The Daily Southern Cross.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4484, 9 January 1872, Page 2

The Daily Southern Cross.

LTJCEO, NON FRO. If I h*Ye been extinguished, yet there rite A thousand betooni from tht ip*rlc I bore.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 1872.

The arrival of the * Nebraska' has once more placed us in possession of intelligence of the events that are oeoupying public attention on the other Bide of the globe. , Th<? news is of an interesting character, though in some cases the interest is of * a painful kind. France, that for so long attracted the 1 'eyes of the, world, is still, in that un : settled si&ie\that creates anxiety. iu' the 1 minds of tKose who desire the continu- "

ance of the peace of Europe. The intriguing of the various factions in that distracted country continues, and from the precautions used it is evident that the Imperialist plotters especially are causing solicitude to the Government. So much is this the case that the resignation of the President Thiers is almost arranged in order to raise to that position the, Duke D'Aumale. This singular change in the current of public feeling sufficiently indicates the precarious position of the internal peace of France ; while the Prussian Government, having apparently lost faith in the stability of the present regime, is reported to be seriously contemplating the re-occupation of the French provinces. The tendency to this extreme course is not lessened by excesses committed in certain places in France in relation to Germans, and altogether it cannot be said that the aspect of affairs in France, and of the relations between the two recently belligerent powers, is reassuring, Tn Italy has occurred one of the most noteworthy events of the century, the actual meeting in Rome of the Parliament of United Italy, The head of the Catholic Ohurch continues to protest against the course that events have taken, and to declare his belief that the Chuich will regain the position of temporal power which it has lost. There does not appear to be any attempt on the part of the King of Italy to interfere with the spiritual independence of his Holiness, but the new order of things has become so irk- ' some that negotiations appear to be ripe for the removal of the residence of the Pope to France, and a castle has been placed at his disposal by the Government. Scarcely less interesting events are transpiring at the seat of Moslem power, and the vigorous prosecution of public works in Turkey, the covering of the empire with a network of railways, the formation of harbour works, repairiug of roads, opening up of rivers to navigation, and other means of bringing the people into relations with tho civilisation and progress of the age — all seem so strange to the ancient policy of the Crescent that we cannot but regard them as among the signs of the times. The continued ravages of cholera in Constantinople will not be without effectin. hastening on the progress of improvement,andw© may anticipate that the sanitary science of the West will soon be as valued as are apparently its commerce and systems of communication. A political crisis has occurred in Madrid, but though the radical party have triumphed, the personal government of the neAV King is so generally popular, that the changes in the political affairs of Spain are likely to be constitutionally effected. The chronic disturbance in Cuba has, at length, attracted the attention of the great powers, and it is stated that England and the United States have arranged a policy of immediate intervention. It will hardly be said that this interference is unwarranted ; and any intervention by a liberal puwer must be hailed as affording the prospect of for ever endiug that evervarying, but never ceasing, misrule that has ground down the Queen of the AntillesWith reference to America, ,it is pleasing to see that the cordial relations between that country 'and England are being every day confirmed by the pro. gress of events, and are affording the theme for mutual courtesies and declarations at the hands of public men that cannot fail to have a lasting effect. The Emperor of Germany has accepted the duties of arbitrator in the case of the disputed frontier on tho Pacific coast, while the commission for the final adjustment of the 'Alabama' and similar claims has made rapid progress in obtaining and classifying claims preparatory to the meeting of the Commission at Geneva on the I2th of December. In England the strange and seemingly incredible scheme of an alliance between the highest and the lowest order of English society seems to have developed into a kind of reality, and whatever may ultimately come of the negotiations they are being prosecuted and urged with a vigour j that seems to indicate some hope of j their resulting in success. But the interest in all other news in England pales before that attaching to the | critical position of the Princs of Wales. It is evident from the latest intelligence received in San Francisco by telegram previous to the departure of the mail, that the life of his Royal Highness was regarded by his physicians and by the whole people as drawing to a close j and to say that sorrow and alarm had overspiead the kingdom, but feably represents the public feeling. The danger to the Queen's eldest son, and heirapparent to the throne,had drawn forth all the latent loyalty of the English people ; and grief for the sorrow of the Royal family is mingled with fears of the convulsions that are thought by many to be impending, on any interruption of the possession or succession of the throne of England. So far as any immediate effects of this character are concerned, they could only arise from the Queen's | health being fatally impaired by the j crushing blow which it might receive from the death of her eldest son. In the recent state of her Majesty's health, j such an affliction might be attended j with melancholy results ; and the estab- ; liahment of a regency during the mino- j rity of the young Prince would, in the \ present state of English feeling, afford grounds fpr grave apprehensions. It cannot be denied that the intelligence j is of a serious kind to the interests of the Empire ; and, though the symptoms were of an alarming nature, we can only h«pe that an over-ruling Providence may spare the Queen this great sorrow, and the nation from the evils that are so much feared. ■" * ' ,

We are compelled to hold over oar report of tbe Acclimatisation Society's meeting, and other local new*. The Home- News says V 2 -" New Zealand flax increases in valae every day." The Biahop 1 of Auckland hta received a , ono pouad not? ,fpr r the Bishop P<iUeson^ Memorial Fnndi^frbm •, f f A- Hater , of By». lawa." - * l ►"^<* i! '-' •*- - ■* >•'

Before the proceedings at the Supreme Court commenced yesterday morning, Mr. Brookfield begged to draw his Honor's notice to the state of the Supreme Court building. Both himself and his learned brothers on Friday last became extremely ill, owing to the exceedingly offensive stench which came from the basement of the Supreme Court buildings. Not on'y was this effluvium a great annoyance to the members of the profession, but also to the public, who were called to that Court to give their attendance. Indeed, not a few had to leMK the precincts of the building. The Sheraptaid there was not a sufficient supply 01 water to flush the closots j but ho thought a partial remedy might be applied by placing a door between the stnirg and the hall of the Court, in which the business of the Court was being carried* on. There was also an escape of gas which was particularly offensive, and this, in conjunction with tbe horrible smells from the closets, were sufficient to cause serious injury to health. His Honor said he had also felt exceedingly ill, but he was not quite sure that it arose from the cause which had been referred to by Mr. Brookfield. He hardly knew what other course to adopt for the present other fian ta order those places to be closed up. The Sheriff stated that the building was entirely dependent on a water supply from what was collected from the roof. The long continued drought had left the closets without a drop of water. There had been a man employed to keep them clean, but really there was no water to flush chem. His Honor then replied that he could not see what else could be done at present than to order the doors to be closed. The following is a copy of a letter received by his Honor the Superintendent giving information respecting the fibres with which the phormium has to compete in the British markets. These fibres, it will be seen, are numerous. In order to make the information as available as possible, his Honor has informed us that samples of each f>f the ■ above differeut fibres can be obtained by phorraium manufacturers on application at the Superintendent's office. By having a carefully prepared sample of each of the above fibres, phormium manufacturers will have a fixed standard with which to compare their own work, and much practical good may therefore ba expected to result : — " Flax Commission Office, Wellington, New Zealand, 23rd December, 1871.— Sir,— I have the honor, by the direction of the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, to forward to your address, per s.s. ' Albion,' a box containing six packets of foreign fibres, each packet containing—Manila, sisal hemp, Italian hemp, Egyptian flax, Bomby hemp, Russian hemp, aloe fibre. They are intended for distribution amongst those interested in the manufacture of phormium, who may wish to possess samples of those fibres which compete with it. —I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, (signed) A. T. Bothamley, (in tho absence of Dr. Hector), Chairman. — To his Honor tho Superintendent, Auckland." We hear from the Thames that tho subcommittee appointed at the late meeting, convened for the purpose of uniting the three highway boards under one municipality, met yeiterday at tho Pacific Hotel, to frame a petition te the Governor, and also to define tho boundaries of the municipality that is to bo asked for. The petition was discussed, and then left in the hands of Mr. Tyler, one of the committee, to perfect ; the boundaries were defined as extending from Tararu creek along high-water mark to Kopu creek, thence into the ranges about a mile, and thence back to Tararu creek. Mr. Webb has kindly favoured us with the following extract from a letter received from Mr. J. W. Raymonds, San Francisco agent of the line :— " The London mail was two days behind time to New York, and could not reach here before evening of Sth, whilst our sailing day wa3 the 6th, thus incurring a delay of three days ; unfortunately tins brought the mail just in time to be caught by a very heavy and unseasonable suowstorn, which blocked up the train east of Choyenne. Th§ railroad companies have made provision to prevent a recnrr«npp of such delay. I shall instruct the captains to recover as much of the lost time as they can safe'y, and regardless of the expense of coals and wear-and-tear. I took advantage of the delay to put the ' Moses Taylor' in the Dry Dock, and have her thoroughly overhauled." We understand that the division o£ the vote of the General Government in aid of the Road Boards in this province has at last been made. After laying aside a sufficient sum to imet the wants of Road Boards that may bo formed dm ing the present year, the sum of £14,900 was available for distribution. The Road Boards luue, as by law directed, been divided into three classes, and the sum of Us. has been made the unit of division upon the basis of the rates raised last year. While a Board under class 1 gets 11s., class 2 gets 22s., and class 3 gets 44s. The sums given to different Boards thus vary considerablyvarying from a comparatively few pounds to several hundreds. We learn from Captain Raymond, of the United States, We w Zealand, and Australian Mail Steamship Company, that tho Hawaiian Government has agreed to pay a subsidy of 36,000 dollars for the next eighteen months, at 2,000 dollars per month, toward the maintenance of the Webb line. Of course this is on the understanding that the steamers continue to touch at Honolulu, as they will un doubtedly do.—Alta California. The A r ews of the World says :— " By the steamer which conveys the present issue of this paper, Mr. J. R. Erringer, who represents the Pennsylvania Railroad in this city, is a passenger. The larger part of the 'through' overland passengers across the continent of America take, as a matter of choice, one of the railroad lines which are included in the immense system owned or leased by this company, which connects with thp Central Pacific and Union Pacific RailRailroads. Mr. Erringer visits the colonies, of course in the interests of the company, and as their representative in San Francisco, who will be brought into direct communication with tho through passengers from and to the colonies, he is particularly fitted to impart all information in regard to the overland route. The passengers from San Francisco to New York, have the choice of several route3 east of Omaha or Chicago, and in facb at other points, through tickot costing in all cases, the same money. No routo oin be more heartily recommended for economy of time and distance, as well as for the interesting country through which it passes. By this lfne and its connections, the distance from San Francisco to New York, 3,300 miles, is made in six days and 20 hours, and it is the only one running three daily trains of Pullman's famous palace day and sleeping coaches from Chicago to New York without change, with but once change tp Washington City, Boston, and all Atlantic coast cities. We bespeak for this gentleman the attention he is sure to receive from the officials and business men of the colonies, feeling sure that our recommendation is almost superfluous. He will make it his business to cheerfully impart all information in regard to the American Trans-Continental route." Four shops have been opened in. Aberdeen for the exclusive sale of the New Zealand beef and mutton put up by Messrs. James Wotherspoon and Co. ' The meat is retailed in small quantities, to suit the requirements of the labouring classei, and baa been largely sold. A number of the principal grocers of Aberdeen have also commenced the sale of the meats offered to the trade by the various companies. The consumption of Australian preserved meat is on the increase. The " Anglo- Aubtralian," says :•— "This is evidently the age of new routes. The last on the tapis is by way*of Newfoundland. Patsengers from England to land at St. John's, cross the island by rail to Shippegan Harbour, and from the Intercolonial Rail"W*y» ' y which they can travel to any part of Canada iri a few houra, and make San Francisco, via Chicago, in twelve days from Londbn'j or, when the Canadian Pacific line is completed, ih. lew time, connecting these .with, the* iteamer for New Zealand and ? Auifcrftlui. ? , '

A. number of prominent citizens of San Francisco have associated themselves together for the purpose of incorporating, under the laws of California, a company. Its object is the purchase and aoquisition of lands on the beautiful Navigator Islands, and tbe cultivation, sale, or lease of the same. The formation there of a coaling station for the steamers of the United Satea^New Zealand, and Australian Mail line is also proposed, a9 also the establishment of a central Polynesian clep6t for commercial purposes which would serve tbe whole group of Islands. The capital stock of the corporation is to be 100,000dul., in 1,090 shares of lOOdol. each. Five trustees will ba appointed. For the first three months the following gentlemen, until their successors are appointed, will act in that capacity : — J. W. Stow, J. B. M. Stewart, James Maker (of Honolulu, one of the largest plantation owners of the Sandwich Islands),. N.B. Stone, and F. A. Beer. Thus are the beautiful and fruitful islands of the Pacific gradually, and by no mens slowly, receiving the attention they deserve, and we are glad to note this evidence of the interest felt in them by leading business men of San Francisco. — Alta California. Julia Matthews is playing with considerable Success at the Gaiety Theatre. Miss Cleveland (Mrs. Charles Viner) has taken a leading position on the London stage in the " Woman in White."