THE AFGHAN DIFFICULTY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 1952, 30 March 1885, Page 2

THE AFGHAN DIFFICULTY.

(by electric telegraph—copyright.)

(reuter's telegrams,) Bombay, March 28. Intelligence has been received of the arrival of the Viceroy at Rawal Pindi. The telegrams report that great enthusiasm is being displayed throughout thePunjaub in connection with His Excellency's visit and the expected arrival of the Ameer of Afghanistan in the district, At the formal reception of % Viceroy at Rawal Pindi a number of prominent Native ohiefa were present, and the proceedings were attended with much splendor and eclat, The Earl of Dufferin made a speech on the occasion, in which he dwelt upon the loyalty shown by various Native princes in offering military assistance to Great Britain at the present juncture. These offers, Ins Lordshjp added, proved that the Princes fully recognised the firm resr pect entertained by England for the rights of the India Native States. - London,' March 28. In the House of Lords yesterday, Earl Granville, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, stated that he had an interview on Thursday with M. de Staal, the Russian Ambassador, on the subject of the communication recently made by the Government to Russia respecting the state of affairs on the Afghan. frontier. M. de Staal stated that his Government had still under consideration the reply to be made to the communication in question. The Times to-day publishes a telegram stating that Russia is massing 50,000 troopß at Baku, a fortified town on the western shoro of the Caspian Sea. Melbourne, March 28. The Evening Herald states that the Governor has received a telegram indicating that war between England and Russia is imminent, and that orders havo consequently been issued by.tho Government for a warship to be in readiness to go to Port Phillip Hoads. It also states' that work on EM. 8; Nelson, nojy in dock, will proceed throughout to-night, so as to get her ready for sea without delay.' ~ ; . This evening's World announces that H,M.S. Nelson has beon ordered to Sydney, to be in readiness for em ergencies. The same paper,'states taat enquiries made confirm the belief that unusual activity is now manifest in naval and military departments, • Melbourne, March 30. Measures for the'/xlefence of the Harbour are being vigorously carried out. Torpedoeß have been placed in the West and South channels and several hulks have been purchased by the Government with a view to their being sunk if necessary so as to obstruct the navigation'. These precautions are due to the fact that intelligence. Mb 'been received of the presence of Russian cruisers at Singapore and the Capo.