General Summary.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 650, 14 March 1879, Page 2

General Summary.

The strike of the engineers m England is extending to Leeds, Plymouth, Dover, and other points.

It is believed that the British do not intend to hold Candahar but only Pishwaur Valley up to Kojienk. The Pope proclaimed a universal Jubilee and' indulgence on the anniversary of his election.

An. International Exhibition is proposed to be held m New York m 1880.

Telegrams from Madeira gave news respecting the situation m Zululand. They Btated they on 9 o'clock on the morning of January 27th. Lord Chelmsford was then at Martzburg m conference with Sir Bartle Frere. All was then quiet at the front, and the lower Titgeld.

The report that Lord Chelmsford retired upon Helpmaaka is unfounded.

Captain Stafford and Lieutenant Dews, of the. Natal contingent, who escaped from the disaster of Colonel Glynn's camp, speak highly of the conduct of all engaged and the courage and firmness of the Native Contingent. Lord Chelmsford has already been reinforced by one company of the 88th Regiment, from St. Helena, and 300 men of the second battalion of the 4th Regiment from Cape Town.

Notice has been given m the German Parliament, of a Bill imposing higher duties on iron. There are indications that the Protectionists will take the initiative m proposing a re-imposition of duties on iron, independently of the Government measure. . . .

In the House of Commons on February 17th Sit Stafford Noithcote declared that hft was not aware of any intention to establish a Royal residence m Ireland, or to appoint the Duke of Connaughi, as Viceroy there.

A despatch from Rome, dated Feb. , 17th, states that Cardinal Manning has had a long and cordial interview with the Pope, who congratulated him on the progress of Catholicism in Great Britain, and discussed measures for its extension. The sailors still hold out, but at the grain houses work has been resumed. Lord Dufferin has been appointed British Ambassador to .Russia in place of Lord Augustus Loftus, recalled. The trial of the directors of the City of Glasgow Bank, on a charge of fraud and theft and embezzlement has resulted in the conviction .of Louis Potter and Robert Summer Stronach. The other directors were found guilty of uttering false abstracts and balance-sheets. In the House of Lords Earl Beaconsfield said, speaking of- the Afghanistan troubles : "The object of the Government's interference in Afghanistan has been completely accomplished. It avos now hoped that three great highways connecting Afghanistan and India would be open, and added, I hopo we shall always tetain them. Wo have received a frontier which I hope and believe will render India invulnerable in a way which will trench as little as possible on tho independence of Afghanistan. The Strikes in England. There are 7,000 miners idle in Durham county. The distress is unequalled since the great strike of 1844. It is estimated that one-seventh of the looms and spindles in Blackburn have stopped, and that from 400 to 500 operatives are idle and destitute. The boilermakers in London havo struck. The boltmakers, pattern makers, and other trades are to follow strikers. They have refused the old wages, and one hour longer work daily. The proposition of the ship owners for arbitration has also been rejected. In Liverpool trade is partially suspended on account of the strike amongst the sailors, which has become so general that it is difficult to obtain crews save at increased rates. It is stated there are 35 grain-laden ships at Queenstown, and owners do not know where to send them. Meanwhile grain may be heating in vessels' holds, and rendered valueless. Tnere are many reports, intimidating labourers and others, to prevent men from working until their disputes are settled. Steamers chartered to carry troops for South Africa will be fitted out at some other port, on account of the labour strike. Owners have engaged to have steamers ready for sea within one week. The Zulu War. The news of the defeat of British troops by the Zulus caused a sensation throughout London. The demand for newspapers at all the suburban railway stations was greater than at any time since the outbreak of the Franco-German war. Tho reinforcements for the Cape ordered from England number about 7,000 men. The Government has been actively enquiring concerning private steamers and. assistance. The only troop ship in harbour, is being rapidly prepared for service at Portsmouth. On the 13th February the correspondent of the Manchester Guardian telegraphed intelligence received from South Africa that the native levies serving with the British had risen en masse, and had massacred the officers, and that the natives who were engaged in the fight of the 21st January had massacred their officers, and that the bulk of the native force along the frontier was deserting. The Colonial Secretary referring to the above report, said : — "We have no information in any way confirming the rumors that the natives have risen against their officers." Major General Creatlock, Newdegate, and Marshall have been ordered to the Cape. ■ , ■ ■ The Russian Plague. The origin of the plague in Russia is thus given : — A Cossack, returning from the war, to Wetlianka brought bis lady's shawl, which she wore two days, and sickened with all the plague symptoms and died, During the following four, days other' members of the family died, and the disease spread rapidly, the local authorities not paying any attention to it till half the inhabitants had died, and the remainder were unable to bury the victims. Then when the epidemic had assumed a serious dimensions energetic measures were taken for preventing its spreading. Strict quarantines wero established ; firstly in towns and villages, by shutting of the streets where the plague reigned from the rest of places secondly by surrounding villages with troops, so that nobody was allowed to pass in or out. The panic in Russia was almost incredible, every class and station in life petitioned for entire cessation of intercourse, and even postal communication between the rest of Russia and the Volga. Letters sent from Astrachan and Zaritzin are not received by persons to whom they are addressed. Some people even refuse to take paper money, fearing the germs of infection might be communicated through it. It is almost impossible to describe the terror which has taken possession of the people. The Russian sanitary commission here proposed to shut off the Volga line from all intercourse with Western Russia, .and to permit communication only under a quarantine. Russian railway cars are not admitted into German territory.

The exports of grain from Poland suffer severely from this restriction.