SAN FRANCISCO MAIL NEWS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XIII, Issue 1081, 23 November 1878, Page 6

SAN FRANCISCO MAIL NEWS.

London, Oct. 10. There is abundant evidence that the Ameer has long been preparing for war under Russian instigation. St. Petebsbubgh, Oct. 10. A corps of 20,000 men will be stationed on the northern frontier of Afghanistan. Russian officers just returned from Central Asia declare that a complete understanding exists with Russia ? The detention of the Viceroy's native envoy, Glisfcatn Hussien is reported. He left Cabul on September 29th. This causes great uneasiness. Officers on furlough or sick leave are ordered to return to their regiments immediately. An advance on'Candahar is ordered^ but the movement against Cabul will probably be deferred till Spring, and although the suppression of the insurrection at Bosnia is officially announced, and congratulations exchanged, severe fighting on 6th inst. is reported, m which the Austrians lost 200 men, including several officers. The Sultan refuses to sign the Bosnian Convention, holding Austria responsible for the alleged maltreatment of Serajeo Bey and the general excesses of her troops. Russian diplomatists hint that Austria's occupation of Bosnia is m a manner at variance with the Berlin Treaty, by which Russia will be entitled to keep troops for an indefinite period m Bulgaria and Roumelia. Prince Loba+off informed Safet Pasha that Austria is considerably embaarassed by a double ministerial crisis and the unpopularity of the of the Bosnian invasion. The Emperor is unable to form a Cabinet, and the present Ministry will remain till Parliament meets. Military preparations m Greece continue. A loan of 50 million fraucs has been raised, and acommitteeformed at Constantinople, to obtain from the Sultan a grant of an extensive district m Asia Minor for the settlement of 70,000 refugees still remaining m the Turkish capital. A Professor at Warsaw University has been arrested on account of bis alleged connection with Socialists. The relations between the Pope and the Jesuits are very much embittered, and -the Pope has compelled Cardinal Nina to reside at the Vatican. At Victoria, Vaucouvers Icland, it has been declared that a Poll Tax of eight pounds per head on the Chinese is unconstitutional and void. The Prince of Wales is m Paris; ■ Blackfriars Bridge is to.be thrown open to the public free of toll, on the'payment of L46i 500 by the Board of Workß. n The Princess Alice Relief Fund'has reached L 35.000. A clerk m the Liverpool branch of the Bank of England has absconded with bank notes worth L 15.000. Obituary : Mr Whalley, M.P., Mr Macdonald Q.C., Sir Richard Sutton, the well-known sportsman, Lord Chelnisford aged 84, Sir Francis Grant, present of the Royal Academy, Mr Geo. Thompson, the anti-slavery ad/ocate, MrJoSeph Irimany. ' ' '.••''■ "■■•■'■ : Gbahamstown, Nov. 21. The Premier and. the Minister of Public Works have been communicated with by the local authorities asking that Messrs Conyers and Lawson may be instructed to visit the Thames Valley line of Railway. The Premier says he goes to Kawan for rest and quiet, and hopes. Mr Macandrew will attend to the request. •" " New Plymouth, Nov. 29. Sub-Inspector Kenny •has'-reeeiued intimation to hold himself m readiness to relieve Sub-In-spector Bullen, of the Thames, who is to come here. Messrs Conyers and Lawson were ashore this morning, and went by special train to Waitara. ; Gisbobne, Nov. 19.- * On the 16th November, 1877, Gisborne suf-" fered from a terrible fire, and scarcely has the anniversary passed, when another serious conflagration has to be recorded. About a quarter past two this afternoon 1 the warning notes of the firebell rang out an alarm, and m a very few moments the cry.ranithjroughout the main street. that the fire was-down n£ar the wat'eiy and a rush was at once made down Read's Guay/ It was at once apparent that nothing could be done to save the bonded and free stores owned by Mr Adair, as the flames had secured a strong hold of the building. A cry was raised that ther* was half a ton of gunpowder stored m the building, and this caused many to retire to a respectful distance, but a gallant few were not to be so easily alarmed, and boldly got the fire engine into position; its services were, however, of little avail, as the jet of water was directed at Morgan's premises, which, the wind being from theN.W., were m comparatively little danger. The spirits stored m the building once ignited the heat became intense, and no effort could be made to sava a portion of the wharf at the end of the stores. The 6re originated m the Btable

owned by Mr George Burnand. At the time of the flames bursting out, James Turner, a carter m the former's employ, wag the last on the premises, and he immediately jumped down and endeavoured to turn out three horses which/were m the stables. Two of them he succeeded m getting out, but the third, a fine mare Burnand had just purchased from P. Kelly for £50, proved fractious, and was burned to death. Everything being dry, the destructive element gained ground every second, and especially at Adair's store, which was also m flames, and the wharf subsequently caught. Several of the members of the Rowing Club, rushed to the boatshed and managed to get out two of the racing gigs, but the building firing rapidly the third one could not be reached. Messrs Shepherd and Co. had a very large quantity of goods m bond uninsured, amounting, it is said, to L 2.000. There are other heavy losses besides. It is supposed that the stable was ignited by a spark from Morgan's engine falling on the shingles of the roof. The wind was blowing so strong that before any water could be obtained the stable waa all ablaze, and Turner, who was m the loft, barely escaped with his life. It is impossible, owing to the confusion, to learn the amounts of insurances, and the brigade are now at work pouring water on the smouldering debris. Nov. 19. Frederick Humphries, editor of the Herald, has issued a writ claiming LIOOO damages for Ibel against Henry Edwin Webb, proprietor of the Standard, for a grossly personal article reflecting on the character of Humphries as manager and editor of the Herald. Napier, Nov. 20. Mr J. H. Vautier, was the only candidate for the Mayoralty, and iras therefore elected. A good deal of agitation is going on here just now about dilatoriness m proceeding with the erection of the new hospital. Colonel Whitmore will be interviewed on the subject to-mor-row. New Plymouth, Nov. 20. For the agricultural show, which comes off on the 4th December, there have been 203 entries sent m. There are three candidates for Mayor — Messrs Fookes, C. Rennall, and Vivian. Westport, Nov. 22nd. An extensive limestone cave has been discovered near the white cliffs, between Westport and Reefton. The explorer describes it as a magnificent sight when illuminated. A creek traverses the cave, yielding good payable gold frospects. Private information from Lyell says some of the old Reefton quartz miners are passing through the township on their way to Wangapeka, where a rich reef has been discovered. Christchurch, Nov. 19. The fire brigades' demonstration on the 16th December promises to be a great success. Firemen from all parts of the island will be present. The infant daughter of Mr Codden fall m a stream at Tenaalcown yesterday, and was drowned. Timaru, Nov. 20. The bush fire at Waimate waa raging again last night, and the town was threatened. The insurance losses, as far as can be ascertained, are :— Liverpool, £100 ; New Zealand, £50 ; Standard, £50 ; Transatlantic, £100 ; Union, £250. Hayes,' Maiden Bush, is only a little damaged. He started yesterday with a gang of men to erect a new mill. A young lad ran up against a scythe m the bush and out his ankle severely, near severeing his foot. He is under Dr Hoadley's treatment. A concert will be held at Timaru to-morrow night, for the relief of the sufferers by the fire. Timaru, Nov. 21. The sea is gradually scouring the Beach and the reclaimed land, north of Mole. Messrs Allen and Stumbles, the contractors for the first part of the breakwater, put on a lot of hands who are filling bags with, shingle, and and laying them along va tiers m the front so as to break the force of the sea. The Fire m the Geraldine Bush is still burning and is gradually approaching the township. No correct estamate of the damage can yet be made. Whitaker's Barker's, McKewnie's, Martin's, and Gibson's propertiea have suffered, and besides the loss of the Government bush, a large quantity of stacked firewood has been consumed. The Timaru Herald annouances that the proprietors will shortly reduce the price of the paper to twopence, and that it will be enlarged. Mr Batkin, of the Treasury, has been appointed assistant controller and auditor, and Mr Gavin takes Mrßatkin'splaceasaccountaut of the Treasury. Mr Heywood is ttade accountant under the Land Tax Department, of which Mr Sperry is the Chief Commissioner. Mr McLean, Provincial Auditor, is appointed to the Sub-Corn-missionership of Auckland. Mr Watson, Government auctioneer, has been appointed SubCommissioaer of Otago. Mr Mackay, Commissioner of Native Reserves, haß been appointed Sub-Commissioner at Nelson. The valuation under the Land Tax will begin early m December, and it is understood it will be ready for enforcement m January.