Wednesday.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XII, Issue 45, 27 February 1885, Page 11

Wednesday.

Mr. A. D. Bennett's office at Auckland was besieged by applicants yesterday morning desiring their names to be placed on the roll of his proposed free naval contingent. Among them were several exnaval officers with most excellent discharges from the Royal Navy, and one with special certificates on torpedo and big gunnery and marine mine work. Mr. G. Hazell, late raugh-ridiug sergeant-major in her Majesty's service, and now keeping a riding-school on tbe New North road, has communicated with the Minister of Defence offering,: if required, his own services and the use of his riding-school for the

instruction of a cavalry troop in mounted and dismounted drill, sword, carbine, and lance exercise, free of all charges, if it is determined to send such a force to the Soudan.

A land, sale took place at Waikaia yesterday. Owing to the indignation aroused at the offer of auriferous ground, there were no buyerp. The sale was adjourned from the Courthouse owing to the risk to life in that place. The highest price offered for a section was 7s 3d.

In the course of an interview at Auckland with Sir J. Vogel, Mr. Joseph Banks, managing director of the Frozen-meat Company, undertook to experiment in tinning several varieties of fish with the object of ascertaining which are most suitable for export and consumption.

Messrs. F. Fulton, J. Jordan, and W. Lowcay (says the Otago Daily Times) waited on the Premier in reference to the proposal to raise a force here for service in the Soudan. They submitted to the Premier that 100 men could probably be .got together, and asked, should their services be accepted, that the Government should assist the movement by giving free railway transport and providing arms. The Premier promised to bring the matter before his colleagues at Wellington next week, and to forward an answer.

At the Selwyn County Council yesterday it was reported that 33 acres of barley at Cbaney's Corner, on the Northern railway line, have been entirely stripped of grain by sparrows. Other crops on the same farm were much damaged, and the owner's loss is about 2300 bushels. The Prince of Wales will vieit Ireland in April. At a congress of (lynamitards held in Paris it was resolved to extend explosive operations in England. The Sydney pattiotic fund now amounts to £30,090. Objections have been urged as to the legality of the action of the Government in despatching New South Wales troops to Soudan, and a petition against the expedition is being prepared. England claims to be placed on an equality with Germany as far as Samoan interests are concerned.

Dispatches received by th( j Government from General Gordon, at Khartoum, have been published. The last, which wa3 dated December 14, shows that Khartoum was then reduced to the last extremity, fighting going on day and night. The city was besieged by rebels on three sides. General Gordon concluded the letter with the words •• Come quickly." His dispatches dated November 4, and received on the 14th inst., said he could hold out easily for 40 days, but afterwards there would be difficulty. He added that there were five steamers at Metemneh waiting Lord Wolseley'u orders. The Marquis of Salisbury has given notice in the House of Lords of a motion censuring the Government for proposing to abandon the Soudan,and declaring such a proceeding would be dangerous to the safety of Egypt and the British Empire. In the House of Commons on Monday night, Sir Stafford Northcote proposed a vote of censure on the Government. The motion set forth that the Ministerial policy in connection with the Soudan had proved resultless. In his speech he urged that it was imperative a stable government should be. established in that country. Mr. Gladstone, in reply, warmly eulogised the late General Gordon, and pointed out that treason alone prevented his rescue. He demanded that the House should have confidence in the policy of the Government. The debate was continued to a late hour, and then adjourned. In the House ot Lords the Earl of Carnarvon warmly eulogised the offers of the Colonies to send troops to the Soudan. Mr. Gladstone has refused to give a pledge that he will establish a government for the administration of affairs at Khartoum.