RUSSO-TURKISH WAR.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XI, Issue 752, 2 March 1878, Page 3

RUSSO-TURKISH WAR.

(neuter's Special.) London, February 26th. The treaty of peace is still unsigned. The persistent demand for the surrender of the fleet and the occupation of Stamboul causes the delay. Ministers, in replying to Parliament, declared they were unable to give information as to Russia keeping the full terms of peace secret* A Standard telegram declares that eight additional batteries of artillery have arrived at San Stefens, and that Gourko is approaching with 30,000 men. Secret negotiation excites suspicion and and alarm throughout Europe. Ihe severity of Russian terms is everywhere condemned as provocative and likely to include the involving of England and Austria. The Prince of Roumania will abdicate rather than cede Bessarabia. Eighty thousand soldiers passed Jassy for the Transylvania frontier, and the ordinary railway traffic is suspended. The Globe states that, in the event of an expeditionary force, Lord Napier of Magdala ■will command, and General Sir Garnet Wolsely his chief of staff.

The " beginning of the end " has at last come to Temple Bar, which, having been propped upon crutches for nearly two years and a half, is at length about to disappear. An official notice has appeared from the Controller's Office at Guildhall, inviting applications from public bodies or private persons for the " immediate removal " of the structure, for the purchase of wh eh, it may be remembered, the late Sir Thomas Western had entered into negotiatians with a veiw to erect it as an entrance to his park at Felix Hall, Essex. The existing structure dates from the reign of Charles 11., and is said to have been designed by Sir Christopher Wren. It has Bince been decided to remove the structure. I

THE SO-CALLED SHARP PRACTICE OA.SE AT THE BLUE SPUR. We have made full enquiry into what was reported as appearing to be a case of sh.i rp practice on the part of a Blue Spur miiier, and we have much pleasure in relating the result of our enquiry, as we think it clearly exonerates the person accused. It seems that on the 16th inst. Coutts and M'Quinis (we give the names as they have been freely mentioned, and besides we do not see anything but what .is fair and above board in the transaction) two Blue Spur miners, had a conversation about selling a ticket held by the latter in a sweep. They did not agree at that time, but Coutts expressed his intention of purchasing the ticket before the races. On Tuesday, the 18th, two days after the first conversation, about six o'clock in the evening, Coutts had occasion to visit his claim. Being working manager for Messrs Hales and Hinde it is [usual for him to visit the claim at all hours. When there he came across M'Quinis, who was working in the adjoining claim to the one in which Coutts was employed — the two claims beunding each other. The conversation again started about the ticket, and offers were made on both sides. Ultimately Coutts offered £4 for all the tickets M'Quinis and Co. held in the local and in the Dunedin sweeps. M'Quinis immediately agreed, but his partner (Darby) refused unless he got £5. Coutts refused to give that amount, and was leaving them when Darby agreed to take the £4. Coutts had no money on his person, and remarked that as it was near supper-time M'Quinis could go home for the tickets whilst he went home for the money. The parties met again in i about half an hour, when the transaction was completed. The whole of the conversation was carried on in the presence and hearing of others, and immediately Coutts left, M'Quinis and his mate observed that they had done very well out of him, having made two days' pay — the tickets having cost them £3, and they having sold for £4. No doubt if the ticket had been valueless, M'Quinis and Co. would have been well satisfied with their bargain, but when they found they had parted with such a good chance, they no doubt felt sore, and immediately tried to make out that the transaction on Coutts's part was a swindle. At first sight it looked rather Buspicious, but when all the facts are considered we cannot see the slightest cause tor suspecting Coutts in the matter. No doubt Coutts makes it his business to study the performances of horses, and if he is possessed of superior knowledge of the capabilities of certain horses entered in any particular race, he is entitled to the benefit that knowledge confers ; but there is nothing to show — in fact everything tends to the contrary — that Coutts was aware that the Cup horse had fallen to a Spur man. Now, let us sum up the facts we have ascertained on the very best authority. In the first place Coutts was negotiating with the parties about the purchase of their tickets prior to the drawing of the sweep — that is a very important point. Then, again, he did not go purposely to their claim, but was visiting his own workings at a time quite usual for him to do so. When making a bargain he refused to take M'Quinis's ticket alone (which was the winning ticket) without his partner sold his also, which was of little or no value. When the bargain -was made he had not even the money to pay for the tickets, but had to go home to get it, which occupied some considerable time. Although the drawing was known on the Spur from six o'clock in the evening, still there was not a great value placed upon Hippocampus ; and Coutts distinctly affirms that he neither heard nor saw anything to induce him to by the tickets, and that he did so purely as a speculation. Such, we find, after the fullest enquiry to be the great sharp practice case which has created so much talk at the Blue Spur.