ITEMS BY THE MAIL.

Grey River Argus, Volume 21, Issue 3045, 20 May 1878, Page 2

ITEMS BY THE MAIL.

The Duke; of Connaught has resumed military duties at Dublin. .-■.■ ! • ; , The Duke of Edinburgh left Malta for England, where he will shortly receive, .flagrant. „,., '■'..' -„ ..;,. . ' Two steamers have, left .for Malta with telegraph. cables, to lay down in various; parts of the; Levant, for the ; British Government.^;':.^ :.• : .■.■'•!:.!-: ■>■■-.•;■. -...-■ Notwithstanding the signatures to the treaty of peace, preparations for contingencies still continue. ; Vessels already in' commission are fitting out. These include the Thunderer^ Dreadnought,' Inconstant, Northampton, Monarch, Superb, Bellisle, and the two new ironclads purchased from the Turkish Government ; the Independenzia, purchased from Brazil ; the Euryalus, Agamemnon, Iron Duke, Lord Warden, Triumph,' Hercules, Thunderbolt, Northumberland, Prince Albert, Glatton, Cyclops, Hydra; Hecate, Philomel, and Cormorant, The Inflexible ia being.speedily pushed on,, and her 81 ton guns are nearly; ready. .Large quantities 11 of war material are being shipped to the Mediterranean fleet and fortresses. Greatprecaution b are being taken by the fleet in the Dardanelles, and Sea of Marmora against torpedo attacks. Each vessel is protected by hawsers "and spars., Steam : and torpedo launches -are used, extra, sentries posted, the heavy guns are kept constantly loaded, while the electric lights ■< from the. tops i.of ,- the; Alexandria and Temeraire render all objects visible, two miles round. A number of cbmmisSibns^ in the ordnance atid ;1 'transport 'depart-" ments are being given; to non-commis-sioned officers of artillery. ; , Scandals have come to light in connection with the management of the French military prisons. The Shah of Persia starts for Europe on the sth of April. ; ,; ;; ;; During the last, sittings of the.Turkish Parliament public affairs were discussed with groat freedom, both Christians and Musselmansjoiningin exposing the faults of the administration. On the prorogation, several of the prominent members, were excelled to Asia Minor. . Fifty thousand Russians are to remain in the new principality of Bulgaria for two years, until a national malitia i 3 organised., Communication with Russia will be maintained by sea from Varna and Bonrgas. All Mussulmans who have quitted Bulgaria can return to occupy their homes. The obstructions at the Sulina mouth of the Danube are being cleared away. The Prince of Wales arrived in London on the 4th from Paris, where he had spent eight days, during which he visited, for several hours daily, the Exhibition. He greatly interested himself in the, Colonial j portion, and secured increased space for Victoria. . . .... On the sth, Major O'Gorman's Bill for assimilating the municipal, franchise of Ireland to that of England, was defeated by. 167 to 162, owing to the absence of a number of members. Twenty-four of the? Home Rule members were, away. A,re- ;;- solution condemning their absence on this and other late occasions has bean passed by the Home Rule party. The Duke of Cambridge, presiding at a meeting of the Working Orphanage on the 9ch, spoke highly of the present recruits for the Army. At a meeting in St. James's Hall resolutions were agreed to in favor of the | release of theireinaining Fenian prisoners, I and three of those recently set at liberty detailed their personal experience. Mr Vincent and Mr Howard, barristers at law, have been appointed directors of criminal investigations in the i ' Metropolitan P.#lice, with control over the detective forces.' ' -■-.■:. Mr Pease's Bill for the Abolition of Capital Punishment was defeated in the House of Commons : by 263 votes to 64. MrOsborne Morgan's motion in favor of , interments in churchyards without religious service was lost bj 242 to 227.' An annual grant of L3OOO is proposed for. Han3ard to improve the system of reporting debates, with special reference to late debates, discussions in committee, ; and on private Bills. ,; :. ...... . . .:•• ; Colonel Henderson, chief of the Metropolitan Police Force, has been knighted. General Sir Arthur Boston succeeds Sir C. Van , Straubenzae aa Governor of Malta. The London Salvage Company . have commenced operations to raise the Vanguard. Colonel Arbuthnot, a Conservative, was returned for Hereford by 1110 votes, against 1066 given to Mr Pulley, the Liberal candidate. . \ . . Exploring expeditions for Africa are bein? fitted out both in France and Germany, and both Governments are aiding. The Indo-European Company have introduced the telephone into Persia, and 390 miles have' been spoken over; Lieut. -General Sir Patrick M'Dougallj the head of the intelligence Department of Horse Guards, will assume command in Canada in May. Major-General Hamly sucoeeds him at the Horse Guards.