SUEZ MAIL NEWS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 807, 12 November 1878, Page 2

SUEZ MAIL NEWS.

[per arawata, at the BLUFF. [ London, September 27. Shere Ali, having received and entertained the Envoys from Russia, the Indian Government has resolved to despatch an imposing mission to Cabul. After repeated delays, the British Envoy loft Peshawur on the 21st inst, On reaching the mouth of the Kyber Pass, he learnt that the Ameer's Commandant had advanced an outpost to the centre of the Pass, and was prepared to dispute the passage. The party, comprising Major Cargnari, two native princes, and a small escort, advanced to Ali Muschid, and had threehours'conference with the Commandant, who threatened an attack if the party proceeded. Thus insolently rebuffed, the mission returned to Peshawur, and but for his being a personal friend, the Afghanistan Commandant declared he would shoot Major Cargnari. General Sir Neville Chamberlain was recalled, and the mission dissolved. Russia in the meantime persists in maintaining a prominent embassy at Cabul. The Times has declared that the Government is fully prepared for the present crisis. Explanations will be demanded, and military preparations are proceeding vigorously on the frontier. The policy was deliberately formed, and will be carried out whether Shore Ali is friendly or not. An advance of three columns is ordered, and 8000 men will reinforce the garrison of Q.ucfctah and hold the Bolan Pass ; (iOOO will occupy Crogan Valley, and the third column will penetrate the Kyber Pass. Whether war be immediately commenced or postponed till the spring, Candahar will be occupied. A Constantinople telegram states that an Envoy from Afghanistan has arrived, and that he is striving to induce the Porie to conclude an alliance with Russia. The Moniteur states that the Porte is endeavoring to effect a confederation of j Asiatic Moslem princes, under Shore Ali, and j that the envoy lias gone from the Sultan to Cabul on that errand, The inquest on the victims of the Thames collision commenced on the llith, and is still proceeding. The principal witnesses arc the sailors and passengers on board the Princess Alice. The'general drift of their testimony is that the accident was caused, by the sudden porting of the helm of the Bywell Castle. It came out during the enquiry that the steersman of the Princess Alice at the time of the collision was a man who had volunteered as a substitute, and had never steered a passenger steamer before. Nearly 800 persons have been accounted for as dead or rescued, but a large number are still reported missing. Of ISO saved._ 14 have since ! died from the shock and the poisonous effects ! of the Thames water. The expenses incurred iby the Woolwich Parish officials exceeds I LI2OO, including the cost of 29 coffins. The j Mansion House "Relief Fund approaches to j L 30.000. The Queen has subscribed 100 guineas towards the fund for the relief of the sufferers by the Abercarne mine disaster, and the other members of the Boyal Family i contribute smaller amounts. The fund has swollen to L 3 8,000, but fully L 30.000 will be needed. The closing of the mine brings destitution to hundreds of families. Pumping operations have been commenced, but progress is slow, owing to obstructions, for the removal of which divers have to be employed. The" Middle Park racing stud realised 48,195 guineas. Three fine animals were purchased for Australia. At the annual sale of the Duke of Devonshire's shorthorns 30 head of cattle realised L 20,000. The Queen has approved of Franz Cummer as Danish Consul for New Zealand. Disquieting news has been received from the Transvaal. The Znalin police had mutinied, and the Kaffirs had assumed the offensive. Colonel Parvas has been appointed commanding officer of the Colonial Forces, rir.e Col. Griffiths. The Cape Mounted Rifles are to be again incorporated for the protection of the Cape Colony. In response to strong appeals for mercy on behalf of Isabel Grant, condemned to death for stabbing her husband in a drunken quarrel, her sentence has been commuted to imprisonment for life. The King of Burmah is dead. Six hundred Mormon converts recently sailed from Liverpool for America, nearly half the number being from Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, the remainder being English, Scotch, and Welsh. The death is announced of Colonel Arthur Leslie, late of the 40th Regiment, who served in the New Zealand war. The sudden crisis developed in our Indian policy is exciting extraordinary interest, not only here but throughout the Continent, and war against Afghanistan, and possibly against Russia, is deemed also inevitable.