GENERAL NEWS.

Bay of Plenty Times, Issue XX, 17 June 1892, Page 2

GENERAL NEWS.

The Chilian newspapers state that the recent civil war in that country cost the victors alone (the Congressional party) three million pounds. The fierce opposition to Kanaka labour still continues in Queensland. There are certainly some very ugly facts to be quoted against coloured labour. During the census period 1886-1891, out of 10,000 Kanakas in I Queensland, (8,000 on sugar plantations), the death bill was 2,577, or over one-fourth of them. Iv his latest report the RegistrarGeneral of Queensland, writing on the Kanaka death rate, said :— ' This notable high death rate of Polynesians may be accounted for in several ways, some of whiob causes, no doubt, lead to consumption, the disease most prevalent amongst people of this race. It is rather surprising to find among the religions professed in New South Wales that there are nearly 10,000 Buddhists. In England there are signs of a revolt against dangeroiia public performances. The audience at the Tivoli Music Hall in the Strand recently -would have nothing to do with Messrs Western and Martyn's performance, though full of that olererness which American riflemen have mad© familiar. So long as it was chooting at marks the skill was applaudeJ, but when they came to fire about each other's heads the audience began to protest. The men stand in frame works in which glass balls are suspended, in such a position that one false shot mt^ht have been fatal. . This was, however, nothing to the scene vrhich followed. Ono of the riflemen stood beneath a small glass ball dangling an inch above his head, and the other — in William Tell style - proceeded to the farthest distance possible, the front o? the balcony stalls, and with a bullet from his rifle shivered the ball into atctns. There were cries of angry protest when the preparations were being made, but at its end the performers were greeted with a storm of hisses.

A late Hongkong exchange laments the alleged decadence of British shipping interests in China and Japan waters. The English shipowner, it is stated, has practically been driven off the coast, and to-day, so it is affirmed, the harbour of Hongkong is constantly frequented by foreign -owned steamers under charter to Chinese firms. They, run to Norjh China ports, to Pakhoi, Hoihow, Haikhong, the Straits and Borneo, carrying full cargoes and innumerable native passengers. Ihe secret of their success no doubt lies in the fact that they have undercut the British vessels in the matter of cost of running. According to this authority, unless British shipowners see to it that fair shipping laws, especially with regard to loadline, three officer's watche*, and certificates of competency, are applied to foreign vessels trading to and fro in British colonial waters, there are very bad times in store for them, at all events so far as some part« of the empire are concerned.

The wife of a gatekeeper on the Burrum railway (N.S.W.) was using 1 turpentine for lightiug a fire, when her dress caught fire and she was dreadfully burned, Some kerosene near by took fire, and burned her little daughter so badly that she died shortly after admission to the hospital. There is not much hope for Mrs Slattery's recovery. A London paper his the following" : — One by one our old established instituii;ns are vanishing. The whipping post and stocks have disappeared, the law of hypothec— which five years ago lost Sir James Fitzjimes Stephen an election — has gone, and wnen midnight tolls the extinction of this year, 'The Quaen's Pipe,' will be numbered among the memorials of past greatness. Hitherto all smusrgled tobacco seized by Custom House officers has been smoked in ♦ Her MVjeafcy's Pipe,' at the place of cap« ture — that is to say uselessly burned in a furnace specially designed for the purpose. This ridiculous methol of getting rid of a marketable article suited well the views of King James 1., who regarded the smoke of the weed as worse than the fumes of the bottomless pit, but has for long seemed to sensible people an anachronism. Orders, it is reported, have now been issued to put put the * Queen's Pipe ' for ever. Henceforth it may be reckoned as among the extinct volcanoes. All tobacco seized will be forwrarded to headquarters in London, and will either be sold or distributed among the inmates of institutions dependent upon the Government. The horse of Lieuteuant Rob3rtson, of the Royal Engineers (writes the London correspondent of the Yorkshire 'Post'), ought to receive the equine equivalent for the Victoria Cross, if such there be. It calls to mind that wonderful story told by General Marbot of the vicious mare he rode, which destroyed two of his assailants in action with her teeth and heels, and then carried him through a hot fire to safety But there is no evidence that the horse of Lieutenant Robertson was vicious. He knew that his master was in danger, and defended him. When a murderous attack was made on Lieutenant Robertson by a young Gbazi. and he, fell from his horse bleeding profusely from his wounde, and the Ghazi came up to finish him, the faithful horse turned his heels and lashed out at every attempt of the Ghazi to approach the wounded man. This he is said to have done until help was at hand or the assailant ! fled. Lieutenant Robertson attributes the saving of his life to the behaviour of his nbrae.

Many of the Roman Catholic priests in the diocese of Westminster hope (according 1 to the Leeds Mercury's London correspondent) that tho new Archbishop will relax the veto placed upon their attendance at theatres by \Cardinal Manning 1 . The strong: hostility to the theatre which the Cardinal displayed, and which he shared with Mr Spurgeon, is by no means prevalent among 1 the Roman Catholic clergy. Many of them feel that it is a deprivation to be unable to see Mr Irving as Wolsey, or Mr Tree as Hamlet, and it is hoped that the next occnpant of the see will take a more tolerant view of theatrical afiaire.