GENERAL SUMMARY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 240, 7 December 1877, Page 12

GENERAL SUMMARY.

Immediate danger from the famine in India has disappeared High prices rule, but- the pressure will be wholly Temoved when th P spring crops are assured. ' A terrible colliery accident occurred at Laigh Blantyre, near Glasgow Two hundred and thirty-three men descended into the mine that morning, and only one man working near the mouth of the pit escaped. Ihe explorers commenced work, but owin* to noxious grasses the progress was slow. A knocking was heard at the bottom of the shaft, but it was impossible to reach it. Of the four men discovered alive at 11 p.m... one died before the morning and another is hopelessly prostrated. The dead bodies are fearfully mangled On October 25th complete access to both pits was obtained and it was found that the 230 persons had perished. Lord Derby declares that England has no opportunity of sumrestmg peace negotiations. J KS«,tHalf a million sterling of gold arrived in London on October 29th from Australia, India, and China. The drain of gold on the Bank of England for foreign shipment was large during the month of SeDteniber. " The San Francisco arrived in London on November 2 making the distance from Sydney in 42 days, against 56 by the Suez line ° A commotion bas been caused amongst the Society of Jesuits by the General of the Order having, by the Pope's command, expelled Father Cxarei, the editor of the Gnlta Catholic. As a sacred writer and orator Cioroi is considered one of the brightest ornaments of his order, and of the Catholic Church. His offence was maintaining that the Papal infallibility was unnecessary to the well-bein^ o f the> Clnirch. He maintained this position in the CEcumenicarCouncil Ciovci intends publishing an account of the differences in the Vatican In France a coalition Government will probably be formed The President favours a compromise. In Spain attempts to create disturbances resulted in tbe arrest of twelve Republicans, and the seizure of several compromising papers • , Pf Council is discussing the propriety of abolishinc the right of veto on the election of the Pope claimed by Austria France and Spain. ' ' War has commenced in South Africa between Gallkas and the British and native allies. Two battles were fought, 8000 Gallkas being m the field. The trouble arose between Gallkas and Fin^als on a question of boundary. ° Capetown news dated September 4th says that an order to dispatch troops to tbe frontier bas been countermanded, the Gallkas. having withdrawn from the boundary of Fingal laud, and the Fineals returning homeward. The Gallkas have since invaded Fingal land In a battle on the 24th September the Gallkas lost 200. The loss on the 29tli is unknown. Reinforcements pushed forward to Kreila but. were defeated, and the territory annexed. ' K. War news to November 7 states that Mukhtar Pasha abandonect Eraeroum at the request of the inhabitants. The Russians entered, without striking another blow. After the ten liouts' fighting at Duhboyum on the 6th, when Mukhtar Pasha was slightly woundetf the Ardahan division of the Russian army entered the Western* Euphrates Valley, and endangered the Turkish communication between Erzeroum and Trebizonde. The fighting since the battle of Aladja Dagh has placed the Turks in a worse position than ever. Mukhtar and Ismael Pashashave been beaten out of the field, and their armies have been utterlr demoralised. * The retreat from Aladja Dagh to Erzeroum was a complete rout. r ~ No details of the losses at the battle of the 6th are to hand At a great battle on the heights before Kars, fought on October 15th, the right wing of the Turkish army surrendered on the field,, left and centre being driven under the walls of the fortress by the victors. The Turkish loss in -wounded at Aladja Dagh is estimated at 14,000 men. Eighteen thousand men, 40 cannon, 2000 horses, and large quantities of military stores were captured. Since then thefehave been running fights, resulting invariably in loss to the Turks. In Bulgaria General Gourko has completed the investment of Plevna, defeating Chefket Pasha in several bloody engagements. On October 24 Guruji Dubruk was captured after a day's engagement, two pashas, 30,000 infantry, and one regiment of cavalry being-

taken prisoners. Teliche was subsequently carried by assault of the Imperial Guards, who attacked the position simultaneously with the assault on Guruji Debruk. The attacking force was nearly decimated. Beveral minor positions commanding the Sophia road have been since carried, and Orchanie is threatened. It is stated at Constantinople that Chefket Pasha has abandoned a large army intended for the relief of Plevna. ' ' The Czarewitch made a reconnoisance in force along the line of the Lorn on October 28, but withdrew after some fighting. An attack was simultaneously made on the works at Rustchuk, but the attacks ■were repulsed by a sortie from the fortress. The Russians retired to Pyrgos. General Zimmerman, debouching from Dobrudscha, threatens Silistria. Prince Hassan, with the Egyptian contingent, has been detailed to check him. fk The gemral position to the latest dates is that Plevna is closely invested ; Ears is ready to capitulate ; Erzeroum is occupied ; the Russians have Mukhtar Pasha beaten at all points ; Sulieman Pasha is checked by the Czarewitch along the line of the Lorn, and remains inactive, his communication with Silistria and Varna being menaced by the advance of Generals Zimmerman and the massing of a large army between Tinerva and Osman Bazar ; the Porte is unable to put another army in the field ; the Russians are calling out their reserves and Cossacks, and are embodying 103 infantry batallions ; Armenia is practically lost to the Porte ; and the Russians are clearing the Balkan passes of the Turks.