ITEMS BY TELEGRAPH.

Bruce Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 1939, 9 March 1888, Page 3

ITEMS BY TELEGRAPH.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN

The illness of the Crown Prince has caused him to age greatly, and his weight has decreased 541 b. Latest reports respecting the health of the Crown Prince show that the swelling has increased and that the patient is being slowly stifled to death. A largo body of dervishes attacked the troops at Suakin on Satnrday. The fighting, which occupied four hours, was very severe, but eventually the dervishes retreated, leaving hundreds of their number dead on the field. Colonel Tapp and five men were killed in the engagement and 14 others wounded. The gunboats Dolphin and Albacore, which are attached to the Mediteranean fleet, are shelling the enemy. The ' British Medical Journal, ' in an article discussing M. Pasteur's scheme of exterminating rabbits by means of chicken cholera, considers that it would destroy the birds, and that consequently insects and snakes would be largely increased. It is expected that the Russian proposals in connection with Bulgaria will not result in a satisfactory settlement of the question. Sir Charles Russell's motion for the appointment of a committee to inquire into the right of the Government to prohibit meetings in Trafalgar square was negatived by a majority of 92. A similar motion by Mr Bradlaugh was also rejected. The ADgelican bishops are making strong protests against the practice which is growing up among the aristocracy of devoting the Sabbath almost entirely to amusement. Among the richer classes, theatrical entertainments, jugglery exhibitions, boxing and tennis matches, and even dancing occupy the greater part of the day. The bishops are appealing to the clergy throughout the United Kingdom to use their influence to remedy this growing evil, aad to secure and maintain the proper observance cf the Sabbath day. Signor Criapi, the Italian Premier, has demanded that 15 French infantry soldiers shall be punished for compelling a number of Italian railway officials on the frontier to kneel to them at the point of the bayonet. There have been some heavy avalanches in the Alps during the past few days. It is reported that several villages have been submerged, and that 200 persons have been killed. Information has been received at Eome that an avalanche has engulfed the Hospice at the Great St. Bernard, a mountain pass of the Appennine Alps between Piedmont in Italy and Calais in Switzerland, No loss of life is reported. Bulgaria has notified the Powers that she will reject any Turkish demand which might, if it were acceded to, have the effect of disturbing the condition of the country. The rebels in Roumelia have again broken out in rebellion, and 40 of the leading officers have been arrested. Professor Blackie, who himself is a warm sympathiser with the oroftera' agitation, says that Mrs Gordon Baillie is so clever that she would deceive the Devil himself. She has been living for some years in great style, and has attracted considerable attention as a woman of large means. She has now disappeared very suddenly, and has lelt a large number of debts unpaid. The detectives are searching for her with a warrant for her arrest on a charge of fraud. Mrs Gordon Baillie's mother earns her living as a charwoman. Her Magesty the Queen ha 3 received a telegraphic message from the Crown Princess abating that the Crown Prince has had a

torn for the better, and that there is again room for hope that he may survive his illness. Sir James F. Garrick, Agent- general for Queensland, is urging upon the Imperial Government that a sovereignty over the New Hebrides should be proclaimed. Lord Nutaford (Sir Henry Holland), Secretary of State for the Colonies, has replied that shortly an entire protectorate will be proclaimed. Sir F. D. Bell, the Agent-general for New Zealand, has received over 50 applications for the chief commisionership of the railway board, which at the last session in New Zealand it was decided should take control of the New Zealand railways. The selection will be made shortly. The Crown Prince is now slightly better, and has been allowed to walk in the gardens, this being the first time he has been out since the operation was performed upon him. The Porte has sent a note to Prince Ferdinand that his election to tho Bulgarian throne is illegal. The crofters charged with rioting at Lewis, Hebrides Islands, have been tried and acquitted, the Crown being unable to prove their identification. Intelligence has reached Moz vmbique of a disastrous hurricane which has been experienced in Madagascar. The gale was felt with extreme violence on the east coast of the Island, and the town of Tamative, which is the chief commercial port of Madagascar, was laid in ruins. Eleven vessels were wrecked in the barbcar or on the adjacent reefs. The extent of the casualties is not yet known, but at; Tamative 20 persons were killed by the falling debris.