LETTER FROM G. V. STEWAET

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1825, 14 April 1885, Page 2

LETTER FROM G. V. STEWAET

London, Feb. 12, 1885

NEW ZEALAND BUREAU.

By the E.M.s.s. Kaikoura, that arrived here last week, I received copies of the "Waikato Times and Opotiki Herald, which have beeu duly filed and exhibited for gratuitous public reference and infoi'tfiation in the3e offices. I must here tender my best thanks to the proprietors and managers of these journals for having sent theso copies, which, I presume, have been despatched in compliance with my request contained in one of my monthly letters to the Bay of Plenty Times. This spirit of public feeling deserves some little recognition on my part. The proprietors may rely that, so far as I am concerned, they will receive the same prominence and position as the Bay of Plenty Times, which vill bo a valuable consideration for their respective advertising clients. I have leavvii, to regard New Zealand in its entirety, aud though I would naturally prefer lo see persons proceeding to theßay of Plenty, yet I will give every opportunity to intending settlers to satisfy themselves as to the locality in which they may desire to pitch their camp, ancl allow each place or district to staud on its own merits. GENERAL GOHDON. The reports that continue to reach us are still most conflicting, but long ere this letter reaches you we and you will have heard the final result. I fear much that there is no hope, and that tho citadel he had held so long has fallen by treachery and Gordon by the assassin's sword. The excitement here and over JOurope is intense, the Government is universally denounced, and tho leading London daily papers issue several specials daily. Some people still cling tv the hope that Gordon, surrounded by about fifty faithful adherents, has takou roi'ugo in the Greek church, which ho had fortified and in whicli ho had stored large supplies of food and ammunition, but I fear he was not allowed to get thero, and that' ho was murdered on going out of his threshold to ascertain tho cause of the noise and excitement of the Mahdi's troops ia tho streets of Khartoum, who had beon admitted by a treachorous Egyptian Pasha, while a confederate in treachory had taken Gordon's troops, some 10,000 strong, in an opposite direction. Meantime Khartoum is iv tho hands of tho Mahdi. The scenes of butchery witnessod at Sinkat and Tokar were here renewed, and for two days the streets were swimming with the blood of the victims, including innocont women and children. It is sickening to contemplate on this, however, moro especially when we reflect that all might have boon saved had our time-serving, radical, vacillating Government acted on the instincLs and maintained the prestige of tho British nation, which tlie Government does not represent. Feb. 13. LATEST. The Now Zealand mail via San Francisco left Now York per Guion Bteamor last Tuesday week at 10 a.m. It should, therefore, havo reached Q-ueenstown last Monday night and havo been delivered in London on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning, but so far it has not as yot made its appearance, which is most disappointing, as we should have been able to reply per Ruapehu by almost a daily return of post, which would reach our Wellington and Southern correspondents fully a fortnight earlier than by the next mail hence via San Francisco, leaving this on Thursday wook, 26th inst. However, Shaw, Savill aud Albion Company's steamer Coptic leaves again for Auckland direct on Friday, 27th inst., with London mails via Plymouth on March Ist, and I hope to send you somo further news supplementary to the 'Frisco service.

TICE WAR IX TIIE SOUDAN.

From telegraphic particulars to hand I this morning- 1 sco that a battle was fought in the neighbourhood of ICirbohan, noar tho scone of the murder of poor Colonel Stewart. General Earle, who was in command, gained a glorious victory, but lost his life when entering the enemy's camp. The loss of the officers has heen vory groat and out of all proportion to tho loss of tho privates. On the death of General Earle the command was taken by Gonerai Brsckenbury, and I havo no doubt but that Mr Parnell and his Fenian coadjutors would bo rcjoicod to hear that General Brackenhury had fallon instead of Earle, as he Imd been at the liead of the Criminal Investigation Department at Dublin Castle, but resigned his appointment to go on activo service in Egypt. It is, however, some satisfaction to know that the Monassir tribe, tho murderers of Colonel Stowart, wore almost exterminated to a man, tho fow who escaped having saved thomsolvos by swimming the Nile, and who were "potted" like ducks by our marksmen.

It is stated that Colonel Williams, member of the Dominion Parliament, has tendered his services and those of a regiment to be selected from the Canadian Militia to the British authorities. It is further asserted that his proposal has been accepted, and that lie will proceed to enlist men at once. The regiment will bo GOO strong, and will do garrison duty in England.

I Another member of the Dominion Parliament has offered to raise a regiment . of French Canadians, for service in Egypt. I would not trust Frenchmen under any circumstances, and this morning wo hear that the New South AVales Government have offered to hor Majesty's Government, through the Agent-General Sir Saul Samuel, for service in the Soudan, two batteries of the Permanent Field Artillery of New South Wales with { ton sixteen-pounder /guns properly]

horsed ; also an effective and disciplined Battalion of Infantry live hundred stroug; the artillery to be uuder command of Colonel Eoberts, E.A., and the whole force under command of Colonel Eichardson, Commandant of the Military Forces in New South Wales j the Colonial Governuient undertaking to land the force at Sii at? int within thirty days from embarkation.

I should not be surprised to hear that our little colouy of New Zealand will also come forward with the offer of assistance in men to the Mother Country. England possesses tho threo great requirements for warfare, as expressed by Napoleon 1., whiv.li are Money ! Money ! Money ! It is, however, to be feared that our vif 1 '-

tary troubles are not likely to to. confined to the Soudan a.c. probable sei'iotiri fighting is expected in the Bpclumntiland expedition . The monej' - market Is, however, beginning to right itself after the panic' caused by the fall of Khartoum. I still continue very sanguine about our railway capital, but, will write fully to the aocretary of the local director?, hy the tho present mails. I havo not even time to read over this letter before consigning it to the post.