INTERCOLONIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1478, 13 March 1880, Page 19

INTERCOLONIAL.

(From the Melbourne Argus. ) London, Feb. 28. General Loris Melikoff's dictatorship has checked the panic in St. Petersburg. The Standard alleges that General Melikoff is a natural son of the Czar by an Armenian lady, and this indicates that the Czar ha 3 lost the confidence of his entourage. Vera Sassulitch, who some time ago created great interest in connection with the Nihilist plots, has been arrested at Sfc. Petersburg. The North German Gazette, Berlin Post, and Pesther Lloyd violently threaten Russia, and say that it is necessary to crush Panslavism in order to prevent a Franco-Russian alliance. They allege that the condition of Russia is favourable for the opportunity of crippling her. A list of 27 matches has been arranged for the Australian cricketers between the 17th of May and 10th of Septembt-r. February 29 th. Mr John Henry Challis, an old resident of Sydney, has died suddenly, and left £100,000 to ths iSydnoy University. (From the Melbourne Age.) London, March Ist. The non-compliance witn the recommendations contained in thu Berlin Treaty with respect to the annexation of certain Turkish territory to Greece has been the subject of repeated protests on the part of the Government of the latter country. The commiwi»'iern appointed to consider the quostion "f Mio rectification of the frontier line h,\o been so hampered by dilatoriness and want of bona fides on the part of the Porte that they have abandoned the task assigned them, and Greece has accordingly appealed to the Powers of Europe to enforce the fulfilment of Turkey's treaty obligations, The gravity of the situation in Russia is attracting general attention in Europe. The increased severity of the law against treasonable organisations has only developed greater daring on the part of the Nihilists. The Czar declines to yield to the advice of his Ministers, who counsel moderate measures and the granting of a constitution in order to allay popular excitement. It is believed that the abdication of the Emperor can alone restore public confidence. Tho Duke of Edinburgh has undertaken the task of submitting this proposal to the Czar, and has gone to St. Petersburg for that purpase. It is intended to hold a conference of the members of the Imperial family to deliberate upon tho c )urse to be pursued, having regard to tho existing state of things in Jttussia.