BRITISH AND FOREIGN NEWS.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XII, Issue 588, 15 February 1881, Page 6

BRITISH AND FOREIGN NEWS.

[By Cable.] (PROM DUNEDIN DAILIES.)

London, February 7. Michael Davitt will be exempt from hard labor during the remainder of his sentence. In the House of Commons to-day the Bight Hon. Grant Duff, Under-secretary for the Colonies, in reply to a question, said that the Governor of the Gold Coast Colony had determined to resist the Ashantee demand for the surrender of the fugitive chief, and was making every defensive preparation in case of attack.

Mr Gladstone announced in the House to-day that the Irish Land Bill would take precedence of all other business after the Coercion Bill had been passed.

A disastrous fire has broken out in a colliery at Turnstall, Staffordshire. Twenty colliers are entombed. But little hope of recovering them is entertained.

T. W. Walsh, a Land Leaguer, one of the traversers in the recent prosecution at Dublin, has started for Australia.

In the House of Commons to-day the debate on the Irish Coercion Bill was resumed. The proceedings were in every respect orderly, and the debate is progressing satisfactorily. It is now announced that it is the intention of the Government that the Irish Land Bill should, it possible, become law before Easter, and every effort will be made to bring about this result. February 9,

In view of possible hostilities with the Ashantees, her Majesty’s corvette Champion, 14 guns, has been ordered to the Gold Const, where she will organise a Naval Brigade for service in A shantee.

According to official documents which have been published, General Sir Frederick Roberta discovered, while in occupation at Cabul, a secret treaty for an offensive and defensive alliance signed between Russia and the Ameer, dated August, 1878; also a letter from the Russian General Stolietoff (sic), dated October of the same year, advising Shero Ali to sue for peace with England, but at the same time to secretly prepare for war. Other papers which were found, moreover, show that the Russian policy included measures to incite an armed rebellion of Mahomedans in India. In the House of Commons last night the Irish Coercion Bill was read a second time, on a division showing a majority of 300 for the Government.

Capetown, February 8.

News has been received from Natal that the Boers have stopped the mail between Sir George Colley’s camp at Lungsnek and the headquarters at Newcastle.

All the reinforcements from England and India have now arrived at Durban, Natal, and the troops will proceed without delay to the frontier. Further news to hand from Natal states that since the stoppage of the mail between Lungsnek and Newcastle, General Sir George 1 'olloy has despatched a force to clear the road of Boers. Further official intelligence from Transvaal states that Sir George Colley, in advancing with

a force to clear the road to Newcastle, seized the plateau of Ingogo, when the Boers made a strong attack on the position. Heavy fighting ensued, lasting fully six hours, both sides suffering severely, but the enemy wore finally repulsed with heavy loss, and withdrew at sunset. The British troops then returned to the camp, where General Colley hopes to maintain his position until the arrival of reinforcements.