ENGLISH MAIL NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 85, 12 April 1899, Page 3

ENGLISH MAIL NEWS.

Particulars are published of a mysterious affair which took place on the London and North-western Rail-way. On the arrival of the train from Willesden Junction at Kensal Rise Station at 9.45 p.m., one of the carriage doors was noticed to be wide open. The compartment was found to be full of .smoke, as though from a gunpowder explosion, and a welldressed man was lying on the floor in an insensible condition, with a black bag by his side. The only occupant of the next compartment asserted that he heard three distinct explosions as the train was proceeding between the stations. The passenger, on recovering, could give no account of What had'happened. He gava the name of Guggenheim, of West Hampstead. A, doctor who saw- him stated that he was only suffering from shock, and he was allowed to proceed to his home. The officers of the Criminal Investigation Department are making inquiries. " • • _

A great deal of dissatisfactioh appears to be felt in shipping circles over the circumstances connected with the insuring and re-insuring, of the Bulgaria. After the telegrams received as to its probable fate, tiie rate naturally went up very v high, and it was only" a few hours before. the news of the Bulgaria's safe arrival that a re-Insurance was effected at 92 per cent. The absence of news, as well as the reports which had been received, had led everyone to suppose that the ship must be lost. Whether wellfounded or not, a good deal of rather suspicious comment is _preyalent, and there .is talk of an infiiiry being asked for. at Lloyd's. The somewhat similar circumstances which surrounded the fate of the China are recalled; and the result for the moment is sfeen in a decided unwillingness to pay. at all highly pn ships which are temporarily 'missing . ',':-,

At Assouan on February 25 the Duke of Connaught laid the foundation stone of the new English ChUrch. In performing the ceremony His Royal Highness said:— 'It is with great pleasure that i lay the foundation stone of this churchy the furthest south in Egypt, which will be a great godsend to bur countrymen and our brethren from the United States who .continue to come in Increasing numbers to Egypt. In the name of the Fiithe!., tiie Son; and the Holy Ghost I lay this first stone of St. Mark's Church;' In reply to an address read by Colonel Esdaile welcoming the royal party, the Duke said that he felt great pleasure in seeing a work . approaching completion Which would be a blessing to his countrymen and to the-increasing numbers of American visitors. At the close of the service the Duke telegraphed, to the Queen. His Royal Highness subscribed £25 to tha' church fund. The trowel used was fashioned out of a Dervish spearhead.

It was recently asserted that-the Czar, owing to the delicate state of his health, intended visiting Madeira. A curious statement now comes from Copenhagen.. According to the 'Politiken' the CzarNicholas 'is said to have for months not taken any part fn Governmental affairs, the Grand Duke Michael being the real ruler. This passivity on the paxt of the Russian ruler, which dates from the time immediately after the publication of his' Peace manifesto, is said to have keen due to the delicate state of his health. According to another version (says the Berlin correspondent of theffDaily News') his family have taken steps to induce him to stand, aloof from public affairs. The recent ukase concerning the Russificaiiori of Finland is said to bear the signature of the Grand Duke Michael, the Czar confining himself to writing on the draft of the marginal note: 'Be it so.' The above statement (adds the correspondent) sounds very improbable, and I may add that in the best-informed quarters here nothing is known which in any respect confirms it. ',

The Vienna correspondent of the 'Standard' reports a singular domestic tragedy from Nagy Warad, in Hungary. Last year two very young people, named Johann Szllagyi and Piroska Varga, married, and were recently blessed with a daughter. The Royal Court has, however, been forced to declare the marriage null and void, since it has been proved that the pair are really brother and sister. The young man -was illegitimate, and accordingly bore his mother's name, and when he was subsequently legitimised by the marriage of his father and mother it was forgotten to make any change in the register of his birth. The parents died, and the children, who were left quite young, were sent into service in two different places, each with a different name, and with documents bearlna those nam.es. By a fatal coincidence they met without knowing each other, fell in love, and married, and it is to be presumed that the facts were only discovered accidentally. The child has been provisiorially left with the mother, but the husband and his wife have been separated, though they declare they woul« rather die.than part. -