GENERAL NEWS.

Clutha Leader, Volume XVI, Issue 832, 27 June 1890, Page 3

GENERAL NEWS.

A successful experiment with electricity for tanning hides was made at Bermondsoy, London, on May 14. The time required for the process is five days. M. Rochefort said to a London interviewer on May 10 he believed.. Boulangei'cs star had fallen for ever. As lie himself had little hope of returning to France he had concluded to apply for papers of English naturalisation. "--•Leopold, King of Belgium,, went to Balmoral on the anniversary oil the Queen's birthday, and presented hor Majesty with a large bouquet 3ft in diameter composed of mauve colored orchids. The Rnglish market was reported on May 24 glutted with beef, and 700 cattle awaited slaughter at Doptford. The American steamers had abandoned cattle carrying charters. A stone was thrown into the court- | yard of Marlborough House on Saturday, May 24, wrapped in a paper bearing the words : ♦ Give us bread. You would reign ;' and signed ' Thousands of strong Englishmen.' There are many conflicting stories as to Parnell's defence in the divorce, case brought by Captain O'Shea. One prevalent report is that lie will not defend the case, and that the upshot of the affair will be that he will marry Mrs O'Shea. Etuin Pasha, previous to his re-enter-ing Africa, invested his private funds in a plantation at Bagamayo, with the object of cultivating cotton and other products. The investment represents the savings of many years. It was bruited in political circles on May 10 that Mr Gladstone would probably sacrifice his own hopes of returning to power by joining Lord Salisbury in an effort to make a Land Purchase Bill that will be acceptable to Ireland and secure for it the support of the Liberal party. In reply to a delegation concerning the eight hours question which waited on him on May 21, Lord Salisbury declared the limitation of a day's work to eight hours was impossible. The system meant ruin to small concerns. Time and wagos should be regulated in accordance with the capacity of capital. He was opposed to anything like compulsory measures. Mr Gladstone predicts an early general election. In the course of a speech made at Hawarden on May 27 he denounced the bill for compensation to publicans who were deprived of their licenses. The whole control of the license system, he said, ought to be vested in local bodies. It would add L 300,000,000 to the national debt to purchase publicans' licenses. ij It is rumored that the Queen wanted to make her daughter Beatrice Duchess of Sussex, but Lord Salisbury declared he would resign if such a step were taken. The English people, he said, regarded the peerage as no longer a mere appendage of the Grown, but a rank created by the British constitution, only to be conferred as a mark of royal favor under the most exceptional cases. Paris was visited by a hailstorm on May 25 which was unexampled in fury. The day had been sulti-y. At 5 o'clock the sky became cloudy, followed by a fall of hail, so that the objects at a short distance were hidden from sight. The limbs of the trees were cut and people caught out had their clothes ruined besides suffering excoriation of the skin where the hailstones struck it. The hail simply fell in sheets. . The Government proclamation forbidding the Tipperary meeting was defied on May 27. Messrs Dillon and O'Brien held ameeting just outside the town of Cashel and spoke to immense crowds. The gatherings were several

times interrupted, but were resumed with determined persistence. Bodies of police charged with their batons, but finally the policemen's efforts proving unavailing, a troop of hussars were called upon to chai'ge. The affair then assumed the proportions of a riot. Many were injured by the police and soldiers, and some of the, latter were also hurt. The freedom of the city of London was presented to Stanley at the Guildhall on May 13. It was the grandest demonstration in honor of the explorer since his arrival in Europe. He was also the recipient of a number of pictures and maps of Africa, London, Great Britain, and the United States. In an interview he expressed himself wearied with England's pliancy and apathy in regard to the operations of Germany. If England continued inactive Germany would secure a paramount influence in Africa. The. Emperor was backing Major Wissmann, and it is impossible for him to fail in advancing German interest. There was no reason why England should not now be in possession of the Congo country and enjoying all the advantages that Belgium enjoys. It is stated that a new' secret association has been formed in Montreal and. Quebec, consisting principally of Irish and Canadians — a large number of the latter being Frenchmen. The membership has already reached 10,000. One object is to obtain money in Canada for Irish Home Rule ; another to promote the annexation of Canada to the United States. . A Montreal mystery has been cleared up by the finding of an unfortunate Englishman's body in the large reservoir which supplies. Montreal with water. His throat was cut, and a towel tied round his neck. ICimbcr came to Canada last February, and was known to have been in possession of a good deal of money. He suddenly disappeared. An investigation showed that his razor was covered with blood ; that blood stains were on the floor, and there were other evidence of foul play in his room. Mr Stanley is engaged to be married to Miss Dorothy Tennent in July next. The engagement was made previous to his lasb departure for Africa. She is the lady who posed for Sir John Millais when he painted his faniovs picture, ' Yes, or No.' After his marriage, according to report, Stanley will be appointed ■Governor-general of the Congo Free State by King Leopold, to rule over an area of 1,056,000 square miles and a population of white and blacks of 27,000,000. The bit of romance in connection with Stanley's marriage is tli at years ago Miss Tennent refused him because he dyed his hair. When the Baroness Burdett-Coutts welcomed Stanley at her door, on his return from Africa, she told him Miss Tennent was willing to marry him if the old affection existed. Stanley acted promptly on the information.'