Tho gigantic strike of tho Durham coal miners threatens to bocomo a national calamity. Among the 00,000 miners themselves und their families thore is great sufloring, and thousands of children are being fed by charity. At West Hartlepool, in Durham, 1,200 men have been discharged from tho steel works, and many of thoir fumilies are without food and fuel oxcept that furnished by tho Town Council and Poor Law Guardians. Still, tho miners remain firmly determined not to accept a reduction of wages. Aba ballot takon as to whether they should return to work on tho masters' terms, about 30,000 strikors did not voto. * THE RUSSIAN SITUATION. Router's correspondent has finished a tour of tho famino-strickon districts of Russia, and summing up, April 16th, says tho eamo picturo of extravagance was presented to him everywhere. Immonao forests havo boen wantonly cut, rivers havo beon neglected, and tho climate is ruined. The peasants are regarded by tho authorities eimply as tax-paying units, and the welfare of thoir minds and bodies is a mattor of most supromo indifference. Tho counbry is face to faco with bankruptcy, the land is exhausted, and the agricultural system is a hopeless failure. The Nihilists uro oagerly taking advantage of thia dis content to extend thoir propaganda, and practical reformers are divided as to whab is to bo dove to remedy tho evil. THE CHOLERA AT BENARES. Dr. Crigg, Sanitary Commissioner for Bengal, recently issued v reporb upon tho outbreak of cholera that occurred ub Serampore, a few milos north - west of Benares. Over tho wholo affocted area ho found tho water tanks of various shapes, sizes, and depths, all contained dirty water. Low, foul ginglos, reeking with bad smells eurrouudod these tanks, tho surfaces of which woro almosb completely hiddon with thick, decaying water plants, whilo hero and thore was a clour place where tho inhabitants wash cooking vessels and draw water for domestic übo. Io places tho doctor actually observed musses of undu lating maggots in portions of decaying animals. vVhonevor the people living in housos in tho neighbourhood of these tanks used tho wator, choloru made its uppearance. Milkmen obtain water for their cows from these tankß and dilute tho milk itself with tho eamo water. 