ENGLAND.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 8148, 28 April 1885, Page 2

ENGLAND.

London, April 13. In both Houseß of Parliament last night resolutions were passed thanking the Queen for her message of the 2Gth of March calling out the militia and reserve forces. In the House of Commons last night, during the discussion on the proposed motion thanking Her Majesty for calling out the militia and reserves, an amendment was moved in favor of the immediate evacuation of the Soudan. Lord Churchill supported the amendment, but on a division being taken it waa rejected. The .Russian squadron which has oeen atationed in the Mediterranean has been ordered to the Baltic. The British Government have bought two steamers to be employed as armed oruißers. One was purchased from the New Zealand Shipping Company, and when equipped will pr.obab.ly be des-

patched to Sydney to strengthen the war-ships there. An organisation is being formed amongst shippers of goods from the United Kingdom to Australia against a ring of shipbrokera who have hitherto controlled the leading berths in London and Liverpool. The British authorities are negotiating with the Orient Company for the purchase of the steamer Austral to be equipped as an armed cruiser. ~* A.pril IG. The British Government have received a dispatch from the Emperor of Russia, in which he Btates that he regards the prospecb of war between Russia and Great Britain as a most deplorable event. Earl Granville, Foreign Secretary, Has replied to the dispatch, cordially agreeing with the Emperor, and expressing a hope that; the negotiations now proceeding between the two Powers may lead to war being averted. A number of Afghan tribes are reported to be hostile to England. It is believed that Osman Digneh is engaged in mustering his forces on the mountains preparatory to an attack upon the British forces. He is running short of supplies, and an attack is expected daily. The Irish informer Kavanagh, who went to the colonies after the Phoenix Park tragedy, is now confined to a lunatic asylum. ' April 19. The Ameer of Afghanistan has expressed himself unwilling to allow British. troops to traverse his territory. The Press of London, referring to the rumors current respecting the terms upon which the Afghan frontier question is to be settled, deplore the suggested surrender of Penj-deh, and assert that a conflict with Russia is thereby only postponed. A rumor is circulated that Germany and Austria have threatened to discard the terms of the Berlin treaty unless Turkey preserves the neutrality of the Hellespont in the event of war. between England and Russia. The Admiralty are awaiting a reply from the Australian Governments to the proposal made by Admiral Tryon that he should assume the coutrol of all colonial war-ships. April 20. i Turkey has determined upon remaining^ neutral should war occur between Great Britain and Russia. The troops which have been mobilised in India are not to advance into Afghanistan, as the Ameer persists in the assurance that he is able to defend his tevritjty from attack without the assistance of British, troops. He is, however, to be supplied with arms and money by the British Government. The loyalty of the Ameer to Great Britain is regarded with doubt. Quantities of stores and ammunition ar© being despatched to Quetta. April 21. The arrogant tone displayed by Russia towards England on the Afghan frontier question is increasing. The British Government advised the Egyptian authorities to suppress the Bosfhore Egyptienne, and this has led to the relations between France and England becoming strained. It is suspected that France and Russia are conspiring together to annoy England.

[SPECIAL TO THE PJRBSB ASSOCIATION.] .London, April 24. The Prince and Princess of Wales have arrived at Belfast, where a great deal of enthusiasm at their visit was displayed. It is reported that a Russian squadron of twenty sail has passed the Island of Gottland, in the Baltic, bound to the southward. H.M.S. Invincible has been ordered to Singapore. . " The Russian Press are clamoring for Herat. The detachment of Engineers which waa to have been despatched to Herat will not proceed, as the Ameer has not given a guarantee of support. [by electric telegraph — copyright.] [reuter's telegrams.]