TELEGRAMS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 248, 27 March 1880, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

ENGLISH AND FOREIGN. London, March, 23. In the House - f Lords to-day Viscount Gran brook, Secretary of State for India, made a statement regarding tin present position of affairs in Afghanistan. His Lordship said General Stewart, with the force under his command, was returning to India, via Ghuznee, where a large body of the enemy are collected. At present it is uncertain though an attack would be made by General Stewart, in view of a recent I'ffcr of submission by some of the chiefs. Constantinople, March 22, Colonel Synge ano his wife, who were captured last month by Greek brigands haw now been released. News have been received from Mecca to the effect that a religions fanatic has stabbed to death the Grand Sheriff.

Invercargill, March 24. The s.s. Rotorua brings the following recent cable news from Melbourne : London, March 9, Earl BeaconsfieUl has written a letter to the Duke of Marlborough, reviewing what England has done for [reland during late years. 110 says that there is danger now in some districts in Ireland owing to a portion of the people attempting to fwver the Constitutional link uniting England and Ireland in a bond favourable to the prosperity of both. Lord Beaconsfield hopes that all will resist these destructive doctrines. The strength of the nation dependo upon unity of feeling, which should prevail Great Britain and ‘cr dependencies. Homo had challenged the expediency of the Imperial character of realm. They hud attempted, and failed to help the c-d-mies by a policy of disintegration, and they now recognised disintegration of the United Kingdom a mode by which to accomplish or hasten their purpose. The elections would afford the nation an opportunity of deciding upon the course to lie taken, which would materially affect the fortunes and destiny of the country. The power of England and the peace of Europe must largely depend upon the verdict of the country. Peace could not bo secured by passive principles of nnn-intvrvenion. Lord Beaconsfield concludes his letter by expressing the hope that a Parliament will be returned worthy of the powo' of England, and resolved to maintain it, March 10. Mr Win. Shaw, M. P, for Cork, the leadi-r of the Homo Rule party, has issued an address in answer to Lord Beaconsfield’s letter to the Duke of Marlborough, charging the Premier with, placing false issues before the electors, tending to excite the worse passions of the ignorant. He invites the Irish people to answer the insulting missive by returning an overwhelming majority pledged to a settlement of the great Irish national question. March 11, The address of Sir Stafford Northcote, Chancellor of the Exchequer, to the electors of North Devon, emphatically proclaims the resolve of the Government to strengthen and defend the Colonial Empire. March 15. The German Press recently contained revelations of the attempts made last spring by the Russians to negotiate an alliance with France and Italy, but their are now distinct signs of a better feeling between Germany and Russia. The addresses of the Liberal leaders are very moderate in tone. They are all in favour of cementing the union between Great Britain and the colonies. March 17. Mr J, Warren, of Adelaide, contests Leicester, and Hir Thomas Gore Brown stands as candidate for Chester in the Conservative interest. It is rumored that H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught succeeds the Duke ot Marlborough as Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland. The Defence Commission has taken much valuable information, and will reassemble at the end of May. They are very anxious to obtain colonial opinions and have invited the colonics to send witnesses. The Pope blames the Roman Catholic Bishops of Nottingham (Dr Amherst Taughan), for language used by them in regard fo Irish affairs. , - 1

The Russians at Cronstdat in the Baltic,--ml at NicoHef in the Black Sea, are preparing for the immediate despatch of further munitions of war and men-uf-war to the Pacific, to protect the Anioor, owing to the expected war with China i - 4 “ The Times states that Abdul Rama and tw'. Russian officers have arrived Balkh. , March 18. A company haft been projected in London for the importation of Australian meat preserved on the Strath Seven principle The Capital will be raised by 15,000 LI 0 shares. It is proposed to import 200 tons of meat fortnightly. The American Congress regards with dissatisfaction the acquisition by the French of paramount influence in the • construction of the Panama Canal through the Isthmus of Darien. A Select Coramitte was appointed some time ago to consider the question, and evidence was taken in reference to the various schemes submitted, and also as regarded the powers conferred upon Lieutenant Lucien Napoleon Bonapart Wyse, who was despatched in command of a expedition fitted out by the French Government, to survey and report on the most feasible route for constructing the canal. The report of the Committee has been published, and the recommendations contained therein are wholly adverse to the French acquiring control of the canal. Efforts are being made for the approaching campaign in Afghanistan. [t is intended to increase the numbers of the native army in India, and recruiting for the native regiment is being vigorously prosecuted. Mr Gladstone has issued, his address to the electors of Midlothian, which constituency he seeks to represent in the ’’J next Parliament, He attacks the policy of the Government in every essential particular, and contends that the ac.ion of Lord Beaconsfield had served to aggravate the disturbance following upon the general depression in trade at home, thereby necessitating augumenta- ‘ tion of Taxation abroad, The prestige of the Empire had been awakened by needless wars. He condemned the acquisition of profitless extensions of territory in South Africa, Afghanistan, and other parts of the world, and declared that the onerous and ill-defined responsibilities assumed by England in Asia Minor, under treaty engagements with | the Po rte, were most unwise. The ap- j propr'ation of Cyprus he stigmatised as I equivalent to filching territory from an ally, and as dishonoring to England. The Saturday Review, in a leading article on Victorian politics, declares that the negative advantages of the change produced by the result of the recent general elections in Victoria are undeniable. It declare* that the Berry Administration, in their conduct ot public affairs, hai behaved more like “ drunken Helots,” than responsible statesmen, and attributes the possibility of men obtaining power to the opera, tion of universal suffrage. It declares its belief that Mr Service will be able to re-adjust the relations between the Council and the Assembly in a satisfactory manner. The Council had err- d in the past by improperly straining its powers, under a mistaken idea of analogy existing between the Colonial Chamber and tfie English Parliament. The Council had exhibited a want of hereditary tact and prudence, which invariably characterised the proceedings of the House of Lords. The Review lays down the principal that the Legislative Council must declaim all interference with taxation, which properly belongs to the representation Chamber of the people. The Assembly should renounce the power of taking up the measure* to which opposition is likely to be raised. As to the Appropriation Bills, the privilege whicn the Council possessed of wholly rejecting Money Bills was a nominal one, and one not to be exercised except in cases of extreme emergency. Much significance is attached to the arrival ot a Persian Commission at Herat, for the purpose, ostinsebly, of establishing amicable relations between Shah’s Government and the inhabitants of that city. The members of the Commission were enthusiastically welcomed by the Heratese, and the principal chiefs have exhibited a very friendly attitude towards them. Dennis Kearney, the notorious agitator, who was recently arrested by the San Francisco police on the charge of seditious language in the couuse of political harangues, has been tried for the offence, and convicted. The sentence was six months’ imprisonment and a fine of lOOOdols. The feeling of hostility against the Chinese throughout California, which was prohibited by very repressive measures passed through the state Legislature, and by pressure brought to bear upon public companies and manufacturers, to prevent the employment of Mongolien labour, has greatly subsided. While much jealousy of the Chinese continues to exist amongst the working classes, overt acts of coercion hare been discontinued. New currants are quoted at 32s 2d per cwt. Currants are high owing to the French having purchased extensively for purposes of distillation. Now Zealand hemp fetches from L 27 15s to L2B per ton. Sourabaya, March 13. The Maria, ship, from Tijitatjap to Melbourne with sugar, has .been, thrown on her beam ends in a severe gale encountered, and she put into Banjoewangi to restow her cargo.