NEWS IN BRIEF

Waipawa Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 781, 26 May 1885, Page 3

NEWS IN BRIEF

The Times states that tlio agreement entered into between Great Britain and Russia is only a truce to allow botli nations to complete their preparations. In the British House of Commons the Marquis of Hartington denied that Sir Peter Lumsden had been recalled from the Afghan frontier at the dictation of the Russian authorities. It is probable that the bulk of the joint report prepared by Mr Thurston and Herr Dekranet, the Anglo-Ger-man Commissioners on VV estcrii Pacific affairs, will be adopted L>y the British and German Governments. It is rumored among the troops at Souakim that the Prince of Wales will issue medals to the Imperial troops who have served during the Soudan campaign. The prospect of these medals is greeted with enthusiasm. The sum of £500,000 is now being expended by the Imperial authorities in the completion of the railway to Queetali, and in constructing defence works on the Indian frontier. About £8,000,000 has already been expended in the British preparations for war. Louis Riel, the leader of the rebellion in north-west Canada, who was captured hv the Canadian troops under General Mindleton, is to ho tried by the Civil Courts. Before the New South Wales contingent embarked from Souakim an address was read to them from Her Majesty, thanking them for their services in the Soudan, and wishing them a safe voyage to their own colony. Captain Dudley and the mate of the y ate lit M ignonettc, who were sentenced to six months’ imprisonment on the 13tli December tor having killed Richard Parker, have now been released. The Bosphore Egypt ienne has again commenced publieat ion. The committee appointed for the purpose of impeaching M..lilies Ferry, ex-French Premier, have declined to do HO. The Indians in Canada are torturing the prisoners taken captive by t hem. The frozen meat cx steamer Potosi is selling at 5d per lb. Lieutenant Brown, of the NewSouth Wales contingent, lias died from fever. 'The London Standard states that Russia claims Goruk, a town about 110 miles from Penj-deh in a northeasterly direction ; she also objects to England fortifying Herat, and requires that the A fglian frontier shall remain unfortified. The Ameer has sent a heavy body of artillery to Herat. The temporary dissension which existed in the English Cabinet in regard to Irish legislation lias been smoothed over, Sir Charles Dilke and the Hon. Joseph Chamberlain insisting on the renewal of the Prevention of Crimes Act in Ireland being for one year only. Sir Charles Dilke has left town on a visit to Dublin. The Queen left London on May 23rd for Balmoral Admiral Hornby has been appointed to command the fleet of fifteen ironclads, which it is intended to assemble at Portland shortly. The New Zealand Shipping Company’s R.M.S. Rimutaka left London on May 23 for Auckland and Wellington, calling rn route at the Capo of Good Hope and Hobart. The members of the Afghan Boundary Commission are now quartered on the hill to the north of Herat, and are occupied in surveying the Burrounding districts. A cablegram from Ottawa states that the recent successes of the troops under General Middleton have had the effect of completely cowing the rebels. The insurgent Indian tribes aro suing for peace. The returns of the Auckland Board of Education teaching staff show that teaching is getting largely into the hands of females. There are only 11 male pupil-teachers to 173 female pupil-teachers. Strong remarks wore made at the Board as to excessive drinking among teachers.