SUEZ MAIL ITEMS.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3401, 15 November 1879, Page 4

SUEZ MAIL ITEMS.

A letter fromi .Havanha,: dated 23rd, States that three *Cuban planters, owners respectively of 4000, ]200, and 800 slaves; hare'granted the latter their, jik r.'j. The Blares, however, entered into a contract with the planters to continue in their service for five years. r Other slaveowners intend to pursue,a similar course. A number of Chinese troops are being moved towards the Kuldja frontier, with a view probably of taking possession of the territory to be surrendered by liussia in conformity with the new treaty. • Haing Khan Twy is organising. a force among the inhabitants of the Ilga Schstl district, with the intention of attempting to recover Kashgar from the Chinese. The newspaper war which has lately prevailed between Germany and-liussia has now subsided. Prince feorlaehakoff's flattery is the motive of-coolness between Prince Bismarck and Prince Gortshakofi". The reported declaration of..the; latter lo the editor of the Paris Soliel, disclaiming all concern at the attacks of the Berlin papers against Russia, has not yet been officially denied. ■•-..' . The Dominion r Exhibition was opened at Ottawa on the 24th by th' 6 Marquis of Lome and' the Princess Louise. The Governors of the State of Vermont and Newlltimpstlrirc-aiidHbotitr2o,<)oo^jer9ona-were present. The new passenger vessel Orient, belonging to the Orient Steam Navigation Company, built by John Elder, on the Clyde, left Greenock on the 10th, nnd arrived in the Thames on the. loth. She is the largest vessel of this line, being • 5400 tons. She fs expected to" complete the voyage to Adelaide in thirty five days. Her length is 460 feet; width, 46 feet 6 —-Juchjgßj_deptb, 37 feet 8 inches; nominal hbrse-powef, 4000. Shccan .carry .136 saloon, 138 second-class, and 300 steerage passengers. If needed for war purposes, she could take 3000 troops and 400 horses. Her consumption of coal is 70 tons per day. Total weight, 10,000 tons. Total cost, £150.000. Her crew-number 150. Commander Captain Hewisou. "While passing the Isle of Wight, she accomplished 17 knots per hour with ease. A party of visitors, numbering 120, proceeded to London" in-her from Greenock. The Orient is built in accordance with the requirements of the Admiralty forf ships; which might in case of war be turned into cruisers. The compartments have been arranged with this view, the ports being cut to be suitable for great guns. The Elgin and IN'airnshtre election wis decided on the 17th in favour of Sir George MePhearson Grant, of Ba!li»doch, the Liberal candidate, who poiled 959, against 701 for Mr Brodie, the Conservative crndidate. The weather in the British Isles has been fine during the last month, but owing to the previous severity prices have risen. Harvest operations have now been mostly completed. The advance guard of the Russian expeditionary force into Turkestan, under Prince Balgerukoff, exchanged some shots on the 18th of August with a body of Tekke Turcomans, between Tukasin and Ehodgalkali. Prince Dalgerukofi dpg- - patctled two squadrons of cavalry and one company of infantry, which on the 23rd successfully engaged the enemy, and capturud from them 6000 sheep and 1200 camels. The casualties on both sides were very trifling. The Turkestan Gazette states that at the beginning of July the Khan or chief of the Teliko Turcomans arrived at Merv in order to request the assistance of the inhabitants against the Russians. Half of tbo_ Turcomans in the Merv district promised to co operate, but the others, considering the maintenance of friendship with Russia more politic, refaied. Intelligence has been received at Simla, via Persia, and confirmed by nows from two authentic sources, that the advance column of the [Russian expedition against the Tekke Turcomans had been defeated at Geok Tepe, with a loss of 700 killed, the force falling back on Benzena. An another official telegram published in the Journal dv Caucase, .states that on the 6th inst. the vanguard of the liussiau advance column passed the night at Gurva, the main body remaining at Artchi. Rumours were current that the Tekkes were congregating at Geok Tepe, with the intention of offering on armed opposition to the Russian advance. The Russian expedition agaiust the Turcomans will energetically pushed forward, in order that operations may be terminated this autumn.