ANGLO-RUSSIAN DIFFICULTY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1322, 2 April 1885, Page 1

ANGLO-RUSSIAN DIFFICULTY.

London, March 29.

In view of the present emergency re foreign affairs, Government ing vessels belonging to the-principul steamship lines to act as armed cruisers if occasion should require. A Russian journal "considers that Australia will form an important sphere for Russian cruisers;" The same paper advocates the establishment of Russiaa consuls in the Pacific.

Nine ironclads, twenty-four gunboats and thirty-six torveda boats are being equipped in the English dockyards. They .are intended for service' in the Baltic. The Channel fleet have returned suddenly to Sheerness.

March 31. '"' The Admiralty have, forwarded largo orders for preserved meats to the, Australasian colonies. It is believed thit some Russian war vessels are cruising in the Pacific. ; Several of'their cruisers are also reporteitobe Voyaging in, the neighbor- | hood of the river Amor.

In the House iof Lords, the Marquis of Partington, Secretary of State for the War Department, stated that the reply of the Ruesian Government to the communication recently made by England to Russia respecting affairs, on the Afghan frontier is of a conciliatory nature.

Melbourne, March 30. The Queenscliffe Fort has been manned by a detachment of Permanent . Artillery. Other ''.'preparations for defence are being rapidly proceeded with, Torpedoes are being t ßubmerged in various positions in the Bay. Hie pilot certificates of captains of casting vessels are suspended for the time, and additiopal pilots have been appointed in consequence. Several hulks Have been purchased by Government ; in view of being sunk, if necessary, to obstruct the navigation. These precautions jare due to the fact that intelligence has been received of the presence of Russian cruisers at S'»gapore and the Cape, March 31. It baa transpired that Government recently received an unofficial warning from Signapore to the effect that several Russian cruisers had left thpre and proceeded in a northerly direction, and they were again warned on Friday that the Russian ironclad General Admiral, 16 guns, 4600 tons, was at the Cape. In / consequence of the news Mr Service communicated with the Premiers of the various colonies in cypher, and this bag givpn rise to unusual activity in matters of defence.

Adelaide, March 31.

Government are in communication with Admiral Tyron, commanding the Australian squadron, in regard to measures Accessary for the protection of the Port Darwin cable.

The,, Agent-General has telegraphed that tne outlook is not now go ominous. A meeting was held in Tiniarii on Tuesday evening to consider the advisability of forming a. rifle corps in that tow n, and at its conclusion 73 person signed a paper expressing their willingness to join. A deputation waited on Sir Julius Vogel.'at Dunedin to impress upon him the necessity of pushing on the defence works at that place. In replying, Sir Julius Vogel pointed out that these deputations only drew attention to their defenceless condition, and trusted that any future recommendations would b« made secretly. The surveys were proceeding as quickly as possible," acd *hett these were completed the Government were going to place a gun nt Xawyer Head, another at St. Clair Baths, and several at Taiaroa Heads, and torpedoes across the channel inside the bur, etc. The Defence Minister has accepted the services of the proposed ■■ Reserve Corps at Christchnrch on condition that each member contributes £5 towards arms and accoutrements. One hundred have thus far signified their intention of joining. Mr Stout says the cost of our temporary defence works will be souieihing alarming. On Tu'.'sday afternoon fhe Government cabled to the Agent-General, asking him to endeavour to arrange for a cruiser of the Admiralty class)''and- suitable- for coastal defence, being sant out to New Zealand. The Government.have offered to bear the whole of the expanse and pay interest on' the cost. They we also arranging for the services 'of Captain Bodh«m, of Tasmania, in connection with the erection cf batteries, etc. Captain Lfodham is an official of the Royal Artillery, and thoroughly experienced in such works.

In connection with defence work tli* Wellington Post suggests that "Auckland. Wellington, Ohristchnrch, and Dunedin organine a series of defenc* bees to aid the constructions of road and earthworks required. Those able to give manual-labour might do it, and those unable to work ;th«mselvei might'well pay others to work for them for three or four days/' The Government hare in store 85 rounds of shot and shell for the 23-big guns, an 4 they hare recently received one million rounds of Snider Cartridges. A large supply of frun cotton was oidered from Home upwards of three months ago for torpedo use,- and. is now probably on its way .out; The Governm nt are now also having' constructed a number of dynamite torpedoes or mines for harbor defence. J