BRITISH AND FOREIGN NEWS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 180, 2 December 1881, Page 1 (Supplement)

BRITISH AND FOREIGN NEWS.

LONDON, November 28. A storm of unusual violence has been experienced over a great part of England iuving the past forty hours, causing immense destruction to property and Dumerous wrecks on the coast. The steamer Solway, 712 tons, of Hartlepool, has been destroyed by an explosion, which occurred on her voyage from Bristol to ©lasgow. It was at &vst supposed that the vessel had been destroyed by dynamite, which had been wilfully placed on board for the purpose, but an investigation showed that the occurrence was accidental and was caused by an explosion arising from naptha, which formed part of the cargo. Twelve persons on board lost their lives. The thieves who succeeded in carrying off £40,000 worth of diamonds from the Hatton Garden Poet Office have not yet been discovered. The occurrence of the robbery directed attention to the fact that many Post Offices are left solely in charge of women, and there is an outcry against the system. At the Municipal elections, which took place to-day, at Cork, in Ireland, various candidates professing sympathy with Land Leaeuers, were defeated by considerable majorities. Severe sentences of imprisonment have been passed upon persons convicted of bribery in connection with the late elections at Macclesfield and Sandwich. Mr. Michael Boyton, one of the cbief organisators of the Irish Land League, who was imprisoned on the 9th March last, has been released. Several further arrests have, however, been made in various parts of Ireland. Among them is Mr. Millen (sic), on a charge of rioting at Braff, near Limerick. Cases of refusal to pay rent are becoming general in the West and South. A rather interesting swimming feat was performed on the river Liane at Boulogne, onThuveday, August 18. Professor Henry Hoare, of Tunbridge, a wellknown English swimmer, undertook to swim from the Port Mavguet to the Pont de la Rue de la Lampe, a not considerable distance, with his hands and feet tied. Much interest was centred in the performance, owing to its novelty and danger, and both banks of the river were thickly lined with spectators. Lieutenant Teniswood, of the 4th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, had laid a wager oOOOf, that the swimmer would accomplish his task, and as the latter succeeded with so much ease that he could have re-swam the distance, the gallant lieutenant won his bet. Much wonder was caused among the lookers-on at the ingenioua manner in which the swimmer propelled himself through the water, and on arriving at the goal was enthusiastically cheered. The backer swam alongside Mr. Hoare on his journey.