London, April 20. — It is rumoured that Germany is preparing a fresh surprise in connection with their colonial annexation policy. Herbert Vaughan, Roman Catholic Bhhop of Salford, is a passengor by the Orient steamer Austral for Sydney. f- It is expected that to-morrow (Tuesday), Government will ask the House of Commons for a vote of six millions, to defray the ex. ponses of the military preparations now being carried on. A number of torpedoes have been pro cured in Germany. The Admiralty have engaged the Orient Company's steamer Lusitania as a cruiser. A telegraph despatch has been received at the War Office from Sir Gerald Graham, in which he states that the colonial troops marched on Saturday last, a distance of fourteen miles through a pass consisting oi most difficult country, in nine hours. Colonel Richardson, commanding the Aus tralian contingent, conducted the advance of the force in excellent style. In the House of Commons to day Mr Gladstone announced that the Government had received a further despatch from Sir Peter Lumsden, but it was not a reply to the inquiries made in the communication of the 10th instant, wherein the Govern ment asked the British Commissioner to report all the circumstances connected with the Penjdeh incident. Sir Peter Lumsden's present despatch, Mr Gladstone added, conflicted with the version of the affair recently published by the Russian Government from General Komaroff, and the Cabinet therefore must await further details before communicating Sir Peter Lumsden's despatch to the House. Tho statement made to Parliament to day by the Premier has caused renewed anxiety as to the probable result of the Russo- Afghan difficulty. London, April 21 — Tho shipment of frozen meat ex ship Marlborough is selling at s£d per Ib. The French Government will allow Nubar Pasha time, to consult with the Porte in

Owing to recent telegrams indicating a probable peaceful settlement of the Russo* Afghan question, the Government consider it at present unnecessary to close the wes tern channel of Port Jackson, as proclaimed in the Government Gazette of the 15th j inst. Adelaide, April 18. — Mauritius advices are to hand, doted April 20. Messrs Ire- Jand, Fraser, and Co. s ciroular gives the month's engagements for Christchurch at 200 tons, and Dunedin the same amount. Freights to Australia rate at 30s to 335. 