MAIL NEWS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 539, 23 January 1878, Page 2

MAIL NEWS.

London, December 31. A great anti-Russian meeting, composed largely of working men, was hold on Saturday in Trafalgar-square, and was the pretext for a pro-Russian gathering in another part of the same place. Each of the crowds possessed all the elements of a mob, and the display of three Turkish flags in the first assemblage precipitated an attack by the second. More than GOOO people were present. The confusion was so great that the Turkish meeting speakers were not heard. A Russian flag suddenly appeared in the crowd, and a free fight, lasting for an hour and five minutes, ensued, led by sooty-faced men, who showed like Bashi-Bazouks. The AngloTurks charged en masse upon the Russian party, whose standard-bearer was taken and soundly thrashed, and the Muscovite flag destroyed. The forces of hornyhanded friends of the Czar rallied, and carried by assault the position held by the Turkish color-bearer. Tne reserves pressed so closely upon the assaulting party that retreat was impossible, and it was a serious business for the men in front of the Turkish standard, which was totally destroyed. The victors glared for a few moments at the seething crowd before them, apparently anxious to know if there were any of the ohnoxious flags near. The wounded were not butchered, but were only jumped upon playfully, and kicked about the face and head. Tinassembly soon became so overwhelmingly Turkish that the Rnssophils were compelled to withdraw. The police interfered three hours after the meeting was first organized, and two arrests were made. Nobody of any prominence was present, and t'iu meeting had no political significance. The removal of the British fleet from Besika Bay to the G.ilf of Smyrna was made necessary because of the serious risks to ironclads, and the crews in wintering at the unsuelteivd anchorage of Besika ; but, on the other hand, its transfer to a point so near the Dardanelles signifies the alertness with which England intends to guard those important straits. The Pope has held a consistory in the Vatican. Monsignors Morett and Pelligrini were nominated as oardinals, and some bishops appointed. The Pope delivered a short allocation, thanking the cardinals for their solicitude concerning his health, and asking them to pray God to help the Church and preserve unimpaired the mind of its head, whose body I was ailing. Two oil trains collided on the Erie rail- j road at Patterson, N.Y. The oil caught fire and ran down the bank among the houses and barns, causing great destruction. People supposing the danger to be over, approached the scene, when suddenly a barrel of oil burst, and scattered '. its blazing contents about. The people barely escaped, sereral being trodden under in the stampede. The loss of property on the Western rivers during the jjast year amounts to 1 2,330,000 dollars. The member for Northamptonshire telegraphed the Western News that the Go- ' vernment had invited contracts in Northampton for the supply of 300,000 pairs of boots, the largest order since the Crimean ' war. The Golos claims the complete autonomy of Bulgaria, Bosnia, and Herzegovina, and also demands that .a portion of ', Armenia including Kars. Batouni, and Ardahan, shall be ceded to Russia ; also, the opening of the Dardanelles exclusively 1 for Russian war vessels. Sir J. Vogel, in the " Nineteenth Cen- ' tury," advocates cheap telegraph 'rates to the Colonies. ' At a general meeting o.f the New Ze.v ! land Manganese Company, the repori showed a profit of L 946 for the past year. 1 The Colonial Bank of New Zealano ' .ff.-rs for subscription Ll2fi.ooo Otago Harbour Board six pr cent. loan. i The directors of the New Zealand Land and Agency Company have re-issued thi ; prospecting and of 5Q,Q00 shares 10,000 have been applied for, and 10,000 applied for in the Colony.