MAIL NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5601, 6 February 1879, Page 5

MAIL NEWS.

The following items are taken from iho London correspondence of the Melbourne Argus i LONDON, Duo, 20. THE AFGHAN CAMPAIGN. The Afghan war takes now the first ploco in public interest. We are occupied, however, more at present with the policy involved than with the operations in the field. The first feelings of anxiety have been alloyed by the rapid advances of our troops, and, as yet, our Indian correspondence has been too meagre to stir any great excitement. Despite some alarm, and an apparent check in the Koorum Pass, the operations of the last fortnight have been successful almost beyond expectation. General attention was concentrated on the'Khyber Pass, as best known and made memorable by a great disaster; but with the easy capture of Ali Musi id all feM resistance wos overcome. A now danger arose when the hillmen, returning on the

track of General Browne’s column, attacked the conrw*j and threatened the communications The official mail bags were captured, and for some day* the few troops In the rear were kept constantly on the alert. Peshawar was left almost bare. Nor was the Pass cleared without sharp fighting. But by the last accounts the mam body of the Afreodees had come to the rescue, and inflicted punishment on their rebellions and marauding brethern. The friendly tribes had undertaken the defence, and strong guards had been placed on various heights. General Browne occupied Dakka, the first Afghan station in the valley beyond the Pas£ on Nov. 23, that is, m less than three days after the declaration of war. The station was found deserted, and the guns withdrawn, and the villagers round readily brought in supplies. *'ihe Viceroy now reports that Jellalabad has been evacuated, and that there are no Afghan troops nearer than Cabul. The attitude of the Ameer iu those circumstances has excited some surprise, and Is still the subject of much speculation. Meanwhile, in the Koorum Pass, General Huberts has found tougher work. Advancing rapidly through the valley, he had taken unopposed possession of the EoorumFort. Pushing forward he divided his column into two portions, in the hope of outflanking the Afghans. But as he entered the Peiwar Pass the enemy opened fire suddenly from a commanding range. Our artillery attempted to shell their position, but unsuccessfully, and ultimately the troops were withdrawn beyond range of the Afghan fire. The flanking columns could make no way, and it was deemed expedient to rest the weary men before resuming the attack. The delay was not more than prudence required. But a despatch received from General Heberts to-day announces that he has turned the enemy’s position by a night march, and surmounting all difficulties, has now captured the Pass. The road was difficult, but the enemy were taken by surprise at daybreak; The 72nd Highlanders,and the sth Goorkhas drove them from their positions. The forces having been redisposed, the Kotul was attacked two days later, and also taken. The killed and wounded on our, side amount to about 80. The Afghans appear to have suffered severely. In the meantime General Stuart had reached Kirta, in the Bolan Pass; General Biddulph warf awaiting him at Pieheen, or rather his arrival at Quettah, before moving further northward with the left wing of the invading army. REINFORCEMENTS FOR THE CAPE. Owing to the very pressing applications of Lord Chelmsford, the Government have resolved upon sending out either two or three additional battalions to the Cape, with a further force of artillery and engineers. They have also called for volunteers from home regiments to fill up the cadres of the regiments already in South Africa to the maximum extent. The 99th (the Duke of Edinburgh’s own), a corps well-known in Australia and New Zealand, with the second battalion of the 4th, leave this week and next for Natal, and will at once proceed to the front, to be at hand, when an ultimatum is sent to Cetewayo, the Zulu King, demanding the disbandment and disarmament of the 40,000 or 50,000 warriors he now keeps on foot. As in our treatment of Shore Ali, a certain amount of time will be given him for reply, and in the event of none, or of an unfavourable one being received, our troops will cross the frontier to do “ Federal execution.” The Portuguese at Delagoa Bay have fallen Under the wrath of Cetewayo for acceding to our request that they should stop the importation of arms, and he has threatened to visit them with condign punishment when he has settled us. Commodore Sullivan has proceeded to Delagoa Bay to thank the Portuguese and to concert measures for assisting in their defence in the event of Cetewayo taking action. Besides the troops being sent out, the Ordnance Store departmeht at Woolwich is issuing several hundred tons of arms, ammunition, blankets, sheets, plank bedsteads, and other barrack furniture, camp and field stores, with, in fact, all the requisites for an army on active service. An unusually large number of engineer officers will accompany this new expedition to the Cape. Eight thousand draft bullocks have been purchased there for the transport service. The question has been mooted, in view of the unlikelihood of there being any large emigration from the United Kingdom to South Africa, of importing some thousands of Chinese, with their wives and placing them as military colonists on the Transvaal border. Their industry is unquestionable, and when organised and led by such men as “Chinese Gordon” and kindred souls, they have proved no despicable soldiers. They would form a check, always available, to the Zulus and other warlike tribes.

Further complaints have appeared in the home papers of the treatment sustained by those members of the Armed Frontier Mounted Police at the Cape who decline to join the new Cape Mounted Rifle Corps, with an extension of the term of service. The question will undoubtedly be brought before Parliament. There evidently seems to have been some gross injustice perpetrated, and even the Mounted Police Service has been very different from what it was represented to bo to those who engaged for it at home. MISCELLANEOUS. Lord Carnarvon, lato Secretary for the Colonies, is about to be married to a cousin, Miss Howard, daughter of Mr Howard, of Qreystoko, Cumberland. The Right Rev Dr Perry, lato Bishop of Melbourne, has accepted the canonry in Llandaff Cathedral vacated by the Dean of Peterborough, Colonel John C. M'Scill, C.M.G., C. 8., Y.C., has accompanied the Marquis of Lome, as military secretary, to Canada. The colonel obtained his Victoria Cross in New Zealand for valour and presence of mind in saving the life of a soldier. Ho was also with Sir Garnet Wolseloy in the Red River Expodition, and in Ashantee. We have heard nothing more of the advent of tto three commissioners, and although told by Router that Mr Graham Berry and Professor Pearson are two, wo uro loft in doubt as to the third. A “ communicated” paragraph to the papers announcing the arrival of Sir Brvan O'Lojjhlon in England in January next loads to the belief that he will be the third, while some of Sir Charles Garun Duffy’s friends aver ho is the coming man. As to the agont-geuoralship, Sir Bryan, Sir Charles, and Mr Berry are all spoken of.

Lord Dufferin was entertained the other night at a banquet in the Ulster Hall, Belfast, the assemblage being unusually brilliant amt enthusiastic as well ns numerous. When bis health was proposed, His Lordship said ho found difficulty adequately to express bis thanks for tbo honour clone him. When ho quitted Ireland ho never contemplated returning under such happy auspices. The success of a Colonial Governor often depended as much on his good fortune as bis own conduct. He might encounter insoluble problems, popular discontent, be betrayed by liis Ministers, thwarted by bis Parliament. Nature herself might rise against him, and bis rule be signalised by pestilence, lannno, and war. Those trials be bad boon mercifully spared. He found Canadian people not only free from dissensions, but enamoured of their relations with China aro said to be very cordial, and Sir Thomas Wade, our Minister, has suddenly left England for Lahore to consult with Lord Lytton on, it is said, the aspect of affairs in Kashgar, and the allying the Chinese in antagonism to Russia. At Hong Kong, on Nov. 29, the newly-ap-Jointed Chinese Minister to England and ‘ranee, at a banquet given by the Governor, stated that Mr Pope Hennossy’s impartial and excellent government had cemented the friendly feeling between England and China. The Minister added that ho regarded the friends and enemies of England as the friends and enemies of Chino. Rear-Admiral da Horsey, commander-in-chief on the Pacific station, has forwarded to tho Admiralty an account of his visit in the Shall to Pitcairn Island bn Sept. 8. The population, whom ha found in a satisfactory condition, numbered 41 males and 49 females, comprising but one survivor of the generation, which immediately followed the mutineers. That survivor is Elizabeth Young,- aged

about 88, daughter of John Mills, gunner’s mate of the Bounly, and of n-i Utaheitian * n ° the ’”- The oldest man is Thursday October Christian, aged 59, grandson of Fletcher Christian, master’s mate of the vessel. As many as 68 (men, women, and children) eagerly accented the invitation of the RearAdmiral to visit the Shah. He proposes *!’- a ship of war should visit Pitcairn annually, and expresses ids conviction that the Colony is deserving such attention and encouragement as Her Majesty’s Government shoulrf think fit to hold out to it.

Mr R. S. Adams, of Sydney, has sent what the Daily Telegraph terms an optimal description of the financial prospects of New South Wales to that paper. Mr Adam* s-vs the total debt of the Colony is slightly under £12,000,000, against which there is a surplus revenue in hand to the amount of £3,689,000, balance due from selectors £9,160,000, and the Colony could sell the railways to European capitalists for £11,000,000, thus showing available assets of 40s in the £’. Mr Adams thinks that, considering the general and individual prosperity in the country, investors ought only to bo too glad to lend the Colony £20,000,000 at fair interest, rather than hesitate at the £2,000,000 loan, looked coldly on by London magnates of the money market.

Captain Schwenzen, of the wrecked steamer Pommerania, has been appointed to the Westphalia. A correspondent at Copenhagen, describing the wedding of the Princess Thyra, says “The crowds were particularly enthusiastic in their manifestations of loyalty and joy, which ■ they intended as a demonstration against recent sinister rnmours that a letter had been received threatening the Kirm of Denmark with assassination, and that a°bor of Orsini bombs had been seized at Hamburg. The garrison of Copenhagen were confined to their barracks.

Jonathan Nield, managing partner in the private Bank of J, and J. Fenton and Sons, Rochdale, in November lost 3,000,000d01s of the 'Bank’s money by speculating on tho Stock Exchange, The iron screw steamer Kate, of Whitley, England, from Galveston, cotton laden, for Havre, was totally wrecked at Bermudo on the Ist inst. A portion of the cargo was saved in a damaged condition. Prince Lobanoff, Russian ambassador, has presented a note protesting against the issue of a new Turkish loan, and declaring that Turkey has no right to alienate her resources prior to liquidating her engagements, including her war indemnity. Lieutenant-Colonel Chas. J. Tottenham, Conservative, has been returned to Parliament from New Roes, defeatin'? Delaney. Homo Ruler. "

In the House of Commons, night of ISth instant, the Home Secretary, answering an inquiry, “ Whether it was true, as reported, that we are now face to face with such a crisis of distress as this generation had never known,” said that though much distress unhappily prevailed among the labouring ..poor, th*e description of it was exaggerated. Jherc was nothing to cause unnecessary alarm. He read telegrams received from the head of the Board of Supervision at Edinburgh and the Mayors of Liverpool and Manchester, stating that ordinary means of relief were at, present sufficient to meet all necessities. He had not had time to inquire into the condition of the coal and iron districts. At Birmingham, a meeting, convened by the Major, was held yesterday, to consider the best means; to relieve the distress, which is declared exceptionally severe and increasing daily. The Mayor was requested to organise means for raising and distributing relief. At Sheffield 2000 children and 3000 adults received ail last week. The Mayor’s relief fund amounts to 30,000 dols. At Stockton distress is increasing. Hundreds of families of ironworkers are destitute. An influential committee is canvassing for subscriptions and contributions. At Stoke-on-Treat groat distress prevails, which is enhanced by the severity of the cold. The Distress Committee is unable to keep pace with the demand. At Burslem a meeting was called by the mayor to take means to alleviate the distress. Great want is being felt in North Staffordshire. __ At Edinburgh a deputation of unemployed men waited on the magistrates for employment. The magistrates authorised the street inspectors to give them work. At Glasgow the depression and distress are unexampled. The streets are swarming wish idle and starving men, women, and cinldren. The Lord Provost and the magistrates are organising veiy thorough relief for the most urgent distress. A Dundee despatch says there is much misery in that part cf Scotland. Ho adequate measures for relief have been organised in the northern part of the country, where fishermen and agricultural labourers are destitute. At Manchester vast numbers of the middle-class poor, who will not appeal to charity, are suffering keenly. Sir J. M'Clure, liberal, has been returned for Londonderry.

The director of the mint at Bordeaux ha? been arrested, charged with abstracting 1,300,000 francs worth of silver bars, belonging to the Rothschilds, and subsisting bars of galvanised iron.

The Duke de Quiche was married on the 6th inst. to Mdlle. de Rothschild. The election of the Due de Gazes has been invalidated.

Persons considered dangerous arc denied the right to reside in Berlin or its suburbs. Herr Most, member of the Reichstag, now in prison, has been ordered to quit Berlin when his term shall have expired. He and several others, similarly expelled, propose to go to America.

• »Thd Russian budget for 1877 shows revenue 549.000. roubles, and expenditure 1.014.000. roubles, nearly half of which was on the array. England has made General Kuhi-.r.auh speech, when presenting a sword to the Ameer’s envoy, the subject of communication to St. Petersburg. General Kauffman has been recalled, and Russian papers ridicule the action, saying Russia had as much right to demand Lord Lrtton’s recall by England. Au attempt has been made to assassiu.Ve Prime Minister Tisca and Count Andrassy, -at Pesth.

The editors of Hungarian newspapers have been threatened by anonymous communications with death if they support the Government.

The Spanish Ministers are considering ;\ project for laying a cable between Manilla mid Hong Kong. Twenty-nine vessels hare arrived at Constantinople from tbo United Stales wiC; arms.

Tho Porto has suppressed the Logit lon -v Washington and many consulates siii-v I'mcessation of hostilities. Tho French steamer Jauon, with a -r!. :;i‘ ■ party to circumnavigate tho globe, had ar.dv-' 1 at Panama.

Amongst the names that have been published of tho gentlemen on whom the i. ; ; of Honour has been conferred there are, in '.ho frade of officers, Messrs Arthur MucuHiler, J. . Casey, Edward Combos, and Thos. Keefer (Canada). Messrs G. C. Levey, Josiah Eoolhby, Joules Joubert, and P. L. Simmon ’s are appointed chevaliers. A letter lias been published in tho Irish papers, written by Sir Bryan O’Loghlen to a friend at Kilrush, stating that ho hopes to bo in London in February in time to tato hi - seat in tho House of Commons. That ho will then visit tho electors of Clare, and afterwords resign his scat, so that it may bo taken up by a gentleman who can reside permanently in Ireland. On the day that the Parliament met, tho Speaker stated that ho had received certain despatches from the Governor of Victoria in respect to (ho election of Sir Bryan O’Loghlen for Clare. Mr Knatohbull-Hugessen is again introducing a Bill to amend the law relating to colonial marriages. The Echo says that a nice little dispute has . arisen in reference to the Hatohsm vicarage. | Mr M'Ooll some time ago took charge of the | church, at the invitation of tho Rev. | Tooth, the understanding being that ho should 1 ultimately have tho living. Mr Tooth ha?, I however, retained the whole of the endow- | ment and tho burial fees, and has applied for I the marriage fees alsv Mr M'Coll has now | been doing Mr Tooth’s work for a consider- ' able time at > a very small stipend, and now Mr Tooth wants him to give it up, haring altered his mind about resigning. '