LATE CABLE NEWS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2319, 23 August 1880, Page 2

LATE CABLE NEWS.

(Per Tararua at the Bluff.) THE SEIGE OF CANDAHAR. THE LIBERAL PROGRAMME. SINGULAR COALITION. ALARMING RAILWAY ACCIDENT. REBELLION IN TURKEY. THE 15URDETT-COUITS SCANDAL. LORD PLUNKETT'S DILEMMA. ARREST OF SIX FENIANS. AFGHAN TRAITORS. . AYOUB KHAN'S EUROPEAN OFFICERS. ANOTHER FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR. TWENTY LIVES LOST BY AN AVALANCHE. EXTENSIVE STRIKES IN THE IRON TRADE. London, Aug. 11. It is auuoimccd that the British force stationed at Khclot Ighilce, an advanced station about 80 miles from Candahar, was safe on the Bth inst. August 11. Notwithstanding the near approach of the time when Parliament is usually prorogued, the Government refuse to reduce their programme. The Conservatives below the Gangway, with a section of the Irish party, joined in opposing the Government, and a wrangle took place, which lasted all the afternoon. Those Conservatives who had held office voted with the Government.

Mr Fawcett, Postmaster-General, in reply to questions in tlie House of Commons directed against the Peninsular and Oriental Company’s contract, stated that six months postal matter conveyed by the Orient steamers to Australia had yielded £IBOO, while the company had received less that £4OO, The express train from King’s Cross, Loudon, to Scotland, while travelling at full speed, fell down a high embankment at Berwick-on-Twecd. The driver of the engine and two servants were killed, August 12, The revolt of the Albanians against the rule of the Sultan of Turkey is now complete. The central cities refuse to join the Mahomedans against Greece. August 13. The Baroness Burdett-Coutts has notified to the Queen her intention to marry Mr Ellis Ashmead Bartlett, the Conservative member for Eye, who is aged 32. Her Majesty, and also a brother of Mr Bartlett, without objecting to the Baroness Burdett-Coutts’ intention, have disapproved of the proposed marriage, and pressure is being brought in the highest circles to dissuade her ladyship from a marriage by which she would lose half her present income.

Lord Plunkett, who is also Bishop of Meath, having voted against the Compensation for Disturbances (Ireland) Bill, in the House of Lords, before taking the oath of allegiance, an Indemnity Bill has been introduced,which members in the House of Commons are obstructing, with the object of mulcting Lord Plunkett in penalties for so voting. Sir Charles Dilkc,Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs, replying to a question imt by Alderman McArthur, M.P., for Lambeth, said that the Government was still discussing the question of joint consular authority in Samoa, but that it was not advisable, at present, to announce their decision. Six men have been arrested for the outrage at Cork Harbor, in which several supposed Fenians in boats seized a vessel and carried off several cases of rilles.

August 14

The India Office discredits any collusion between Ayoub Khan and Abul Rahman. One of Abdul Rahman’s chiefs, while travelling with secret despatches to General Kauffman, in Central Asia early in July last, was killed and his despatches stolen. The rumor that the Afghans had taken Chaman is untrue. There arc now Jo days supplies at Candahar. Ayoub Khan’s forces number 20,000 men. The Herat portion desire to return home with their share of the plunder. The Cabul troops have declared in favor of Abdul Rahman, the new Ameer. General Phayre has been for the hist ten days massing troops at Khojak Pass, and has now a force of 5,000 men under Ids command. There has been heavy lighting with some of the tribes to the northwest of Sibi, in which 96 of the Anglo-Indian force were killed, and much baggage was lost, together with a treasure chest containing £15,000.

August IG. The “ Standard ” confirms the reports which have been published as to the presence of European officers with Ayoub Khan’s army, but says that whether they are Russians or Europeans in the Persian service is uncertain.

General Skobeloff, commander-in-chief of the Russian army, is operating in Central Asia against the Teke Turkomans, and has bombarded Geoklepc. The Emperor of Germany has left Ischl, and General Count Yon Moltke has suddenly gone to Ischl via Vienna to meet the representatives of Austria, Roumania, and Senna. There are sensational rumors of new alliances arising out of these conferences.

Russia has lately made fresh overtures to France, which have been declined. It is staled that Count 'Von Moltke openly talks of another war.

August 14. A trial in connection with the Wimbledon scandal has commenced. The statements ahead}- made indicate that collusion has existed for several years between the markers and those engaged at the shooting.

August 11. Intelligence has been received from Candahar which states that the cause of Ayoub Khan’s inactivity since the victory over General Burrow’s brigade is attributable to the fact that he was severely wounded during the encounter, and that since then considerable dissension exists among his army. This report requires confirmation.

The Porte is exhibiting a determination to carry out the alternative proposition accepted by the Powers in settlement of the Montenegro ditliculty.

August 10. A convict named Jean Louie alios Langren, who in 1874 was sentenced to seven years penal servitude for perjury, committed in connection with the Tichbornc case, has been released from prison.

Grave doubts exist concerning the continuance of the concert among the powers in the policy of coercion against Turkey instituted by Mr Gladstone. The British Government have urged that all the signatory powers should unite in enforcing the fulfilment of the provisions of the Berlin treaty. Russia has replied that while desirous that the treaty should be faithfully executed, she hesitates to join in the cocrsion which England is desirous of bringing to bear on the Porte.

A severe landslip has taken place at Chatelherault, a commune in France. Heavy rain had taken place, which loosened the soil, and a large area gave way. A considerable amount of damage was done to houses and farms, and 20 persons were killed.

General Stewart, who is in supreme command of the British troops in Northern Afghanistan, had an interview yesterday, with the new Ameer, Abdul Rahman, prior to evacuating Cabul. He congratulated the Ameer on his accession to power, and stated that he had every confidence that ho would faithfully fulfil the assurances ho had given of goodwill to the British GovernAbdul Rahman, in reply, expressed his gratitude to the British Government for their recognition of him as ruler of Afghanistan, and declared his linn intention of loyally carrying out the arrangements entered into. The indecision of Ayoub Khan after his recent victory over General Burrows has enabled General Primrose to greatly strengthen his position at Candahar The Afghans arc encamped in the neighbourhood but avoid any general encounter, there has, however, been verysevere skirmishing between the outposts of the British and Ayoub’s troops, and the latter have in every instance been worsted. The hostile forces have been greatly disheartened.

In consequence of the prevailing depression of trade and strikes amongst engineers and ironworkers many of The ironmasters in the west of Scotland have decided to close their establishments. At the present time large numbers of blasts have been extinguished, and much distress exists amongst the working classes thus deprived of employment.

August 13. A barque, homeward bound, came into collision with the Minatour belonging to the Channel fleet, commanded by Captain Bawson, off the Isle of Wight. Considerable damage was done, but no lives were lost.

The Irish in Glasgow arc greatly agitated in reference to the disturbed state of affairs in Ireland. Several public meetings have been held, at which 30,000 have attended, and resolutions were adopted expressive of sympathy with the peasantry who have been evicted by their landlords, and whose condition has been aggravated by the rejection of the Tenants, Compensation Bill by the House of Lords. It is rumored that the Gladstone Government, impressed with the serious condition of Ireland, and yielding to the representations made, purposes to have recourse to extreme measures in order to repress disturbances and agrarian outrages. It is thought probable that the 1 eace Preservation Act in Ireland will

be renewed with the view of effectually coercing the Fenian organ! aiF n.

The Porte has addressed a r.; piest to the Powers for an extension of time to carry out the demands submitted for tlie settlement of the Greek frontier difficulty upon the basis of the proposals made by Count Corti, Italian plenipotentiary.

Information has been received by the Viceroy of India, which shows that Ayoub Khan was acting under ad vice,and with the assistance of Abdur Rahman in his ad vanco against Candahar. Tlii.s discovery has tended to cast suspicions on the professions of the new Amcor. Intelligence from Candahar states that an attack by Ayoub Khan is impending and that preparations are being made in his army for an attempt to cany the city'.by assaidt. Lord Hartington announced in the House of Commons that it was not the intention of the British Government to appoint a British embassy at Cabul and that arrangements had been made with the Ameer, Abdur Rahman, to receive an envoy who would represent the Viceroy. The British forces under the command of General Stewart, which evacuated Cabul last week, bare continued their inarch in the direction of Jellalabad, without molestation. No hostile demonstration has been encountered up to the present, and the inhabitants have shown themselves friendly. Dissensions have broken out amongst Ayoub Khan’s army, which arc likely to retard his movements. The Herat regiments, having claimed their division of the spoil, became clamorous, and demanded to be allowed to return home, and notwithstanding the efforts made by Ayovb to retain their services, they deserted in a body and are now returning to Herat. Portadown, a town in the north of Ireland, near Armagh, lias heeip the scene of serious rioting, arising out of the bitterness of feeling existing between different religious sections of community. The police in the locality has been augmented, and as an additional precaution the miltary force in the district have been considerably reinforced.