ITEMS BY THE SUEZ MAIL.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 717, 20 January 1877, Page 3

ITEMS BY THE SUEZ MAIL.

WAR PREPARATIONS. The 2ud and 3rd Infantry Brigades at Aldershot, consisting df the 2nd, Bth, ILtb, 19tb, 61st, and 100 ih regiments, have been medically inspected, with a view to ascertain the number of -men for foreign service. The Bth Hiisaara and ■17 h Lancers have also been directed to furnish the number of horses <iv their regiments ready to take the field m the event of a B Irish force being' seat ito r occupy Constantinople and the lines across the Peninsula, between Yamkoi and Bojuk, Tivihekoueohe, about sixteen wiles trom the capital, and. extending from the Sea of Marmora to the Black Sea. -Id is uaderstoocbt bat. Lord Napier, of Magdala, Governor of Gibraltar, will have the chief command, and Sir Garnet Wolseley and General Lyons have divisions, A 200 TON GUN. In consequence of the successeful trial of the 100 con gun, made by Sir Wil iam Armstrong for the Italian Government, the Admiralty purposes having a 200-ton gun constructed. It will be 50 feet m length, with a bora of 44 feet, and diameter of 21 inches. The charge of! powder will be 9501 b., the weight of shot' 60001b5., and its length 5 feet. It will be capable of thowiog the shot 12 miles. THE INDIAN FAMINE. The famiweiiattbe Bombay and Madras \ districts continues; subscriptions are' being oollectid. There have been deaths ' fr >m starvation m the city of Madras. The Duke of Buckingham ia blamed for bis inertness. < DISRAELLI ON ENGLAND'S PRE' PARKDNESS FOR WAR. Lord Beaconsfiefd at the Lord Mayor's banquet said : — "England is the country of all others whose policy is peace. We> have nothing to gain by war. We are' essentially a non aggressive power. There are no cities and no provinces that we desire to appropriate. We have built up an empire of which "re are proud, and our proudest boast is thiH, that the empire subsists as much t»pon symptthy as upon •force. But if the struggle comes, it; sh >uld also be reoollected that there is no country bo prepared for war as Eng- ' land— (loud and renewed cheering)— be' ••cause there is no country whose resources are so great. In a righteous cause, and 1 trust that it will never embark m xr&vl except. in a<righteous tnuse, a caußa that' concerns her independence,, or her empire: — England is aiot a country that will have to inquire "whether she can enter upon- a second or third campaign.; m a righteous! cause England will commence a fight that j will not end until right is done." THE CZAR ON THE PUSITIOBT ! OF RUSSIA. : ; The Emperor Alexander delivered an ' address on November 10 to a body of representatives of the Nobles and Communal 'Council of Moscow m St Geoge's , Hall, m that city. His Majesty said:: — "I know that all Russia most warmly sympathises with me m the suffarings. •ef our brethren and co-relig ; onisfcs. Thetrue interests of Russia, however, are dearer to me than all, and I should wish to the uttermost to spare Russian blood i from being shed. This is the reason! why 1 have striven, and ■shall still strive to obtain a real improvement of the position of the Christains m the East by peaceful means. My most ardent wish is that we may arrive at a general agreei ment. Should this, 'however, not be achieved, and should I see that we cannot obtain such guarantees as are neces- . sary for carrying out what we have a ; right to demand of the Porte, I am firmly deternined to sob independently, and I am convinced tha ■ m this case the whole of Russia will respond to my summons should I consider it neaessary and should ' the honour of Russia require it. lam ; also convinced that Moscow, as heretofore, will lead the Tin by its example. 1 May God help ws U c .rry out our sacrei mission."