Friday.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIII, Issue 23, 2 October 1885, Page 9

Friday.

It is understood the Government hare received further letter* from King Mahetoa, urging the annexation of Simoa to New Zealand, and stating th.it unless New Zealand int rvenes a serious civil war is almost certain to break out in the kingdom at a very early date. '

The Daily Times' Criffel correspondent writes under date September 17 :— With the exception of a paltry find or two, the report of which is ecucely credible, though scores of shafts have been sunk and bottomed, no fresh finds are reported. Though many come, as many go. The intense cold has struck terror into many of the new comers, causing them to beat a hurried retreat, while others leave the field, so they say. from sheer disgust, for the gold on Cnff> 1 needs finding. Many parties have vigorously prospected, but with no result, »nd they have been watched by others, and all agree that things look blue. As I said before, the gold on Lnffel runs, in narrow stripe, leads, and runs, sometimes but a few feet wide, and is very hard to pick up and trace. It is far too cold yet to think of prospecting Pi«!a, but miners are of opinion that the gold came off its northern slopes. There are all sorts of opinions afloat about the claim of the Salvationists — some pronounce it a duffer, but the holders are very reticent. Though duffer shafts have been bottomed on three sideß of them, Moylan's rich claim is on the other ; their shaft is much the deepest, so they may have struck a gutter. A lot more country has been riddled with duffers since 1 wrote my last. The firm of M'Dougall and Sons and Mr. Monteith, of Albertown. are erecting stores on the field. There are plenty of Btoiekeepers and other residents »f the locality to supply tne mineis on the field, and, accord i< gto present appearances, likely to be for some time ; and I should advise business men from a distance who intend to build upon this field to count the cost beforehand, and to do nothing lashly.

It is considered likely in official circles that bi.s Holiness the Pope will be asked to aibitiate on the Caroline Islands question.

Sixty thousand Russian troops are at Kars in Armenia.

His Eminence Caidinal Moian is now at Naples. He will have further interviews with His Holiness the Pope, and is expected to sail for Australia about the end of the month.

The disturbances which have b en rife in some parts of Sicily owing to th * precautionary meas ires to guard against the cholera are diminishing, and the attitude of the populice id becjmmg calmer.

Intelligence is to hand stating that a force of Abyssinian troops numbetiag BOUO stdited on the 15th inst. to the relief of thegarri-on at Kassala.

The Turkish Government have issued a circular to the Europeau Powers piotesting against the action of A Prince Alexander of Bulgaria in recognising the ] evolutionary party in Roumeha. 'lhe Porte further refeis to the clause in the Treaty ot Beihn, which allows the Turks to use military foice to suppress disorder within their boundaries. It is announced that a c> usiderable body of tioops 16 assembled on the Turkish-Roumelia froi tier, but in deference to the wishes of Germany and Russia, they have not as yet been brought into action. It is announced that the Servian army is being mobilised. Cousideiable disaffection exists among the population of Albania, and symptoms of rebellion have been manifested. The Czar has forbidden any of bis subjects to enlist as Volunteers, and has also ordered all Russian orliceis at present in the service <>f Bulgana to re^itjn their commands forthwith. Kngland advises the Porte to endiavour to amicdbly arrange the matter. The Austrian Government aie willing that Turkey should suppress the revolt.