BRITISH AND FOREIGN

Otago Witness, Issue 1499, 7 August 1880, Page 11

BRITISH AND FOREIGN

(Emitter's Special.) London, July 28fch. In the House of Commons to-day, the Marquis of Hartington, Secretary of State for India, announced that he had received telegraphic information from India that a terrible disaster has befallen General Burrows' brigade at Candahar. According to the telegram the British forces have been completely annihilated by Native tribes under Ayoub Khan. No further details have yet been received. Trickett, who arrived in England on Monday last by the Orient, is going shortly to Scotland. He will commence his training in September. July 29th. Consols have further declined, and today they are quoted at 975. New Zealand securities are unchanged. The market for Adelaide and New Zealand breadstuffs continues quiet and without change in price. Australian tallow is without quotable change. The Orient Company's steamship Gotopaxi, Homeward bound, arrived at Suez yesterday. The disaster to the British troops in Candahar has caused a great sensation here, and it is stated that at a Cabinet Council held yesterday it was decided to despatch further troops to India as reinforcements for Afghanistan. Three per cent, consols, 98. There is an active demand for most descriptions of hidea. The total reserve in notes and bullion in the Bank of England is £16,750,000. The wool arrivals to date amount to 300,000 bales, and it ia- probable the quantity will be 320,000. The tone of the market is quiet. 1 . July 30th. In the House of Lords Earl Granville, Secretary of State for India, made a statement concerning the disaster at Candahar. He said that although further details to hand were reassuring, the defeat of the British troops would most probably prolong the war, and it had been decided to send reinforcements. Consols, 98J. ' The total quantity of wheat afloat for ! Great Britain is 1,730,000 quarters. Best Australian mutton tallow is quoted at 35a 6d. In accordance with the decision of the Cabinet, 5000 troops of all arms have been ordered to proceed to India next month to reinforce the British army in Afghanistan. July 31st. The Right Hon. J. G. Dodeou, president of the Local Government Board in the Gladstone Ministry, who was unseated as member for Chester owing to the corrupt practices of his agent at the election, has been elected for Scarborough, Sir H. Johnstone having retired in his favour. In the House of Lords the Irish Relief [ Bill has passed through Committee. ! In the House of Commons a bill has been read a second time for conferring privileges on Irish tenants with regard to shooting hares and rabbits. The Great Powers have declined the proposal made by Turkey to reopen the ! question of the rectification of the Greek | frontier. Earl Spencer, Lord-president of the Privy Council, has resigned. (Per Merchant Shipping and Underwriters' Association.) July 31st. Arrived : Margaret Galbraith, from Lyttelton April 9th j Coriolanus, from Lyttelton May Ist ; Oomadre, from Timaru April 15th. At New YorkElinor Vernon, from Auckland April 24th. August 2nd. The Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone ia suffering from slight congestion of the lungs, with feverish symptoms. London, August 2nd. To-day being a bank holiday, all the markets are closed. The Government have recalled Sir Bartle Frere from the Governorship of Cape Colony. The Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone is doing as well as can be expected from the nature of his illness, but the feverish symptoms which accompany the congestion of the lungs continue. London, August 3rd. The illness of the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone has caused great excitement in England and abroad. He still continues, however, to improve, but it is believed he will be unable to attend the House of Commons for the remainder of the session. Paris, August 2nd. The French Military Commission, which waa to have proceeded to Greece to reorganise the Greek army, has been abandoned. St. Petersburg, July 28th. The last Russian war- vessel ordered to the Pacific, in view of possible hostilities with China, left Cronstadt to-day. Calcutta, July 28 th. News has been received from Afghanistan that Abdul Rahman has left Oharikar for the purpose of having another interview with the British General at Zammasix. on Saturday, when the question of the Ameership will be again discussed. July 29th. Further details have come to hand regarding the disaster at Candahar, General

Burrows' brigade, numbering 3000, were attacked by Ayoub Khan's forces, 12,000 strong. They lost two guns, and being outnumbered, fled. They were pursued for three miles and became straggling, arriving in driblets at Candahar, when General Primrose, with a force of 2000 men, took refugo in tho citadel. Tho wires wero cut by the enemy, which prevented their sending for reinforcements. Generals Phyn and Sandeman are now concentrating their forces on the Bolan Pass. It is reported from Afghanistan that, in consequence of the hostile attitude of Yakoub Khan's adherents at Ghuznee, the evacuation of Oabul by the British troops will probably now be deferred. Later. Further details of the engagement between Ayoub Khan's army and General Burrows' brigade in Candahar prove that the first accounts of the disaster were greatly exaggerated. General Burrows and the chief officers of his force reached the citadel of Candahar in safety. No details have yet been received as to the extent of the loss sustained by the British troops. July 30th. General Phayre'a reinforcements have reached Chaman. According to the latest news from ■ Afghanistan there is great excitement ! amongst the tribes in South Candahar at i the retreat of the British before Ayoub Khan. Desultory lighting is proceeding at the British outpoats with a detached body of the enemy. The troops under General Phayre, which have reached Chaman from Bolam Pass on their way to Candahar, are unable to advance until strongly reinforced, owing to the disturbed state of the country. Calcutta, August 2nd. According to the latest news from Afghanistan Ayoub Khan is quiescent, and has not taken any steps to follow up his vicbory. General Burrows continues his defensive measures, and has brought back all his infantry to Candahar. Calcutta, August 2nd (evening). The telegraph line has been cut between the Indian frontier and Oabul. Calcutta, August 3rd. Further details to hand regarding the attack made on General Burrows at Candahar by Ayoub Khan's forces, state 20 officers and 400 British troops, with 800 friendly natives, have been killed and wounded. Constantinople, July 29fch. ' The Porte, replying to the ultimatum of the Great Powers, promises to take steps to enforce the strict execution of the decisions of the Berlin Conference as regards Montenegro within three weeks. July 30th. The Porte now proposes to cede Dulcigno to Montenegro, so as to avoid action on the part of the European Powers. Serviais busily engaged making warlike preparations, and mobilising her army.