ENGLISH MAIL NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 215, 13 September 1886, Page 3

ENGLISH MAIL NEWS.

[PER S.S. .ALAMEDA.]

felr Charles Dilkc. Since the verdict of the jury in the Crawford divorce case, Sir Charles Dilke has withdrawn from London society. He has taken formrl farewell of his late constituents, and availed himself of this document to protest his innocence, and assert that he has not had a fair trial. If his peccadilloes were not so glaring, one could only havo associated this formidable protest on his part with absolute innocence. There is a striking infatuation about this address, which, perhaps, to Rome extent explains why Sir Charlos Charles Dilke courted this second inquiry. Public opinion, however, is emphatically atjainst him. The public boliovo Mrs Crawford's assertions to be proved to the hilt, and many of the newspapers are crying out for a prosecution for perjury against the lato member for j

Chelsea. This oxtremo step, however, ia not likely to be taken, for, in the first place, it would once more etir up the " mud and filth," with which we have been so plentifully regalod, and, in tho second, it would be a new departure in the ordinary courso of procedure. Were we to have prosecutions for perjury in every instance in which a jury decides by implication that a witness or party to a case has not spoken tho truth, we should have materially to iusreaso the capacity of our Criminal Courts. It is, therefore, not at all likely that Sir Charles will be proceeded against. Pcrmanont Colonial Exhibition. Tho Prince oi Wales has caused it to bo made known that ho will only accept the presidency of the executive committee of

the Proposed Permanent Colonial Museum on certain specified conditions. The first is that his Royal Highness shall have what virtually amounts to absolute control of the affair; noxt, that the guarantees to tho present Exhibition shall bo maintained; and, further, that thero shall be an annual vote on tho part of the colonies. England, Russia, and Afghanistan. The Persian paper " Fars," published in Vienna, learns from Cabul that the Ameer has been informed by a courier from Jaisabad, on tho Amou Daria River, that a Russian omissary has arrived in Taschkurgan, tho capital of tha

Khanate of Wakham, who is negotiating with the chiefs for their subjection to the Czar. If the Russians succeoded in occupying the Khanate they would get possossion of the eastern end of the Dora Pass, which loads to tho Indian province of Lahore. The " Politische CorrespOndenz" learnb from London that although the British Government does not attribute to the ditToreuces of tho Afghan Frontier Commissioners respecting Kboja Saleh so much importance as to the affair of Penjdeh and Zulficar, nevertheless much attontion is given to tho matter, as England's prostigo and influence in Afghanistan aro a—led in question. It is to be feared, says tho writer, that the Afghans would ontirely sever their connection with England if they thought thoir interests would bo better sorved by Russia, Russia and Bulgaria. Princo Alexander, of Bulgaria, has issued an edict prohibiting the circulation of Russian roubles any longer in Bulgaria. After two months the Russian coinage will neither be accepted in payment of taxes nor received, on any account, by th 3 Treasury. The "Cologne Gazette " learns from Constantinople that, with regard to Bulgaria, tho St. Petersburg Government has mado the following Statement:—"Tho interests of Bulgaria are always near to Russia's heart, as the Bulgarian Government well knows. The latter has, however, modified her relations to Russia ih such a manner that tho Russian Government regards it as impossible to proposo any conditions for a rapproclumcnt unless a formal guarantee is offered. Since tho Bulgarian Government is unablo to offer such a guarantee discussion could only lead to fresh disappointments. Russia will attentively follow events in Bulgaria, and will shape her course accordingly." Tho Rhonish organ remarks that the only condition acceptable to Russia is neither moro nor less than tho deposition of tho Princo of Bulgaria, Reported Destruction of Khartoum. Wassif Bey, who was formerly captain of tho garrison at El Obeid, has just arrived at Cairo, after having boon absont for IS yeirs, which have been spent in tho Soudan. The Cairo correspondent of tho "Standard" g a y g: —" Wassif loft Omdurman on the 16th of April in tho disguise of a dervish, slowly working his way down. He waH present at the capturo of El Oboid, and at all tho subsequent movements in Kordofan. For sevoral years he was in captivity as a slave. His account of the state of affairs generally in the Soudan was very satisfactory, from tho English point of view. The former followers of the Mahdi are now split up into factions, and are occupied in internecine warfare, Tho great mass of tho inhabitants are heartily sick of the whole business, and would gladly welcome the restoration of the Egyptian sovereignty. At Dongola, which dis trict suffered most severely, and from being a prosperous province has been reduced to the condition of a desert, tho rebels had three steamers, but the Shillok tribe captured them, and are using ono. Khartoum, says Wassif Bey, has heen razed to the ground, with the exception of a few European-built houses on the banks of the Nile. Its place has been taken by Omdurman on the othor side of tho rivor, which is now a largo town. There aro several Europeans there attempting to carry on a trade in cloths in tho interior. Amongst those Wassif Bey saw there wore Lupton Boy and Slaton Bey, and also several Greek merchants and a dozen or so European women

—mostly Greeks. Slaten and Lupton havo full liberty within the town, riding about freely. Wassif finally Btates his couviction that any force marching up to re-establish the Khedive's authority would meet with a welcome rather than with resistance. As regards Omdurman, even the opposition would be slight. Wasaif bad a long interview with Abdel Kader this morning ; but I believe he has not yet repeated his story to tho English authorities." On July 27th Mr F. L'hoste, the' French aeronaut, ascended at Cherbourg in his new balloon, " Torpilleur," with the intention of crossing the Channel to England. The balloon was fitted with new steering and other gear invented by the aeronaut, which it was proposed to thoroughly test during the trip. The " Torpilleur " ascended at half-pßst eleven, the only pa«sengerß being M. L'hoste himself and Mr Joseph Mangot, the astronomer. The trip was a most successful one. The new goar is said to have answered admirably, and during the passage M. L'hoste manoeuvred over passing ships, and threw down upon them dummy torpedoes, with a view of demonstrating the usefulness of his balloon for warlike purposes. The "Torpilleur" was steered for London, and a descent was made near the metropolis at a quarter past 6 o'clock the following morning:. The highest altitude uttained was 36000 foet and the lowest temperatnreregistered 7,degrees centigrade. M. M. L'hoste and Manget propose to undertake shortly a balloon voyage from Cherbourg to Norway.