EUROPEAN CABLEGRAMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 5760, 4 May 1880, Page 5

EUROPEAN CABLEGRAMS.

[per s.s. rotomahana, at the bluff.] London, April 20. The American Congress has decided to assist the promoters of an International Exhibition, open to all the world, to be held in .New York in the year 18S3. A munificent subsidy for the proposed undertaking has being proposed. The object has been taken up enthusiastically. The affair is to be carried on upon a scale of unprecedented magnitude. An exhibition was opened yesterday at Berlin under distinguished patronage, consisting of almost every known species of fish from all parts of the world, together with an infinite variety of angling and deep sea fishing instruments, illustrating the science of icthyology in its manifold aspects. Prince Frederick William was present, and presided at the inaugural ceremony. Arrived: From Port Chalmers, Waipa, ship, which sailed on 19th January ; from Lyttelton, Hurunui, ship, which sailed on 23rd January ; from Gisborne, Lochnagar, barque, which sailed on the Bth January ; from the Bluff harbour, Jessie Headman, ship, which sailed on the 12th January. Lom>on, April 21. The Home-Rulers are divided on many essential points of their programme. Mr. Sullivan, the member for Louth, and a political writer of distinction, has published

a statement on the present aspect of political affairs, which has given umbrage to several members of the party. Several allegations have been warmly restnted. and Mr. E. Collins, the lat3 member for King?dale, has, in respect to the same, initiated a criminal prosecution against Air. Sullivan for libel. Mr. Montagu Corry, C.8., Private Secretary to the first Lord of the Treasury ia the Beaconsfitld Ministry, has been raised to the peerage, with the title oE Biron Rowstio. Sir Charles Gavan Duffy, late Speaker of the Victorian Assembly, ha* arrived in Pari?, en route for London. He is said to have declined an invitation on th? part of several Irish constituencies to stand at the late general election. Lond :>n, April 22. . A tremendous conflagration occurred in one of the mo=t populous portions of ihe suburbs of Ottawa, the capital of the Canadian Dominion, resulting in an enormous destruction of property. The flames, owing to the strong wind prevailing at the time, epr<ad with great rapiiity, resisting all attempts to check the r progress. Thousands of persons were rendered homeless, and utterly destitute by the ravages of the fire. A public subscription, raised by the Marquis oi Lome and the Princess Louise, has been opened for the aid oi the sufferers. A serious disaster occurred last nigh: at the theatre attached to Mr. Patrick l*ilmore's Gardens, Se\c iork. The structure, which was capable of holding about 10,000 people, wa3 not of a substantial nature, and had been used forsome time as a hippodrome. During a peformance the roof fell in, burying hundreds of people in the debris. Many persons were injured, and in twenty-three cases the effects are likely to be fatal. London, April 23. A telegram hai been received from ihe Viceroy of India announcing that a brilliant victory has been obtained by General Sir Donald Stewart over a large army of the hostile Afghaus. General Stewart, who had left Candahar some weeks with a strong force for the purpose of laying siege to Ghnzni, was attacked by the enemy, numbering over 45,000, some miles from thfi city A desperate battle easued. The Afghans had the advantage of position, being posted on an eminence commanding the Ghuzni road, but the heavy artillery of the British caused dreadful havoc in their ranks. After some hours hard fighting the Afghans were defeated, and fled, leaving 2000 dead and wounded on the field. The The British casualties were comparatively light, the number of killed and wounded being 132. Following up the victory, General Stewart, without delaying to pursue the enemy, ordered the cavalry forward to take possession of Ghuzni before the retreating Afghans could recover from their panic. The city was soon reached, and occupied in force without any organised attempt at resistance. The inhabitants, the majority of whom fled on the approach of the British. General Stewart's army is now in full occupation of Ghuzni. London, April 24. The delay of the Turkish Government in ceding Cussingee in Albania to the Montenegrins, under the provision of the treaty of B=rlin, threatens to lead to serious complications. The Prince of Montenegro has ordered his troops to march upon Toton, and occupy it by force if necessary. The inhabitants, many of whom are Mahommedan?, have united in resisting the Imperial forces, and already several sharp encounters have taken place between Montenegro troops and the Albanians. London, April 23. The George Arkles, British barque, bound to Australia, went ashore on Derviu Island, and came off afterwards without assistance. London, April 26. Intelligence has been received from India that fighting has been resumed by the Ghuzni .on the morning" after Stewart;. they retreated to the hills in the vicinity of the city, where their scattered forces were concentratad. A council of war was held by the rebel chiefs, and it was decidsd to attack the British from the heights, ■which, are in part overlooking Ghunzi. General Stewart was fully prepared for the emergency, and when the attack was made upon the city, the Afghans were repulsed with great slaughter. During the encounter over 400 of the enemy were killed. The British casualties were trifling. London, April 21. His Excellency, Sir A. Musgrave, has read a paper on Jamacia, of which island he is Governor before the Royal Colonial Institute. There was a large attendance on the occasion. The Right Hon. C. E. Childers has resigned the chairmanship of the Royal Mail Steamship Co. for political reasons. Intelligence has been received that the Hazaras, a tribe friendly to the Britisii, have captured Ghuzni, the Afghan rebel stronghold. The Kohistani chiefs have arrived at Cabul. They are well disposed to the British. The news that King Thecbaw had caused 700 men, women, and children to be burned alive as an expiatory sacrifice to the deities, with the view of preventing an outbreak of smallpox, is denied. London, April 23. Mr. Childers has renewed the proposal that a Commission should take charge of the British Court at the Melbourne Exhibition.