RUSSIA AND AFGHANISTAN.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 3280, 1 April 1885, Page 2

RUSSIA AND AFGHANISTAN.

♦— — —: . (By Electric Telegraph — Copyright.) (Reuter's Agency ) [Received 1 p.m., March 31sfc.] London, March 31. The Daily Neivs published a despatch from its St. I*etei-Blmrg correspondent; slating that the reply of the Russian Government to Earl Granville'a communication of the 16th is on its way to London, and further that it is couched m conciliatory language likely to lead to a pacific settlement of the difficulty. ; • ■ (Received 3.45 p.m. March 31st.) (Evening). In the House of Commons to-day Lord Edmund Fitzmaurice, Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, m replying to a-ques-tion stated the reply of the Russian Government to Earl Granville's despatch of the 16th instant was now on the way to London. The. Government were,unaware of the exact nature of its contents. They understood, however, it indicated a - probability of an early meeting for the settlement of the Afghan frontier question. Lord Fitzmaurice expressed a hope that the tone of the reply would be Bach * as to allay the excitement now prevalent.'(Received 1 p.m., March 31st.) Melbourne, March 31. It has transpired that Government re-^ cently received an unofficial --warning^ 5 from Singapore to the effect that several Ruesian cruisers had left- ' there and-pro-ceeded m a northerly direction, and they were again warned on Friday that the' Russian ironclad General Admiral, 16 guns, .4600 tons, was at the Cape. In"/ consequence of the news Mr Service communicated with the Premiers of the various colonies m cypher and this. has given rise to unusual activity m matters of defence. .-.•■;•■, Adelaide, March 31. Government are m communication with Admiral Tyron, commanding the Australian squadron, m regard to measures necessary for the protection of the Port Darwin cable. (Special to the Pbess Assoct Arrow.) . | Received 1 a.m., April Ist.] „: IiOKXMJN, MarctSl. The Admiralty have forwarded large" orders for preserved meats to the Australasian colonies. ' It is believed that some Russian war vessels are cruising m the Pacific. Several of their cruisers are also reported to be , voyaging m the neighborhood of the river. Amor. In the House of Lords, the Marquis of Hartirgton, Secretary of State for the. War Department, stated that the reply of . the Russian Government to the communication recently made by England to Russia respecting affairs on the Afghanfrontier is of a conciliatory nature. :..; (By Telegraph.) Wellington, March 51. The Agent-General cables that the state, of affairs between England and Bussia is not - so ominous.