ADDITIONAL.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XX, Issue 3888, 3 April 1877, Page 2

ADDITIONAL.

London, March 3. Thirty vessels, with their entire crews, were lost in a gale on the English coast, on the night of the 19th. The number of people employed on relief works in India has been decreased. Small-pox and measles are prevalent at Hong Kong, and pleuro-pneumonia amongst the cattle. A colliery explosion has occurred at Stonehill, Farnworth. Eighteen people were killed. A most heartrending scene ensued when the bodies were taken out. A telegram from Paris says that the intended marriage of King Alfonso and the Duke of Montpensier's daughter is announced for the end of April. The Danish deputies from Schleswig Holstein refused in the Landstag to take the oath to observe the Prussian constitution ; consequently, they were debarred from further participation in the proceedings of the Hoiise. The Jfoniiciir says it has authentic information that Emperor William has recently expressed to the French Ambassador at Berlin his sincere satisfaction at the complete accord between the French and German representatives at Constantinople. The Dahomey blockade is imperfect, as the British Government rely on the assurance of certain chiefs that they will not assist the King of Dahomey. It is feared that a spirited policy would result in the butchery of European captives. Gelele, the Dahonmn ruffian, is j>rotectcd by Amazons. Earl Russell has given notice in the House of Lords that he will move " That England shall cease all diplomatic intercourse with Turkey, on the ground that the nation is still barbarous and unworthy to rank among the enlightened peoples of Europe."

( It is rumoured that the Marquis of Salisbury is to be made a Duke. The removal of the British squadron from Bessica Bay to Malta is regarded as the furtherance of an understanding with the other Powers. The Russian army is making energetic preparations to cross the Pruth. The orders from St. Petersburg are that the march should be accomplished without needlessly encumbering the railway, which will transport the artillery and the ambulances. The Russian army south of the Caucasus, on the Asiatic frontier of Turkey, is in readiness for action. It numbers 115,000 men, with 35 field batteries and 250 heavy seige guns. • A letter in the Cologne, G-azette, from South Russia, says that a forced loan will probably soon be decreed. A further extension of the mobilisation of the Russian f orces has been determined upon, but it will scarcely be carried out until milder weather. The commanders of the Southern Army have been ordered to victual their corps up to the middle of March, ,at least. Vienna specials say that the St. Petersburg Vidomisti lias been threatened with suspension if it continues to agitate for ; war. f

The Times' Berlin correspondent says that the leading personages of the Russian Government continue opposed to immediate hostilities. The war, therefore, will in all probability be deferred until Turkey's financial and military decline is complete, when Turkey may request Russia to demobilise her forces. A special from St. Petersburg says that the general opinion there is that Russia will not declare war against Turkey. The Standard's despatch froni Vienna reports that the Roumanian representatives have officially informed Count Andrassy that Roumania desires to remain neutral in any case, and that the Roumania militia be disbanded. The Vienna correspondent of Tie Times says that the general declarations made by Turkey have now come up in a' more precise form, namely, that the period of a year be given to the Porte to carry it through, by means of the Constitution reforms demanded by the Powers. If the Porte does not succeed it will pledge itself to accept the guarantees suggested by the Conference. It may be meant only as a feeler, and as a coxmter project to the \ suggestion which is attributed to Russia, that the Powers grant a certain interval, but pledge themselves to use coercion if j reforms are not effected at the expiration of that time. Miridiz has taken arms against Turkey, and is beseiging the Puka fortress on the road to Prinzindi. Desvish Pasha has sent troops from Scutari to relieve the place and afterwards march against Miridiz. Prince Milan has addressed a letter to the Sultan that he has accepted the Turkish conditions, except those claiming equality for the Jews in Servia and the right of the Porte to be diplomatically represented at Belgrade. The Sultan will grant Prince Milan a new firman determining the future relations of Servia and Turkey. The Prince's decree, dissolving Suptschina, lias produced a decided sensation among the deputies, but the command was obeyed. The Roman correspondent of Tfie Times states that it has been resolved that any Cardinal may be elected Pope on the death of Pius IX., irrespective of nationality. This decision was not reached without considerable discussion between the Pope and some members of the Sacred College. San Francisco, March 3. General Diaz has been sworn President of Mexico. General Cortina has been arrested and his property confiscated. The House Committee on appropriations inserted in sundry civil appropriations a bill for 360,000 dols to pay the claims of southern mail contractors for services rendered before the war. It is regarded as probable that the proposed subsidy to the Pacific Mail Steamship Co. of 500,000d01s will not be agreed to. The postmaster will probably give only the postages as compensation for services between San Francisco, Japan, and China. Eight bodies of the crew of the oyster schooner Laura, capsized near Annapolis in the gale of December 20, were recovered at Baltimore. The Chinese confinedatthe San Quentin gaol attempted to kill the warders by mixing pounded glass with their food. Th« plot was discovered. Some gas in the Sacramento sewer, which had leaked from the gas main, exploded, and the streets were strewn witt lumber and dirt> and a wide and deej ditch of over half a mile long was visible, bearing the appearance of chasm created by some terrible convulsion of nature. The Samoan Government have entered into a treaty of friendship with the United States. The Hawaian G-azette of February 14 says, " It will be noticed that the advertisements of the mail steamers are withdrawn, which is done by order of the Pacific Mail Company. On inquiry we learn that the company has determined tc withdraw from this route. In their latest letter they say, 'Should the decision of the Hawaian Government be unfavorable tc our view of what is just and liberal to this company, we will immediately and for ever drop port Honolulu, and carry out our English-Colonial mail contract, running direct from San Francisco to Fiji.' "