THE FRENCH SCANDAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 271, 17 November 1887, Page 4

THE FRENCH SCANDAL.

A scandal- which is distinctively described as " French " might be assumed to refer to some unsavoury exploits of so-called " gallantry ;" but, in point of fact, the French scandal which has been bulking so largely in the cable news of late is at the opposite extreme, being a record of transactions of the meanest and mo3t mercenary character. This may be accounted for by the fact that one of those most deeply implicated in the disgraceful affair —Mr Daniel Wilson, son -in - law of President Gv6vy — belongs to the " nation of shopkeepers" who dwell on the opposite side of the Channel. Mr Wilson is accused of having unblushingly sold military decorations at a fixed tariff, of accepting a bribe of two millions of francs for obtaining a military contract to a certain tenderer, and of taking a bribe in return for using his influence in judicial affairs. The latter accusation is doubtless the transaction which was referred to by "Le Pat is" about a month ago. That journal accused Mr Wilson of using pressure to obtain repayment to Messrs Dreyfus, the bankers, of 750,000 francs, the amount of a duty payment which was enforced by the courts in the famous Peruvian guano case. M. Sadi Carnot, who was then Financial Minister, refused to refund the money, when M. Grevy's assistance was sought, he having defended Messrs Dreyfus, and received 200,000 francs in fees. M. Sadi Garnot was driven from office, and M. Dauphin, his successor, proved more pliable, although M. Bredil, head of the Finance Department, strongly opposed such tampering with public moneys. If this be a correct recital (and Mr Wilson admitted to an interviewer that it was substantially true), then it is clear that President Grevy is as much implicated as his son-in-law, and there is no need to wonder at the cry that has been raised for his resignation. Generals Caffarel and d'Andlau (the latter a nobleman) have been clearly proved to have trafficked in decorations and appointments. The exploits of the Comte d'Andlau appear to have been most varied, for, as a Paris correspondent humorously remarks, "He is actually said to have made a bishop, pocketing as a reward for his pious task a matter of £100. Then there is a whisper that he once got a man into the equally sacred precincts of the Jockey Club for a consideration of ;£4OO. It was four times his fee for the bishopric—a fact which, if true, will prove that the bench is not so difficult of attainment as the club. But the Jockey Club need not triumph, if the report be correct that General; D'Andlau twice received £800 for the rrbbon of the Legion of Honor, a price that casts the turf-senate tariff miserably into the shade and places the bishop nowhere." The blue blood of this mercenary nobleman has not prevented his being sentenced to five years' imprisonment for these flagrant practices, and General Caffarel, who has admitted his shame,has been deprived of his command, has had his pension reduced by one-half, and will have, to stand his trial, in the civil courts also. The nepotic instinct has hitherto protected the excellent Daniel Wilson from criminal proceedings, but itis plain that the French people are in no temper to condone his offence or to conclude that, he is innocent without having a searching inquiry. The Chamber of Deputies after a strong debate has given wide powers to a Commission which will inquire into the transactions of the War Office during the past ten years, and the amiable son-iu-law has already been found out in petty abuses of his position, and more revelations may be expected.

Although these scandals arc of a mercenary nature, there could not fail to be a woman mixed up in the mischief. Mine. Limousin, the woman in the case, was born in Paris, of German parents. She is ugly, hideous even, with false hair, teeth, etc. She seems to have, nevertheless, possessed the art de Iα piaire, and many are trembling in their boots for fear that she, to while away the weary hours of duress, will recount her conquests ' for some boulevard sheet. Other persons mixed up in the scandals are on a par with this brazen intriguante. A certain Baron Kreitmeyer has been prominent in rhakiug allegations against Mr WilsoD, and this Baron proves to' be the Bavarian officer who, after one years close confinement with hard labour'for high treason for selling military plans of" German fortresses to the French General staff, was banished, and has apparently cast in his lot with a renegade German clique in Pans. Altogether there promises to be a great washing of dirty linen in public over this French sensation; but beyond the possibility of causing a change of President, it is not likely to haye any influence on European aftairs.

At last Queen-street is almost free from hoardings, the only one remaining being that adjoining Mr Edson's establishment In front of the fine block of bmldmwm course of erection by the Mutual Lite Association, the hoarding has just been removed, and workmen are now enpaged replacing the asphalt V*™**°t There will soon be a fair chance of walking from one ond of Queen-etreet to the otnei without being compelled to paddle through th'o jaud jn tbe middle of the street,

ness in « Diana, Francis, mS **$* Mr oj

the City School master of Beresford^SL we are informed 'thaUhe f bh ° '** materials which have W n 3 these fees are in use in fli P , second, and oceSiffet^' fildiuttatschoolffStii for failure to pay the " Z , and the pareS in that rt wowid be imnosrfhifllwf^ <&&£££&* panishment of three ing were the presidingjustioes. $ M

bymeans of the representing the coronation of Maty, (£ At a racotingof -the',City..Jto Club last evening in Ie.Y.E Rooms, Mr T. ' Murray WS S u £ mously elected captain, h Greaves vice-captain. Prepwationj n, made for the Association's iforthcoim. regatta. Several new ''.members »m elected. ■» ■ ..,- - At a time; like.;lKe preeent,stei» success of fruit growers' dependsip gg stopping the progress of the ' codlin m% it is pleasing to hear ofi remedy ftati not quite so dangerous as the xk of Pw green._'■ It is stated that if eqaal pi of milk and kerosene are ttotMjUj churned together and , theri' s astmilatd with_lo parts of \rater, the mntufeii,! applied by a finie Bpray.syiinge,'pnm equally eificaciou^.« This of cott is p fectly harmless. The-l{ejtiSfM£Mfr inject life, anS the the purpose of making the aixturejis) 1 wherever It tonchesi cdurse,to thoroughly uistrilffitteil over the.trees.'' Some'6rcha«listeareal»ii eatchinw-nuniheit of moths by : nleuai lights at night and sticky mixtures ism the -daytime? li.is to be hoped ttatil fruit-growers will combine this year it i war of extermination oh the'cbdlm "Mi ~ The funeral of Constable O'Shea.toe* place this afternoon, and -was attended Iff nearly the ifhole, of the officers 'Mmi the city and suburban number of civilians, f |The cortege left hi House afc,1.30 p.m.,' and jproceedeo to & Patrick's Cathedral, wher?[the widcw mony was performed, and ! teinMil tooki place at the Devonport CeniSterf. ■ f Th 6 handicap tourhatletit of tte'M land Chese Clnb, in which neatly all & members have been- engaged : three or four: months, was ( cpncWw 1» we«k, the winner being Mr W. rW* Mr Hidings apd Mr j^ , Ashton had'to* I the best of three games for fot-andw positions,; and the winning the first, two games. The three matches at the Mount; EdfflW Ranse to choose three tepresenWw" following are.the ficores.afc 200,,W»g yards Sergeant Jenkinson, 2n;, ■■»•» 183; Sergeant Cantle, 195. The m highest receive £10 each. next yean ; . „, ~ - '-.-■ Afc the Baptist/Union Conferenc a WJ, yestoday.ibvasdec^tWa^^ Erf u SnSd^S» committee to confer establishing a •causrat.Mgp course of the morning, yjjJgLfofii replied to by Py f ff * church), and the Bft v w - ? (Thanies). . ■• ■ -... 3 thesalanesoft^^Bbed^l

""Tisditor :Sir.-I see with pleasure flft'Keofyoiir paper a letter in int° d By f the fflidmmmer holidays being favour or K&, May I also put in a plea J*".', ffi decision. I fear that short- £*> nS ffivs will only add to the great •** ftffiess there always is during Ir months. It is almost impossible the to give their attention to les"U sffb thieve a lon-holiday to prome**' 1 ? A Mothkk. Nov. & ,■ foment in another column it J. H. Witheford's ten•i" be the ile right of advertising on the i* ioxi A Action of the New Zealand A« cUand hi been accepted by the Hon. railways H"J pub)ic Works on be- - 5& Queen. 1 ,, l plection of new members of The » n .3 Hospital and Charitable Aid K U 2ll take Plwe on Wednesday next, W* Jnhere are required. Rodney fl** Smata.and Onehunga Borough n t l SonUbers; areentiticct aml the Eden Road GtyCrf pavnell, Newton and Newelect one representative, and rfnau and Onehunga two. Htf Htion inviting Mr F. G. Clayton to election as Mayor of Newto St to course of signature. *, . Vaile and Douglas will hold a KJ«*» ab their R T IS ' Sh M- rfcsaleiot re» to-morrow. Among other lena-st-; mi , ffil j sv ,bmit the comfortable properties v j Road nQyy owned and Carl Schmitt, also pro"SKtKnsonby and Mount Eden. ■* • !H«n is beinn- got up to Mr F. G. A requisition is D.ein o^m ofNewmarket. Mr C. Goocl■STwho had also been requisitioned to Shis retired in Mr Clayton's favour. kerned George Cashn, anas Henry c\nS estedthis afternoon charged tftffeny of a clock, the property of Sydney Asher. » n,Af>Hmr of persons interested in the iTdown of Upper Queen-street has S ntedtobe l heldthisevenin, :> at jj o'clock at the Municipal Corporation OffiCerS- wmmmmmmmmm^mmmm