NEWS BY THE MAIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LIX, Issue 6916, 30 April 1883, Page 6

NEWS BY THE MAIL.

The following item# are from our file* by th* Sues mail, which did not reach town till Saturday j ROYAL COLLEGE OF MUSIC.

By command of th* Prince of Wales, the following letter ha* been addressed to the district Beard* of the metropolis and other local authorities throughout the kingdom j " Gentlemen,—l am desired by the Prince of Wale# to inform you that hi* Royal Highness hopes to open the Beyal College of Music in May nest. The amount of money already subscribed enable* him to place fifty open scholarship# before the country fer competition. The successful competitor# for these will have the opportunity of acquiring, without cost to themselves, a thorough education In the art and science of music under the professors of-the college, extending ovtr a period of three years and upwards, according to the branches studied. The competition for the scholarships will take place in April next, at the college, Kensington Gore, London; but, in order to save many candidates trouble and the expense of the journey, which most be defrayed by themselves, hi* Royal Highness propose* to hold preliminary examinations throughout the country, with the view of affording to all person* within the proper limit* of age the opportunity of profiting by the great advantage* offered. With this view I have, by hi* Boyal Highness' direction, communicated with the mayor# of the provincial town# of the United Kingdom, and have received very prompt and satisfactory responses. Hi# Boyal Highness feels confident that he may rely «po» your co-opera-tion in the tame national cause, and 1 am therefore directed to express bis hope that yon will allow the preliminary examination for your district to take place in your public buildings, beginning on March 28, and that yon will nominate three professional musicians of your district qualified and willing to act a* honorary local examiners, whoso duties will be to conduct the local preliminary examinations, to report to the director of the college tho mult of inch examinations, and to recommend the candidates qualified to proceed to the final competition before the director and board of professors at ths college in Kensington Gore. 1 The three gentlemen nominated by yon will have their namee submitted to the Prince of Wales, and their appointments will he ratified in a document. bearing the signature of kis Boyal Highness, which will be forwarded to each of them before the date fixed for the examination, together with detailed instructions and requisite Forms of report, Ac,—l have the honour to be, Sntleraen, your obedient servant, Ohabob oaiHT, Hon Secretary." THE INDIAN CRIMINAL PROCEDURE BILL. The motion to refer Mr Ebert’s Criminal Jurisdiction Bill to a Select Committee has been postponed; but it is generally believed that the Bill will be brought on again in some form before the membsr* of the Government leave Calcutta. A Reuter's telegram from Calcutta, dated Feb. 28, ssy#:—“ln pursuance of a requisition to the Sheriff of Calcutta, a meeting was held here to-day to consider Mr Ilbert’t Criminal Jurisdiction Bill The Sheriff himself presided, and about 8000 persons were present. Resolutions were passed emphatically protesting against the measure. A movement ie going on amongst the volunteers in favour of a general resignation in the event of the Bill being pasted." The Calcutta correspondent of the Timet says that almost every non-official Anglo-Indian in Calcutta was present at the meeting, and business was entirely suspended in th# European quarters of the town. “ The meeting closed with cheers -for the Queen, and with the singing of the National Anthem en mam. No such excitement has been witnessed among the Europeans since the time of the mutiny," Mr Justice Stephen sends to the Timet a letter which occupies nearly two columns, objecting to the proposed alterations in the Code of Criminal Procedure, of which he was the principal author. Sir James Stephen say# that both his Indian and English experience lead bjm to sympathise strongly in this matter with the non-official Europeans. The British Government of India is essentially an absolute Government, founded not only on consent, but on conquest. It does not represent the Native principle# of life or of government, and it can never do so until it represents heathenism and barbarism. He adds I should be sorry to say a word which would embarrass any ‘Viceroy in the discharge of the weightiest and most delicate duties which can be imposed on any of Her Majesty’s subjects; but much of the language lately held as to local government, education, and some other subjects has Ailed me, as to my knowledge it has flled others who are interested in India, with apprehension, and I do not in the least wonder that the Europeans in Lidia see in the, proposed change about criminal procedure asymptom, all the more formidable because in itself it is slight and utterly needless, of a determination to try to govern India upon principles inconsistent with the foundations on which British power rests." FLOGGING JEWESSES IN MOROCCO. Some particular* regarding the reported flogging of Jewesses in Morocco ha# lately reached this country. The story is probably as disgusting and disgraceful as it well could be, even in Morocco. It appear# that one Joseph Amiel—a Jew, and an officer of the English Vice-Consulate at Oaseablanca—has two sons, whose dissipated habits provoked, on a recent occasion, more than ordinarily angry remonstrance from (heir father. The young men, roused by the expostulations, and probably threat*, in which their excited parent indulged, drew their pistols upon httn and attempted his life. The bullet# missed their mark, and the would-be parricides weee immediately arrested and dragged before tho local Bssha in order to receive tho punishment they eo richly deserved. At the instance of their father they received each some six hundred applications of«the bastinado./ Had Amiel stopped here all would have been; well The bastinado is not a form of punish- ■ moot which commend* itself to English feelings, but where—as to Morocco —it is a recognised form of punishment, it could not be much better applied than it was in this instance. Amiel was, however, not satisfied. Presuming, evidently, on bis position in "Connection with the British Vice-Consulate, he insisted on the arrest of eight Jewish wosato, to whose alleged temptations be ascribed all his sene' evil habits. The fiasha submissively obeyed the behests of the British official. The women were dragged from their beds in the middle of the night, and thrown into prison. The next morning, still in pursuance of Amici'* instructions, they were led out into some public place, and there flogged with revolting barbarity. The details given by the correspondent of the Jewish World ore sufficiently horrible, but we may state that private letters received give still more barrowing account*. How unmerciful must have been the flogging is shown by one shocking circumstance —when the women were carried book to prison, one had already become a hopeless manioc. MB GLADSTONE'S RETURN. Mr Gladstone left Cannes for Farit on Feb. 26, on hit way to Loudon. The telegram n state that the railway station presented a I very animated appearance when the Premier , took bis departure, and add t—“ Anyone who taw the Premier arrive at Cannes six weeks ago mutt have been struck with the astonish- ' tog difference in his appearance this morning. When he came hire be could scarcely walk i along the station platform unaided; his face i was pals and careworn ; he was wrapped in furs and wore a heavy overcoat. To-day he i appeared without wrappers of any kind. He hurried, at times almost ran, along the plati form with the sprightliness of a young man; i he laughed and talked merrily with his group > of friends, and his face was quite coloured i with the sun and sea air. Altogether the change was most surprising. Both the Premier snd Mrs Gladstone took with them in the train floral souvenir# of esteem and , friendship which wire presented to them as they entered the station. The day wo# beantifolly floe, the sun being as hot os an Eng-

lish June t and as the train moved out the Premier was warmly saluted by those on the platform." . . . « The Daily AVw correspondent at Cannes i—"Tlse Premier is much annoyed at an announcement which ha# appeared respecting additional police precautions reported to have been taken. The report is quite erroneous. I hare visited the Chilean Scott twice a week ever since the Premier arrived, and there hss never been more than one French policeman at th# gate. There ie neither an English detective nor a sergeant there from Scotland yard, and no other additional precaution# were taken except" to warn the authorities that Mr Byrne was In Cannes. Mr Gladstone has walked and driven about at pleasure, accompanied by his personal friend# only." MB PARNELL. After having failed very disastrously to clear himself of the terrible charge# brought against him, it was thought that Mr Parnell would not persist with his amendment impugning the administration of the Crimes Actio Ireland. But tho stinging speech of tho ex-Obief Secretory, it appears, has only nerved the chief of the Land League party to greater effort, and he came down to the House on Feb. 26 os if nothing had happened, or, at all events, as if nothing had been revealed, and moved hie indictment, couched in th* most insolent and daring language, against th# Irish Executive- Thi* was the more remarkable, seeing that The Timet of the eame day had a moat scathing article on Mr Parnell, censuring his action in the strongest terms, and asking whether the House " was hound to submit to so gross an outrage on decency ?" "It would bo a strong measure," our contemporary went on to say, “ even for the leader of a respected ana honourable party, with a character for loyalty and rectitude established by year* of public service, to attack the Government of tho Queen in the words placed upon the paper by Mr Parnell. But who and what i* Mr Parnell that be should at this moment invite tho House to censure faithful and honoured servants of the VtateP If any doubt remained e* to Mr Parnell’s quality, after Mr Forster’s searching examination of hi* career as chief of the Laud League, that doubt must have been dispelled by the proceedings of Feb. 23." That tho amendment would ho rejected by an overwhelming majority was never for a moment in doubt, but the fact that it was supported by no more than fifteen members is worthy of note. This is considerably less than one-half the average number of vote* recorded by tho Land League party on critical divisions in the hut two sessions of Parliament. It shows that not only the Advanced Liberals and tho moderate Home Rulers are shrinking from Mr Parnoli, but that even some of his own immediate following are reluctant to join him in defying and insulling the House of Commons.

STATE OF IRELAND. It is gratifying to note that the signs of improvement in Ireland are becoming more distinct and general. Lord Spencer and the officials, who have been working with unremitting energy during the past ten months, are now relieved of the tremendous strain which allowed no rest or respite, and breathe more freely. Hie Excellency i* now able to arrange occasionally for the cares and anxieties of hie|iign position, and to enjoy a little of his favourite pastime of hunting, and the season at Dublin is as gay and brilliant as in former years under the same vioeroyalty. The whole tone of society is more oheeiful and confident as regards the future. The sense of security, which had almost disappeared, is returning, and there is a growing belief that a period of tranquility and order is likely to succeed the excitement and turmoil of the lost three years. Agitation is making little if any way, notwithstanding the efforte of those who trade upon it. The authorities are administering the Crimea Aot with the tame vigilant and judicious attention which has been already attended with such satisfactory results. They are unceasing in their efforts to root out the murder conspiracy, and are making steady progress with their work. They are daily receiving information, and diligently follow up every hint which is likely to lead to any useful discovery. Their chief aim is to discover the miscreant* who supplied the funds for the perpetration of outrages. It is stated that they have abundant evidence to prove that Sheridan was an active agent in inciting to crime, and that he frequently came over to Ireland upon secret embassies for the par- . pose, bat both in the extradition of Sheridan from the United States, and of Byrne and Walsh from France, the English Government seem likely to meet with great difficulties. Even if the latter should be clearly proved to be guilty of complicity in the assassination of Lord Frederick Cavendish and Mr Burke, it is alleged that M. Ferry's Cabinet will not dare to give them up. Frenchmen decline to see anything but a political offence in that crime j and as “England has always refused to extradite French political prisoners, France is now bound to pay her back in her own coin." THE BRITISH BUDGET. The Budget for this year is looked forward to with peculiar interest. Great as have been the calls made on the taxpayer, tho expenditure of the year seems Ukely to exceed the revenue by £l,6oo,ooo—this being the additional amount required for the Egyptian campaign—while the absence of economy in the oivu charges is attested by a total expenditure of nearly £90,000,000 during the financial year. This result, as Lord George Hamilton remarked in the House of Commons the other evening, is little short of alarming, more especially as tho absence of elasticity in the Excise may occasion an increase in the direct demands on the taxpayers in future years. There are some who think that a short oat oat of the difficulty will be found by towering the interest ou the National Debt to 2i par cent. After a financial year in which the Funds for the first time touched 103, such schemes will naturally occur to the minds of men who forget that the study of successive Finance Ministers is to present their proposals in the most popular form. With the enormous demand for sound investments, and the decreasing number of first-rate securities, the Fundsare at present inordinately high. But this is due to a variety of exceptional causes, cone of which can be considered permanent, and no Government could take the stop of reducing the interest on the National Debt without at least a belief that present price# would be maintained. There is no doubt that a Government which could redeem at par and re-issue Two and a Half per Oent Stock at 92 would save the country a considerable annual sum. It is also obvious that the enormous proportion of Console held by trustees only entitled to invest in Government stock would for a time cause even so low a rate of interest to be accepted. But, as the Morning Pott points oat, with tho growing security of Corporation loans and colonial stocks the nation will in time emancipate itself from the over caution which place* it at present at (he mercy of the Government. The change is one which would be strenuously imposed by the Conservatives, and indeed we 1 thiak it may be put on one side, for Mr Gladstone is not at alt Ukely to risk his popularity by tampering with the Government credit to most the existing deficit. MISCELLANEOUS. The Crown lawyers are busily engaged preparing for the Fhcnoix Park trial, and they are confident that they wiU bring the charges home to all the prisoner*. Within the last week additional important evidence has been procured. It is rumoured that at the close of (he Phoenix Park murdes trial a charge of a serious nature will be brought against Councillor Csrsy, the approver, for which he will be put upon his trial. More surprises are no doubt in store } and in one quarter it is stated that the police actually know the whereabouts of “ No. 1," and that he will be arrested at the proper time. The polios are pursuing enquiries In Glasgow and other towns in Scotland where branches of the secret Society exist. It is well known (hat (he Invincible* are there in strong force, and they are credited with the recent dynamite outrages in Glasgow. It is staled thet tho Council of Rla'o of Geneva has drcilcd to r.-tcxii tho order fo-

the expulsion of Mis* Booth wad Mb* Charles worth, and that they will b* allowed to return to the Canton. Tho interdict on the meetings of the Salvation Army will, however, remain in fore* tor the present. The French Government evidently foresees that M. da Bram {« likely to meet with some opposition in the accomplishment of hi* mission on th# Congo. In addition to the entire Company of tho Ist Regiment of Tirailleurs Aledrieni, which the Minister of War has decided shall accompany tho mission, the President of the Republic nos signed a decree placing at the disposal of M.d* Brsxta BXIO rifles, 10.000 sabres, 10,000,000 gun cape, 100,000 kilogrammes of gunpowder, 200 tents, and IOQO hatchets of various description*. The Sophia who recently out down with a yataghan a priest in the pulpit at the Mosque of Sultan Ahmed, at Constantinople, is still confined to the palace. Twenty or more arrests of persons supposed to hare influenced the assassin's conduct have token place. The Standard correspondent bear* that M it has been insinuated to the Sopbta on tho part of the Palace that if he will state that the crime bad no political motive, but was merely an aot of personal vengeance against his victim, a mere nominal sentence will be passed upon him," It is believed that h will be brought up for trial before the tribunal in a few days, hut it has not been decided whether tho pablio is to be admitted to the Court.

Telegrams from Alexandria assert that the state of poblio feeling in Alexandria is very unsatisfactory. The Timet correspondent says -.—There is general uneasiness among the Natives and Europeans, each class fearing the other. A local Greek paper announced that a Native rising would take place on Sunday, and it was deemed advisable to deport the editor for circulating such a rumour. “Labour is scarce among the Natives, who openly parade their looted wealth, while the greatest misery exists among Europeans of the lower class. Credit throughout the country is shaken, and bankers refuse to continue the advances which are necessary for working the land. Some local societies propose to nold a meeting, which shall petition Lord Dufferia to make an authoritative declaration that the troops will not be withdrawn." The correspondent of the Standard states that in consequence of a report having been spread that a second massacre of foreigners would take place, only two European merchants were present in the market at Minet el Bassal. “ The timidity of the foreign populace, and their readiness to believe the most absurd rumours, almost involves a state of perpetual panic." The Alexandria correspondent of the Daily Newt says:—Owing to the uncertainty respecting the withdrawal of the British troops, the European residents, without distinction of nationality, are signing petitions to Lord Dofferio declaring that in their opinion the state of the country is suoh that the presence of a strong European force is necessary for the protection of foreigners and tho welfare of all. They pray Lord Dufferin to make such representation* to the British Government os may ensure the “ permanent retention" in Egypt of a portion of the army, adequate for the protection of thoir lives and property. The petition it drawn up in English, French, Italian, and Greek, and is being signed by thousands.

Tho injuries sustained by the man Metayer, who was injured by the explosion of a bomb, were found to be most serious. His right hand was a mats of pulp, and the flesh of his thigh was stripped to the bone. He, nevertheless, bore hi* sufferings with extraordinary fortitude, and when questioned by tho authorities refused to answer till he had been informed that bis comrade had made a fall confession. He then declared his name, and that he had also been condemned by default for participation in the Lyons outrages. He further related that the infernal machine which be hod in his pocket, and which exploded, was a bomb containing picrate of potash, siilphnr, and sugar. In the middle was a tube containing sulphuric acid. Metayer imagined that the explosion of this bomb was caused by the tube being badly cloeed. Some of the liquid must bare oozed ont and caused the explosion. He maintained that the infernal machine was destined simply for an experiment. After dreadful sufferings, which he bore with wonderful stoicism. Metayer died on Feb. 28. On March 20 a paper will be read before th* Colonial Section of the Society of Arts on the “ Social and Commercial Aspects of New Zealand," by Mr William Delisle Hay. Mrs Dolonghty, widow of the man for whose murder Francis Hynes was executed, ■ailed for Otago on March 1, with her seven children. The Mail newspaper got np a fund for her amounting to £154, and Mr Clifford Lloyd gave her an additional £SO. After Hynes' execution she was completely “ boycotted " by her neighbours, and found it impossible to live in the country. A melancholy accident occurred the other night at the military barracks, Ballinoollig, by which a sergeant in the Scots Greys, named Bhadraok Gould, lost his life. It was reported that an attack <on the barracks was premeditated, and that the figure of a civilian was seen (ho previous night in a crouching attitude on toe lawn in front of the colonel’s quarters. Precautions were accordingly taken to prevent any attack by placing Sergeant Gould and two men in ambush on the next night. At eleven o’clock Lieutenant Torrens strolled out to inspest the guard, and the night being very dark, and no lights about the place, he was knocked against by Gould as the Lieutenant was crossing (he area between the centra of the barracks and the east gate. The Lieutenant being aware of the rumomred attack, concluded that the man with whom he had come in contact was a civilian, and, forgetting for (he moment that he held a small pistol in his hand, attempted to deal the supposed intruder a blow with his hand, when the fire-arm went off, and the bullet lodged in Oould’e breast close to the heart, (he unfortunate man expiring in a few minutes in the arras of the man who had inadvertently onused bis death. An inqueefc was held, when a verdict of accidental death was returned, and the Lieutenant was exonerated from blame. Lord Lome's term of office as GovernorGeneral of Canada, will soon expire, and, if we are to believe Vanity Pair, Lord Wolseley will most probably be hi* successor. When the Supplementary Estimates for the Egyptian campaign were before tho House of Common* on March 8, an interesting discussion arose, in the course of which Mr Onslow said “he could not sec how India had derived neater advantage from the results of the war than Australia or New Zealand. 3f India must bear any part of the expense some other* of Her Majesty's Colonies ought also to be called upon to pay for Ih* safety of the Suez Canal, being an Imperial concern." This is a view held by not a few in thi* country, but until we have a united Empire, in the Parliament of which the Colonies are represented, it is not likely that they will consent to be taxed for Imperial purposes. Representation and taxation must go together.

What will colonist* say to the following conversation, which is reported to have taken place at Cannes, between Mr Gladstone and a correspondent of fee QattUa d’ltalia? 3 he discussion was over a oup of tea, and after a variety of subjects had been treated of, the question of colonisation was brought forward, upon which Mr Gladstone, we are told, said“ It is not Colonies feat enrich a country. Italy must grow rich by the work of her own hands. Colonies would cost you a great deal without giving you fee least increase of strength." It Is pretty generally known that Mr Gladstone is no advocate for an extension of fee Empire, but that he sincerely believe* that the Colonies of England are not a tower of strength to fee Mother Country is news indeed. Where, we may ask, would Ragland be to-day but fer her grand, noble and loyal Ooloniee P What would be the position of the manufacturer and merchant at Home at the present time but for the immense development of our outlying possessions, under the fostering oars of the British Crown ? It is true that some of our Colonies have "coitus a deal," but have they not repaid us ten, twenty, fifty, aye, and « r cn a hundredfold P If tho conversation is "■rr fiy r-p rted, we should thick that Mr

Gladstone, os Premier of the British Empire, must ever regret that he made the statement, as, although it had special relation to Italy, the view wilt be sure to he taken as being equally applicable to Great Britain and her Colonies.