MISCELLANEOUS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 7170, 14 September 1886, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS.

Sebastopol and other Black Sea ports are now protected by electric apparatus placed in the sea to destroy hostile torpedo boats. The construction of the apparatus," which is the work of American engineers, l has been kept secret. \ .J ,„ Mr. Howard Vincent has wriiten a letter to the newspapers in which he quotes from his yearly reports as director of criminal investigation, in order to prqvo the urgent necessity of an extradition treaty with the United States, directed entirely agninst Fenians and dynamiters. Mr. Vincent.concludes his letter by saying that the whole civilised world is watching the United States Senate.

A London despatch from Sophia states that the collection o£ war stores and arms and the drilling of troops are going on with renewed activity. Military preparations are also proceeding on the Servian side of tho frontier. Tho situation in~ both countries indicates uncertainty as to tho duration of peace. Reports from ' Montenegrin sources show that the Turkish forces in Albania aro receiving reinforcements, tue intention apparently beinu 1 to bring tbe garrison up to a war footing. Russia is getting bolder, and now demands tho cession of Erzeroum, in in Armenia, the possession of which would ■' »ive her the key to the whole country south. The necessity of supporting Turkey against further Russian encroachments is universally assured. The contract for the construction of the Manchester Ship Canal has been let to^ Messrs. Lucas and Aird for tho sum oE £4,750,000, which is less by £560,000 than tho Parliamentary estimates. The works include the cutting of tho canal from Manchester to the outlet at Eistham, tha building of the doeki at Manchester and Warrington, the construction of the neceßsary locks with the swing aqueduct tit Barton, and the carrying out of tho required railway directions. The whole of tho work is to be completed within a period of four years after the actual com- *" menceiiient of operations. It is estimated that tho working plant for carrying out tbe undertaking will require 6000 railway waggons and a proportionate number o£ lojomotivee, and work will be found for something iiko 20,000 men. The capital of tho company will be £8,000,000, and is to be ruißed in £10 shares. Messrs. Rothschild will issue the prospectus, and have undertaken the financial portion of tho scheme at a commission of 1 per cent. — Pall Mall Gazette.