SPECIAL TELEGRAPHIC.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XVII, Issue 835, 14 April 1885, Page 2

SPECIAL TELEGRAPHIC.

(FROM OUR OWN' CORRESPONDENT.) DUNEDIN. Monday Evening. The scare which sprang up when the news of the fight' between the Russians and Afghans was received has died down a good deal. The nows from Home is more pacific in tone. It seems certain that General Koraaroff did receive some provocation before he attacked the Afghans, The Russian Government have asked him for an explanation of his action, and pending the receipt of this things have become quieter. The London news is that the panic on the Stock Exchange has subsided. In Dunedin the defences are being pushed vigorously forward. The Naval Brigade on Saturday brought up two of the big guns from Port Chalmers, and one will be mounted on Thursday next at the St. Clair end of the Ocean Beach ; the others will be put in position very shortly. That the Government are losing no time is evident from the fact that the 'engineer in charge of the works, Mr Low, is working night and day. He was busy in his office on Saturday night at LO or II o’clock. . The Government having determined to call out the Militia, the young men of the city have been rushing Volunteer companies during the past two or three days. B Battery of artillery got its full strength at once, and all the companies have had numerous applications. A movement is also on foot to enrol a corps of men who have been previously trained in some disciplined force. The Premier addresses the citizens of Auckland this evening. The Naval Brigade Band, in spite of the City Council’s refusal, piayed yesterday in the Botanical Gardens, and the weather being fine a large number of people went to listen to them. A large number of gentlemen were invited to visit the Kaitangata coal-mine on Saturday, and a special train conveyed 140 or 150 visitors from Dunedin and intermediate stations. A very pleasant day was spent in inspecting the mine and the new works and machinery. Within the last year the company have spent L9OOO in opening up new workings and erecting first-class machinery. Some of the main workings are lit by electricity. > \ At the last day’s meeting of the ?A.J.O. meeting at Sydney, on Saturday, the Jockey Club Plate, three miles, weight for age, was won by Reginald, with David second, and Commotion third. Reginald had beaten Commotion twice before in weight for age races at the same meeting—once at a mile and a-half, and again at two miles. There are ten nominations for the principal handicap at the Dunedin Jockey Club May meeting. Mr Mervyn’s Leopold is among them, and Don Jose is entered for one of the other handicaps. There are 33 in for the Trotting events. At the Auckland Supreme Court, John Brown, anegro, who ran after Thomas Brown, also a negro, and shot at him, got 10 years’ penal servitude. In one of the country districts of Auckland the infant child of the local schoolmaster, Mr Wood, has been poisoned by eating matches. At Christchurch on Saturday evening the body of a new-born female child, much decomposed, was found in the Avon. The police have not yet discovered how it came there. CABLE NEWS. | London, April 10. The panic which has prevailed for some time on account of the threatening aspect of foreign affairs has now in a great measure subsided, and business matters have resumed their usual course. V V In the House of Commons to-day, Mr Gladstone stated in reply to a question that General Komaroff had been requested by the Russian Government to furnish an explanation of his conduct in attacking the Afghan troops. It is stated that England could have ready for embarkation should hostilities with Russia occur 20,000 men in two days’ notice. The European Press generally condemns the action taken by General Komaroff. The English Press and public demand that that officer should be recalled, and they consider that Russia is now only trifling with a view to gaining more time. Suakin, April 10. News from Kassala dated March 20th states that the Egyptian garrison there had up to that time maintained their position against the rebel forces. Cairo, April 10. News of the rising by disaffected followers of the Mahdi is confirmed, and it is believed that his forces have been completely destroyed in fighting at El Obeid. London, April 12. Intelligence from North West Canada states that the insurrection fomented by the half-bred Riel in Manitoba is growing in gravity, and that Indian tribes have surrounded several outlying stations and massacred a number of white settlers at Frog Lake. INTERCOLONIAL. Melbourne, April 11. The Victorian Government having made inquiries as to the alleged presence of Russian warships at the Cape, Sir H. Robinson, Governor of Cape Colony, telegraphs in reply that six men-of-war belonging to Russia left Capetown at the end of February, their ostensible destination being Europe and India. Sydney, April 11. Intelligence from Coonamble states that the two men Angel and Thurston who escaped from Coonamble gaol on March 12th, and who have been at large since, attacked a storekeeper named Stewart yesterday and shot him dead. The police shortly appeared on the scene. After exchanging shots they wounded Angel mortally and shot Thurston dead. ♦