ARRIVAL OF THE SUEZ MAIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 534, 1 May 1878, Page 2

ARRIVAL OF THE SUEZ MAIL.

London, March 15. The Queen is at Windsor, and will shortly proceed to Osborne. The Duke of C° nn aught has resumed military duty at Dublin. The Admiralty Court has fixed, the Cleopatra Needle salvage at £25,000. . Pease’s Bill for the abolition of capital punishment was defeated in the Commons by 263 to 64. ; • '■ General Sir A : . Barton succeeds Sir Von Straubenzee as Governor of Malta. ■ Colonel Arbuthnot, Conservative, has been returned for Hereford by XIIO votes, against 1066 given to Mr. Pulley, the Liberal candidate. ■ The intended marriage of the Duke of Genoa with the sister of the Queen of Spain is announced.

. Oliver Pain, who escaped with Rochefort from New Caledonia, is stated to have been captured and shot by the Russians. The DepriStes Ministry has been broken up through domestic scandal in connection with Signor Crispo, who repudiated his first wife on the ground that the marriage, had not been thoroughly legal. Crispo married again. In consequence of the great outcry he resigned his seat in 'the Ministry. ; Signor Oaroli, an opponent, was elected President of the Chamber, and on the resignation of Crispo’s Ministry was called upon to form a Government, and has succeeded. Scandals have come to light in connection with the management of: the French Military prisons. i . The Shah.of Persia starts for Europe on the sth April. 1 - • During the last sittings of the Turkish Parliament public ; affairs were discussed with great freedom, both Christians and Mussulmans joining in exposing the faults of the administration. On the prorogation several of the prominent members were exiled to Asia Minor. •

Fifty thousand Russians are to remain in the new principality of Bulgaria for two years, until the national militia is organised. •

Communication with : Russia will be maintained by sea from Varna and Bourgas.

The obstructions at the Sulina mouth of the Danube are being cleared away. All Mussulmans who have quitted Bulgaria can return to their homes. The Prince of Wales arrived in London oh the 4th inst. from Paris, where he had spent eight days, during which he visited for several hours daily the Exhibition, and greatly interested himself in the colonial portion, and secured an increased space for Victoria. On the sth Major O’Gorman’s Bill for assimilating the municipal franchise of Ireland to that of England was defeated by 167 to 162, owing to the absence of a number of Irish members—twenty-four Home Eulers were away. Eesolutions condemning their absence on this and other late occasions have been passed by the Home Rule Party. The Duke of Cambridge, when presiding at a meeting of the Woking Orphanage on the 9th, spoke highly of the recruits for the army. , At a meeting in St. James’ Hall resolutions were agreed to in favor of the release of the remaining Eenian prisoners, and three of those recently set at liberty described their prison experience. A trial, exciting much interest, has been held, in which the Kev. James E. Brace recovered £59, being one year’s premium of life insurance paid to the Albion Insurance Company with the object of obtaining a loan of £ISOO from a mau who, it was proved at the trial, used to receive half the premium' from the company, loans never being granted. Two serious colliery explosions have occurred; within the last week. One at Kilsyth, where about eighty men were below, resulted in the death of eighteen men and injuries to a number of others. There was an explosion at Crook pit, near Bolton. All the men in one of the workings (forty-four in number) were killed.

Several oases of fraud upon banks through, the removal by chemical agency of the writing on drafts and circular nptea, and thesubstitution of larger amounts, or a change of name, have been recently brought under notice. Some are being investigated at the police courts.. The offenders appear to be Americans. In one instance Mr. Frederick Young, honorary secretary of the Colonial Institute, Was the victim in losing several circular notes when "abroad. The notes were altered to suit the parties who stole them. The : offender in this ease ls in custody. Edward Jones, accountant, is under remand, charged with having obtained about, £50,000 by forged leases. Lord Lyons has been in .London for some days conferring with the Government in view of the approaching Conference at Berlin, where he will represent England, assisted by Lord Odd Bussell, the Ambassador to Germany. The German Press strongly advocates English occupation of Egypt. The Berlin Government is believed to be in favor of the idea. The Prince of Wales has sold the celebrated yacht Hildegarde to Prince Leopold for summer cruising.

Sir Bartlo Frero has dismissed the Moltino Ministry id consequence of the latter insisting upon the entire command and control of all the’ local forces; engaged against the Kaffirs, leaving only the regular troops under orders of the general in command. Mr. Sprigg, from the eastern side of 1 the colony, has formed a new Ministry. , Trade returns show a steady diminution of the outflow of immigration. The totalnumher who left in 1877 was, relatively to the population, less than in any previous year, excepting 1861. '

The Home Government appears anxious to set bn foot a comprehensive scheme for colonial defence, particularly for colonial ports. For these purposes a mixed committee of military and naval officers would he appointed, and this may account for Sir William Jervois’ return from'.South" Australia on leave of absence.

It is reported that in order to deyelope to the utmost the resources of Canada in the event of war Sir Patrick MoDougal has been named as the new General Commanding in the Dominion,; with headquarters at Halifax. He will go armed,with full power to raise a Canadian contingent in case of need. , Sulieraan Pasha has been arrested, and is to be' tried by civil and military tribunals for treason and disobedience of orders. The collapse of Turkish resistance and the fall of Plevna are regarded as attributable to him, through his conduct at Schipka Pass, regardless of his superior’s orders. • A large number of' the inhabitants of the villages near Drusoo, Syria, have been massacred by Turks. Telegrams from St. Petersburg, dated 13th inst., state that the public mind is much disturbed by the continued warlike preparations of England, and it is believed that Lord Beacbnsfield has resolved upon' a military occupation of some frontier in the Eastern Seas, such as Mitylene, which could be converted into a second Gibraltar.

A thousand Circassians at Beyrout com. mitted various acts of ruffianism.

The European community in Syria are iu an excited state. The Circassians and BashiBazouks who followed the returning Turkish army from the Lorn committed horrible atrocities. One hundred inhabitants at Viza and other towns were massacred on the last days of January, and churches and houses were burnt. Eight hundred Greek residents at Stofruges, who took refuge in a cave, with the exception of 18 were all killed. Loaders in The Times, Standard, and Morning Post, since the arrival of the mail via Brindisi, strongly condemn the revolutionary proceedings of Berry, and express astonishment that Sir George Bowen could have lent his sanction to such dangerous practices. The papers think that the Home Government should take cognizance of it. Lieutenant-General Sir Patrick McDougall, head of the Intelligence Department at the Horse Guards, will assume the command in Canada in May. Major-General Hanley sueneeds him.

There is a great dearth of medical candidates for the array. The navy estimates amount to £11,530,001, being an increase of £82,072. The army estimates amount to £11,065,200, showing an increase of £492,100. The total forces provided f*r, including regulars at Home, India, and in

the colonies, militia, yeomanry, and volunteers, number 625,199 men.

Osborne Morgan’s motion in favor of interments in churchyards without religious service, if desired, was lost by 249 to 227. The Speaker and about 120 members of Parliament visited Portsmouth on the 2nd hist., and inspected the vessels ready and waiting for sea.

Vincent Howard, bai’rister-afc-law, is appointed director of the criminal investigations in the metropolitan police, with the control of the detective force.

An annual grant of £3OOO is proposed for Hansard, to improve the system of reporting debates, with special reference' to late debates and discussions in committee and on private Bills. 1 '

Colonel Henderson, chief of the metropolitan police, has been knighted. The London Salvage Company have commenced operations to raise the Vanguard. Exploring expeditions to Africa are being fitted out in both Prance and Germany, both Governments aiding, i Homan Catholic chaplains will bo appointed in the navy for stations where there are numbers of sailors belonging to that denomination. The Indo-European Company have introduced the telephone into Persia, and 390 miles have been spoken over. A schoolmaster named Heap obtained £IOOO damages for breach of promise, from a Miss Morris, daughter of a solicitor, who preferred this to having her letters read in Court. Startling revelations were made before the Stock Exchange Commissioner, and very strict measures will” be proposed "to abolish certain practices, which have been the cause of heavy losses sustained by private individuals during the last five years. The space allotted to Jamaica and British Guiana at the Paris Exhibition has been given to Victoria, and ample room thus obtained,for her exhibits. The gold trophy and the fine wool exhibits will be in a conspicuous position in the Trophy House.

The Colonial Commissioners have been entertained by President MacMahon, also ’by Lord Lyons, and are receiving marked attention, in Paris.

The Australian Agents-General have presented- an address to Lord Carnarvon, in acknowledgment of his zeal as Colonial Secretary, and his personal courtesy on all occasions.

Six men were killed by the over-winding of a Cage at the High Blautyre colliery on the sth. The engineer has been committed for trial. A wing of the Lunatic Asylum in Dublin was burnt on the 4th, causing damage to the amount of £15,000, and a loss of three lives; *; About £BOO worth of plate has been stolen from a working convict prison during a dinner party given by the governor. Several large jewel robberies have taken place from country houses. • Captain Burnaby has returned to England.

Baker Pasha was entertained at a grand banquet ; at Stafford House, by the Duke of Sutherland, on Monday, when a large number of genei'al officers and noblemen assembled to meet him, including Duke Teck, Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar, Field-Marshal Lord Strathnairn/ Garnet Wolseley, Midhat Pasha, and many others. The guest of the evening received a perfect ovation, and warmly returned thanks. , . The whole fleet in the Mediterranean number 15 first-class ironclads, 12 frigates, and 2 corvettes, a dozen smaller vessels, and oyer 200 large guns. Upwards of 10,000 men and five admirals are, now in the Mediterranean command.

The Turks evacuated Widdin on the 28th February, and the Roumanians occupied it. A warm debate took place in the House of Commons on Tuesday bn the motion of Lord Ashley, condemning the action of Layard in reference to communications between Mr. Gladstone and Negropont, when it was alleged that Layard had stated that Gladstone had been exciting the Greeks to attack Turkey. Sir Stafford Northcote acknowledged that Layard had been indiscreet ; but that did not justify the attack made on him. The motion was rejected by 206 to 132.The Duke of Edinburgh left for Malta in the Antelope on Wednesday, eu route for England, where he will shortly receive flag rank. lloumania and Servia have demanded from Russia ‘ the payment of outstanding claims. Servia*s subvention is two months in arrear.

Two steamers left Malta with telegraph cables, to lay down in various parts of the Levant for the British Government.

Notwithstanding the signature of peace, preparations for contingencies still continue. The vessels already in commission and fitting out include the Thunderer, Dreadnaught, Incumbent, Northampton, Monarch, Superb, and Belle Isle, two new ironclads purchased from the Turkish Government, the Independence, purchased from Brazil, the Eurylaus, Agamemnon, Iron Duke, Lord Warden, Triumph, Hercules,Thunderbolt, Northumberland, Prince Albert, Grattan, Cyclops, Hydra, Hecate, Philomel, and Cormorant. The Inflexible is being speedily pushed on ; her 81-ton guns are nearly ready, A largo quantity of war material is being shipped to the Mediterranean fleet and fortresses.

Great precautions are being taken by the fleet in the Dardanelles and Sea of Marmora against attack. Bach vessel is protected by hawsers . and spars. . Steam and torpedo launches are used. Extra • sentries are posted, and heavy guns are kept constantly loaded, while electric lights from the tops of - the Alexandia and the Temaraire render all objects visible for two miles round. A number of commissions in the ordnance and transport depots are being given to noncommissioned officers of the. artillery. The Christian population on the north shores of. the Sea of Marmora are becoming very dis-' contented at the conduct of their deliverers, who have been behaving in a very disorderly manner. .

A letter from Lady Strangford, who remained in. Servia when the Russians entered, stated that the Bulgarians and-Cossacks behaved in the most insulting manner. No food ’was given for days. The conduct of the Russians in Epiunania is, very arbitrary. . Eresh troops are arriving daily at Jassy from Austria.

Very contradictory accounts have been published of the alleged hanging of four Polish surgeons at Sofia. • Five were there when the Russians entered, and four were. arrested, three of whom are stated by the fourth, who owed his being at liberty to having a British passport, to have been hanged. The fifth had a German name, and was for several days employed by the Russians, hut on its being stated that he was a Pole he was arrested, and although he said that he was a brother of the Secretary to the Supreme Court at Vienna, he was hanged. All five were Austrian subjects from Cracow. Interpellations have taken place oh the subject in the Austrian Parliament, and the facts were denied by Ministers, but Czar Eouisky, the survivor, persists in the truth of his assertion! The English surgeons who were taken prisoners by the Russians at Kamaeli were shamefully treated, and compelled to march on foot for days, although having their own horses, and were prodded with bayonets to make them move faster. They were insulted by the Russians, both soldiers and officers, and only obtained their release through the interference of Colonel Blount, consul at Adrianople. They blame General Gourka as the principal cause. The Grand Duke Nicholas expressed great indignation at their treatment, and promised that the offenders would be punished. .