from their special correspondent at Adrianople, stating that at aa interview with Server Pasha on the 28th the latter distinctly asserted that, notwithstanding the official despatches of the English Government, both Mr. Layard and Lord Beaconsfield had privately, both at the Porte and to Musurus Pasha, promised England's eventual support. The Earl, Mr, Layard, and Musurus have given the most emphatic contradiction to the statement. Server Pasha is also alleged to have said that henceforth Turkey could only look to Russia for countenance, and would accept her policy and alliance iu place of England’s. Typhus fever has been making frightful ravages. On the 30th January there were of, Turkish and Russian soldiers ill of typhus—at Kars, 500 ; Karrankoli, 7000 ; Erzeroum, 12,000.

MISCELLANEOUS. The particulars of the Scottish hierarchy have been published. Dr. Haiti will be Archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, and Dr. Eyre, Archbishop of Glasgow. There will be four suffragan bishops of Aberdeen, Argyle, Dunkeld, aud Galloway. Mr. Herschell has introduced a Bill into the House lof Commons to abolish actions for breach of promise. The Criminal Law Evidence’ Amendment Bill, which allows prisoners to be examined, was read a second time in the House of Commons on the 30th ultimo, by 105 to 76. On the evening of the 4th, when Mr. Gladfitone resumed the debate on the vote of credit, the Prince of Wales, the Crown Prince of ’Austria, and many other distinguished persons were : present. ■ The ' Princess' of Wales was in the ladies’ gallery. In his speech Mr. Gladstone allowed that Russia must be curbed, ! and he opposed the, cession to her of the mouth of the Danube. Mr. Butt’s Land Revenue Bill of Ireland was thrown out on the second reading byj2B6 against SO on the sth instant. A divorce case which lasted a,week, Sir Charles Goring’ being’ the plaintiff, and Lady Goring and a Captain Palmer the respondents, terminated bn the 6th instant in a verdict, amidst loud applause, for Lady Goring. A new bayonet, > four inches longer than the one in use, is being issued to the army.

A. conference of volunteer officers from nil parts of Great Britain has been held at the United Service Institution. The Prince of Wales was present at the Koval Geographical Society’s reception of Mr, Stanley, in St. James’s Hall, on the 7th inst. The traveller was also entertained at a banquet by the society on the 9th. The Pans Geographical Society honored him with their gold medal. . . , Captain Boynton is swimming down the Tagus, from Toledo to Lisbon. The Government have ordered an inquiry in connection with the death of the released Fenian, McCarthy. A rule nisi has been granted for the attachment of Mr. Elwood, M.P., for refusing to his wife the restitution of conjugal rights. Three Eussian war ships passed down the Channel during a fog on the 3rd. _ _ The Court of Appeal upset the conviction ot Bradlaugh and Mrs. Besant, on the ground that the indictment did not set out the particular words objected to in the book for publishing which they were tried. The telephone has been brought into operation between the House of Commons and the Daily News office. Mr. E. W. Hobson, eldest son of the editor of the Derbyshire Advertiser, is the senior wrangler at Cambridge. .. , The Master of the Kolls has suspended two solicitors from practising, for receiving commission from the vendor of an estate when engaged as the solicitors of the purchaser. Sir George Bowyer and Sergeant Symon have brought in a Bill for creating a County Criminal Appeal Court. It is proposed to appoint three Judges, at £SOOO per annum. The Glasgow Water Committee report a savin" of 1,208,000 gallons per day, consequent upon the introduction of the meter system. Mr. Brassey, M.P., at a meeting of the Institute of British Architects, advocated piece work as the only equitable system. Cape news is to the 22nd January. The war was still progressing. The Galekas had been worsted in several engagements, but the Galekas under Handbill bad risen. The colonials have volunteered in large numbers. Oyer 2000 mounted men have taken the field. The Zulu King was still quiet.