NEWS BY THE MAIL.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1982, 11 September 1869, Page 2

NEWS BY THE MAIL.

The gentlemen who waited on Lord Granville on the Ist July, to urge upon him the necessity of consenting to a portion of the British troops remaining in the Colony of New Zealand, seem to have met with the cold shoulder, and had to go on their way lamenting, his lordship seeming to have determined on adopting the motto of Dante’s Inferno, “ All hope abandon, ye who enter here.” In addition to the action taken by the deputation alluded to, numerous meetings of colonial gentlemen have been held at the offices of tho New Zealand agent, Mr Morrison, who has spare,4 no effort to bring the grievances and claims of the New Zealand Colonists before influential quarters. The difficulty of deciding upon any definite course of action in the face of the attitude taken by the Government seems to have beep

the bete noire. It will, nevertheless, be some slight consolation to the colonists to know that no stone is being left unturned by their friends here to help them as far as possible. The great misfortune is that the bureaucracy at the Colonial Office bear out too Well by their ignorance of the Colonies Lord Bacon’s saying, that “ superiors many times love not to have those they employ too deep or too sufficient.” Lord Biuy, in the House of Commons a few days ago, asked for an opportunity this session to bring the affairs of New Zealand before Parliament, and he obtained the acquiescence of the Ministry in his request ; but it is to be doubted whether in the midst of the multiplicity of questions at present before the Legislature, his good intentions will have much effect. In some quarters it is believed that Lord Bury’s proposed parliamentary notice on New Zealand affairs will do more harm than good, and will stultify the genuine efforts that are being made on her behalf by disinterested friends. The first annual meeting of the Association that has now bloomed into the “ lloyal ” Colonial Society took place on June 28th. The attendance was somewhat disappointing, but this might have been accounted for by its being held in the middle of the day. One Fellow, in the course of the proceedings, suggested that more facilities should be afforded for social intercourse ; and thought that the premises were unsuitable, as, amongst other things, two pair of stairs were too much to mount. Lord Bury replied that the Council‘had done their best in the matter, and that they had heard of good rooms likely to be available at the expiry of the lease. Another Fellow proposed to extend the hour of closing the rooms from four to seven o’clock. At the close of the meeting, which lasted only a short time, Lord Bury solicited information on the New Zealand question from gentlemen conversant with it, to aid him in his purposed motion on the subject in the House of Commons. The adoption of the title F.R.C.S. by the Royal Colonial Society has given some offence to the Royal College of Surgeons, whose Fellows use the same initials.

The Rev. Richard Taylor and his wife, appointed to the Australian Mission of the United Methodists, left for New Zealand in the Hydaspes, which sailed from Gravesend on July 2, with emigrants selected by Mr Ottywell, the agent for Canterbury. Miss Julia Matthews is still successful in her provincial tour, as the “ Duchess.” Her health is slightly impaired by excessive work and constant travelling, but nob to any serious extent; and as negotiations are in progress between Mr Russell and the proprietors of the Lyceum, she will probably appear at that theatre before long. Mr George Fawcett has written a piece, which is under consideration, and will probably be played at one of the west-end theatres.

The following are the latest particulars respecting the boat of the Blue Jacket, which has been picked up by the Antonio Yinent. This vessel arrived at the Falkland Islands on the 3rd of April, bound from Swansea to Valparaiso, having on board a boat’s crew of eight men (three having died), of the ship Blue Jacket, from Lyttelton, New Zealand, to London, which vessel was burnt at sea on March 9. About LIOOO in gold was in the boat, and will be forwarded by her Majesty’s ship Megtera. Another account, under date May 25, from Buenos Ayres, states that a newspaper publishes a report, brought per Foam from Stanley, Falkland Isles, to the effect that the Antonio Yinent brought to the latter place nine men and fourteen bars of gold, valued at LISOO, ex Blue Jacket. The men were in the boat from the 9th to the 29th March ; four died in the boat, and three on board the Antonio Yinent. The boat was for one day in company with a yacht in charge of the master, White, and one lifeboat in charge of the second mate, after which they all parted company. It is evident from these details that it is the third mate’s boat which has been picked up. The names of the men saved have not yet come to hand, The value of the gold saved is probably overstated, as the captain stated that each boat had only one box of gold, severally valued at L4OOO. There were thirty-one men in the two lifeboats. Mr Webber, the third mate, in charge of the picked up boat, complains of the barbarity practised on him and the crew by the Captain of the Antonio Yinent, The second boat, with the second mate and twelve men, is still missing. Captain R. Niemeyer has been awarded a gold watch and chain by the Board of Trade, for his humane services to the men and passengers of the Blue Jacket, picked up by him on the 16th March, in the Hambnrg packet, Pyrmont. The diggings on Kiljonan burn were deserted towards the end of June by a number of the diggers, who, on the expiry of their monthly licence, packed everything up and left for their respec-

tive homes. A good many of the men had to leave for the purpose of preparing for the herring fishing, but many of the old colonial hands left in consequence of the small yield of gold at the above-mentioned burn and the refusal to extend the ground so as to give them a chance on new claims. At Suisgill, however, many of the diggers continued to make pretty fair earningsj and as soon as their license ran out a good many went forward and applied for renewals. Small nuggets continue to be found. One was got at Suisgill that would weigh ounce.

Mr Andrew, Secretary to the Emigration Agent for the Province of Otago, is advertising in the newspapers that, in consequence of the pressing demand for labor, assisted passages are granted to agricultural laborers, shepherds and their families, and to female domestics.

A contemporary remarks, in reference to Mr Saxby’s prediction of extraordinary inundations in New Zealand and elsewhere :—“ It is a dangerous thing to set up as a prophet. Mr S. M. Saxby finds it necessary to explain that, although he foretells destructive inundations on or about October 6 next, he does not mean that the world is to be destroyed by a flood ; he only means that extraordinary high tides may occur by such inundations as may possibly in some localities be the result of excessive rains or storms.

We are very glad Mr Saxby has been thus explicit, for it appears from his letter that some people in Hokitika, in New Zealand, last March had made preparations for removing to the hills for safety, under an erroneous impression that he had predicted that on the 17th of that month a huge tidal wave would submerge all the Middle Island of New Zealand to within twelve feet of the highest peak of Mount Cook. As the huge wave never came, of course this mistake put Mr Saxby in a false and ridiculous position. We therefore think he has done well for our sake and his own to carefully explain his October prophecy ! ” It is officially announced that the opening of the Suez Canal will take place on November 17. Great preparations are being made for the reception of the Empress, who has decidedly promised to be present at the inaugural ceremonial. The Emperor’s reason for not going with her is stated to be his fear that he might give umbrage to the Sultan were he to accept the Viceroy’s invitation. A palace is in course of construction at Ismailia for the reception of the Empress Eugenie during her stay in Egypt. It will, it is said, cost 700,000 francs. According to the com tract it is to be finished for October 1, for every day’s delay the architect will be subject to a fine of 300 francs per day, and if finished before he will receive a bonus of 300 francs per day. On the ground floor there will be ball, reception, and refreshment rooms. During the election riots in Paris, the Emperor and Empress more than once drove at a foot pace amongst the emeutiers. M. Eorcade de la Roquette, however, felt so excessively nervous about the personal safety of his sovereign, that he walked as near as pos? sible to the imperial carriage during the whole way. At a Cabinet Council M. Rouher, before commencing bush ness, addressed the Emperor:—“ Sire, in the name of my colleagues, I congratulate your Majesty on the courage you displayed. It is you who com quered the cnimte."— 1 If appears to me,” replied Napoleon, 11 that if my presence overcame the entente, there is another person whom yo\i must congratulate as well as me, and that is my deal- Minister of the Interior, who alone and on foot never for an instant took his eyes from my carriage.” The Emperor then rose and twice embraced M. Eorcade.

Hippophagy has been thrown completely in the shade by mtophagy. We are informed by the Court Journal that a banquet lately took place in the Rue Sainte-Marguerite at which the principal fare consisted of rats ! Those who partook of the repast are said to have been in ecstacies with the delicious and succulent properties of rat’s flesh! < They were observed to look with alarm

rather than with gastronomic intentions

upon all cats for two or three days after the meal!

At the suggestion of an officer of the Austrian Staff, the Austrian War Office

has decided on employing the velocipede for military purposes, and on establish ing a school for the instruction of officers and privates in driving this latest form of the iron horse. The idea is that, where the nature of the coqnfiy permits it, the velocipede may be use 4 with advantage as a substitute for a mounted orderly for bearing despatches. Pursuant to a judge’s order to the Sheriff of Notts, a series of sales has

taken place at Clumber. There was an exceedingly numerous attendance of buyers from all parts of the country, and the bidding was very spirited. Upwards of 6000 bottles of wine were

disposed of, but the prices were not particularly high. The plate was very valuable, and created great interest and

competition. There were about twenty silver cups, prizes for poultry, which fetched from 7s 6d to 10s 6cl per ounce. The Brighton Race Cup, weighing over 200 ounces, and valued at LSOO, only made 64 gs. The Goodwood Cup, 1868, was bought for 131 gs. The Wynstay Welter Cup, at Shrewsbury, was sold for 75 gs., and the Warwick Cup, 1868, fell for 60 gs. A magnificent lot of spaniels were disposed of, making 18 gs. and 20 gs. a pair. Two fine ewes fetched L 9. The furniture was very costly and made high prices. An action of a rather unusual character, against the publisher of the Daily Telegraph, was tried in the Court of Common Pleas on July 7. That journal had inserted advertisements offering rewards for the recovery of stolen goods, and promising that on the return of the goods no questions would be asked ; and the plaintiff, a MrsYarley, on the ground that this was an offence against an Act of George 11., claimed to recover for herself thirteen penalties of LSO each under the Act. A verdict was entered for the defendant, with leave reserved to the plaintiff to move for a verdict.

The ingenious mode in which the Commissioner in Bankruptcy has contrived to attach the allowance of Lord Arthur Pelham Clinton is highly creditable to him. The case was certainly one which demanded the stringent interference of the Court, though it is impossible not to suspect that this unfortunate younger son was encouraged not a little by the creditors themselves in incurring liabilities of L 23,000 for the purpose of gambling and extravagance. Having no property, however, the debtor seemed certain of escape — his only semblance of income being L4OO a-year, which was allowed him at their discretion by his father’s trustees. This, of course, could not be formally laid hold of, but the Commissioner’s method is to give the bankrupt a discharge only on condition of his paying LIOO a year to his creditors until they have received 5s per i>, a process which it is calculated will take 60 years. If he does not fulfil the condition, the discharge will be void. It will be in the power of the trustees to make Lord Arthur an undischarged bankrupt by withholding his allowance, but this is not likely to happen, so that an allowance intended only for the personal maintenance of its recipent becomes xeally available for his creditors. The English law has always leant that way, disregarding any conditions that property should be applied only for the personal maintenance of its possessor ; and now we see it attaching indirectly an allowance only given at the discretion of the trustees, by which it was thought a provision would be made safe against creditors.