The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1878-05-22
WEDNESDAY. MAY p. 1878.
GleanIngs from the Mails.


A new Turkish Ministry has been formed who
are hostile to British interests.
Spurious sovereigns are in circulation in the
A australian Colonies. The coin bears 4 remark
able resemblance 10 the new ST.. George coin,
bearing date 1876 aud being in design precisely
similar to the new gold coin. The color is q
shade paler than the genuine gold, but the sound
OF the ring aud the general appearance, bear so
close resemblance as easily 10 deceive careless
persons receiving money in the hurry Of business.
The coin is slightly lndeuted on one side, and
probably has been slightly damaged IN coming
out Of the die. We clip the above from the
= Auckland Evening STAR OF april 20, which
we republisb to put our citizens on their guard,
The English sovereign passes here equally with
the American gold coin. and hence the danger
OF the above described spurious soSerelgns ind
ing their way to these islands 10 Quantities
The latest little war " which Great Britain
has on its hands il rapidly assuming dangerous
dimensions. 4 cable message announces that
there has been hard lighting in the Iransvaal,
aud that the position Is very serious. The
Transvasl is 3 large tract OF country, north Of
the Orange River Free State. aud lies between
22o Is 2s7 40 5, aud long. 299 800 E.,
extending from the Vaal River as far as the
Crocodile River. 1t has an area OF ia, $50
square miles, aud contains a white population Of
about 10000 Agains, these there is warlike
native population Of about 100000, large pro-
portion of which is well armed. The white pop
ulatiou consists principally of Dutch Beers. who
seeded from Cape Colony in 1910. and formed
q Republic, but IN 1877, being threatened with
anuihllation BY the natives, sought aud obtained
remuneration TO the British Colony. The Trans
vaa is mountainous and difficult of access afford
ing numerous strongholds for the natives. At
latest advices the British forces at the Cape
consisted of six regiments and two batteries Of
artillery, but these troops were considered insult
fcieut, and there Was d cry for reinforcement.
The whole feet in the Mediterranean number
Is frst-class ironclads, II frigates, aud two cor
vettes, dOzsn smaller vessels, over 200 large
guns. and upwards Of 10000 men. There are
five admirals now in the Mediterranean command.
Two steamers left Malta recently with tele-
grsph cables TO lay down in various parts OF the
Levant for the British Government
Notwithstanding the signature OF peace, prepa-
rations for contingencies still continue. The
Tessels already in commission fitting out include
the Thunderer, Dreadnought. Incumbent, North
ampton. Monarch. Superb, Belleise, the two new
irouclsds purchased from the Turkish Govern
meut, the Independence purchased from Brazil
the Euryalus. AgamemnOn. Iron Duke, Lord
Warden, Triumph, Hercules, Thunderbolt, North
cumberland, Prince Albert, Glattan, CyeOps. Hy-
dra, Hecate, Philomel, aud Cormorant. The In
flexible is being speedily pushed on, and her 81
ton guns are nearly ready. Large quantities Of
war material are being shipped to the Meditera-
mean feet and fortresses. Great precautions are
being taken by the fleet in the Dardanelles and
the Sea of Marmora against attack. Each vessel
Is protected by hswsers and spsrs. Steam and
tornado tanpnhaa Tod
and heavy guns are kept constantly loaded
while the electric lights from the tops of the Al
exandra and Temeraire render all objects visible
for two miles round. A number Of commissions
10 the ordnance and transport departments are
being given to non-commissioned officers Of the
artillery.
The Grand Duke Nicholas reached San Ste
iano 90 oath OF February, aud was met By Reoui
and Mehemet Ali Pashas The 6nal negotiations
were with Safyet Pasba after Servers dismissal.
Great indignation prevailed against the latter, as
he is believed to have thrown himself completely
into the arms of Russia and kept his own Gov
ernment unaware of the many cessions he was
making 10 regaad to the Russian advance prior
to the final signing of the peace. Even the Turk.
ish generals received no information until the
Russian troops were in front of them and they
were thus steadily compelled to retire.
During the last sittings of the Turkish Para-
meut public affairs we're discussed with great
freedom, both Christians and Musselmen joining
in exposing the faults of the administration. On
the Propagation several of the prominent mem.
bers we're expelled to Asia Minor.
Sulieman Pasha has been arrested and is to be
tried BY civil and military tribunals for treason
aud dlsobedience of orders. The collapse of the
Turkish resistance and the fall of Pevna are re-
garded as attributable to him through his coz.
duct at the Shipka Pass, regardless Of superior
orders.
The larger number of the inhabitants in the
villages OF Druseo, in Syria, have been massacred
By the Turks.
The English papers speak of new revolu.
tionary sect or society in Russia, called Nhiliss
who are kind of Communists. They are said
To be very formidable in point of numbers and
influence, and threaten great trouble to the Cars
government 1t is also said that this revolution
AIRY sect have succeeded in disseminating their
dangerous doctrines among the Russian army
Officers TO an alarming extent. If such is the
cas-; there may be fearful volcano under the
feeL of the Gar of all the Russias.
An exchange paper from an Eastern State oil
North America, has the following statement oil
things as they are said to exist in EDglaud-in
difference to the Army and Navy:
fGreat Britain has 1872 Admiras living and only
297 Ear-ships in commission, or more AdmIrals
than ships, though the duty of an Admiral is
usually TO command feet of not less than hall
dozen vessels. The same country has s2S Gen.
erals and l5l regiments or more than five Gen.
erals to regiment, though in active service there
is no need Of more than one General for three
regiments, on an average. In other words the
Government has appointed about $50 Admirals
and 1I5 Generals who render little service to the
country, save By helping to relieve the public
treasury OF its surplus funds. 1t is to be remem,
bered that these superhuous dignitaries were
nearly all appointed in time of peace, for Great
Britain has not been engaged in any extensive
operations within the last half century The
Crimean, HiBdoo, Ashantee and Abyssinian
wars, had no long campaigns with large armies
in the open field.
A party Of Is experienced miners from the
British Colonies started recently for New Guinea.
IN search OF gold, where it Is said the aurifsrous
article has been discovered 10 good paying guam
titles II the expedition referred to succeeds
then there will be an exodus of the enterpnsing
men from the Colonies, that will soon Fill up the
waste places in the new colorado.
The PdK-MdH Gazette is one of the leading
London journals, and is by 10 rs pleased
with the conduct OF the Govern ,ent, and ex-
presses Its dissatisfaction in PLAIN, bold language
Referring to the speech made in the German
Parliament recently, by Bismarck, upon Euro